Yet another CV axle questions

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by stevekat

From personal experience, and you may wish to read my post about my experience...

http://www.xoutpost.com/913491-post174.html

By unbolting the bottom arm from the unibody, I was able to push out the axle with a hammer drill, and pull the axle out of the way of the hub. You cannot pull it anywhere you want, but it clears the hub assembly quite well. I did not change my bearings, but my recollection is it would be possible to get some tools around the hub with the axle out of the way.

BTW, on the passenger side, since the axle shaft is longer into the box, it is tougher to pull the entire axle out, however I was able to do so with only unbolting the bottom arm from the frame, but I had to jack the hub up under the ball joint to allow the clearance and proper angle for the entire axle to come out. But it was no problem to swing the outer axle/CV away from the hub after pushing the outer axle from the hub.

That's what I needed to hear, thank you so much! Did you have to turn your wheels at all to give extra clearance or did you leave them straight?

[HPIA4v2]

Originally Posted by stevekat

From personal experience, and you may wish to read my post about my experience...

http://www.xoutpost.com/913491-post174.html

By unbolting the bottom arm from the unibody, I was able to push out the axle with a hammer drill, and pull the axle out of the way of the hub. You cannot pull it anywhere you want, but it clears the hub assembly quite well. I did not change my bearings, but my recollection is it would be possible to get some tools around the hub with the axle out of the way.

BTW, on the passenger side, since the axle shaft is longer into the box, it is tougher to pull the entire axle out, however I was able to do so with only unbolting the bottom arm from the frame, but I had to jack the hub up under the ball joint to allow the clearance and proper angle for the entire axle to come out. But it was no problem to swing the outer axle/CV away from the hub after pushing the outer axle from the hub.

Steve,
do I need to slide the entire axle out to replace the outer boot?
I wonder if I can remove the lower control arm from unibody, air-hammer the axle out of the hub (but not pry out the axle at the diff side) and replace the boot, is there enough room to work on the outer boot this way?

TIA.

[stevekat]

I have not replaced an outer boot, however it is my understanding that you certainly can do this - that you do not need to remove the axle from the case. I even think some folks say the axle does not even have to come out of the hub, but that method seems to be a hit or miss proposition.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by stevekat

I have not replaced an outer boot, however it is my understanding that you certainly can do this - that you do not need to remove the axle from the case. I even think some folks say the axle does not even have to come out of the hub, but that method seems to be a hit or miss proposition.

that is exactly what i am trying to do, replace the outer boot without removing from the case, but making sure it is removed from the hub so I could get my hubs/bearings done.


And yes there are shortcuts floating around where you leave the outer joint of the CV attached to the hub and pry the shaft out of the joint if you just want to replace the boot, but I was just making sure that I could get the axle out of the way to do my wheel bearings first.


I know for a fact if you look on the other threads that other members have left their inner joints attached to the case, you just have to give tap the outer joint out to get it separated, there are various methods to doing that outlined in the forums.

[HPIA4v2]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

that is exactly what i am trying to do, replace the outer boot without removing from the case, but making sure it is removed from the hub so I could get my hubs/bearings done.


And yes there are shortcuts floating around where you leave the outer joint of the CV attached to the hub and pry the shaft out of the joint if you just want to replace the boot, but I was just making sure that I could get the axle out of the way to do my wheel bearings first.


I know for a fact if you look on the other threads that other members have left their inner joints attached to the case, you just have to give tap the outer joint out to get it separated, there are various methods to doing that outlined in the forums.

I'd probably search some more later when I got my tools and parts.

Meanwhile I called around more indy shops (which specializing in BMW and German cars only), the quotes to replace outer CV joint ranges from $375 to $425, I remember these shops charge $800 to replace valve-cover gasket on M62 so I know they probably has short cut to not remove the axle from hub etc. And I changed VCG on my M62 and it's not super bad.
Just to size up the job-dificulty factor using some price data interpolation.

The good thing is I don't have to drive my X5 right now.

[Ricky Bobby]

Well considering GKN Loebro boot kits for the 3.0i (same axle on M62?) are 25 bucks for the pair from rock auto, your mechanics are charging 4 hours or more of labor.


As far as I know the easiest and most effective way is remove wheel, remove caliper, unbolt wishbone at frame, push the axle out. Remove joint and clean and reboot.

I think a lot of these shops are either giving out book time or they are quoting higher amount of time in case a part gives them a hard time.

[mel23816]

QUESTION TO EVERYONE HERE:
After replacing my passenger axle it started leaking oil. I took out the axle again and I noticed that the bearing was attached to the axle. Isnt the bearing suppose to stay in the hub? Maybe it was leaking from the seal?

[Ricky Bobby]

The wheel bearings are sealed units so if it came apart when you took the axle off you need a new wheel bearing

[mel23816]

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/d/n/190.png

Thanks for responding Ricky!

The bearing I was talking about is the one beside #7. I think its suppose to stay on #14 when u take the axle out but mine came off with the axle. Has anyone experienced this? Can I put the bearing back on #14 or do I need to replace #14?

[Ricky Bobby]

oh well that i dont think i could help you with I don't know!