Front CV axles aftermarket or not?
 

So I have been lurking here for a while, and have read a lot about the pros and cons of going aftermarket vs biting the bullet and going with GKNs for my 2004 e53.

I was hoping someone, or a few of you, could clear up for me the quality of A1 cardones and empis.

The cardones I see are sort of hit and miss especially the remans. There is a huge cardone "nightmare" thread on e30techs about worn threads and damged splines etc etc. Some here I see have been relatively satisfied with the new ones, even though they come from china. So are they worth it or not? Anyone currently running them, can you speak to their reliability and the quality of the boot?

2nd the empis. I almost bought them last night on pelican parts, but then was on a vw forum where someone purchased two, one was good quality in an "empi" box and ready to install, the second was in an "empire by usa industries" box and had fallen apart during shipping, and the boot did not seem to be durable. He did some digging and turns out that empi sold all of there cv joint/axle production and stock to usa industries. Has anyone here compared the two before and after the buy out? I hate it when a decent aftermarket brand gets bought out and the new company starts selling chinese crap with the same logo on it, I would rather not be suckered by this. Since I'm ordering off the web, it won't be an easy return if I decide I don't like the quality of the part.

Thanks in advance. I need to get these changed quick, winter is coming, and both my boots are ripped and passenger side joint has quick a bit of play and rattling going on.

If the cv joint is clicking, I would just replace the CV joint. The CV joint can be popped off the axle and a new boot and joint install. Most people don't do this because it is a lot cheaper to buy an aftermarket replacement axle from Pep Girl, The Manualzone or O'Malley.

There's a special tool that will pop off the cv joint and it's under 50 bucks. Or you can try beating it off with a punch and hammer.

Here's a link to a video for removing the cv joint with the special tool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOh43Wkmqnc

Special tool can be purchased on eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271887159717...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I emailed CVJ and asked for a quote. The other option, as upallnight stated, is replace just the outer joints, which is fine by me, the inners seem fine. But I can only find a meyle part. Is it possible to get a gkn or something a little better? I used Meyle parts to refresh my thrust arm bushings last year and the rubber is starting to crack already. It doesn't inspire confidence lol!

You can always buy Genuine BMW parts from a BMW dealer. This is the BMW part number for the CV joint. 31607586433

#31607586433: BMW. Constant-velocity joint, outer

Just get the GKNs. They are not that expensive and you can get them from Turner motorsports. The effort involved in removing the old ones and replacing them is well worth the expense paid on getting the GKN axle shafts.

I've got about 30K on a front passenger EMPI axle that I'm really happy with. EMPI was an excellent aftermarket supplier but I suspect the new "Empire" brand now just makes them another price point import line like you can get from the store brand O O O O O'Malleyyyy's

Maybe if you look around online for EMPI but call and confirm first and check to see if the axle is an EMPI or Empire. You never know, there might still be EMPI's still in the pipeline. I'd definitely use EMPI again.

I also went with EMPI from partsgeek.com. I can't complain I replaced both front axles for under $150. No complaints from me on the part, but that center nut was a pain!!!!

I didn't have too hard of a time removing the axel nut but Boy Howdy was it tough getting that axel out of the hub after 170K. RUST A hub tool didn't budge it. I finally had to use a 5 lb sledge on a ball peen hammer.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11...d33ddd66ab.jpg

This was mine when I got done with it haha. My compressor when kaput in the middle of the job so I had no air tools to do this job. Already had it most of the way apart so I made do with a chisel, hammer and punch!

Ha you sure showed that stubborn axle nut who was boss!

Was about to do the same thing. But, I had a better idea. Took the 4 foot handle from my jack and put it over my 12" breaker bar. She was on there real good.

Re: Axle Nut.
I use a 4-foot Iron Pipe ($12 at Home Depot) with 1/2-inch breaker bar.
See photo of my 1998 528i.
If I do this again, I will use a jackstand to support the 1/2" extension so it does not sag down...

See the link below for tricks...
DIY: 1998 528i REAR Bearing the Easy Way! - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums




http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...hmentid=291987

asked in another thread, but: how you know the inner joint is bad?

Thanks for all the comments guys, so I got a quote from CVJ in denver he will ship me two reman'd oem axles with lifetime warranty (no offroading or lift kits allowed, lol) for $99 each plus shipping and with a core fee to be refunded upon return of my used axles.

Damn, looks like I am going to have fun doing the removal if my axles really are original equipment, as I suspect they are. Time to put my new impact wrench to good use!...or is the breaker bar an actually superior method. I have a 24'' 1/2 drive that works great on so many tough nuts. and less risk of stripping a rusty head? Also, just for clarification its a 36mm 12 point socket that's needed right?

Yes, 36 mm 12-point. If you have a floor jack the removable handle makes a handy dandy cheater bar also. Here's the set I used to remove the axle nut:

If you are going to replace the entire axle you should also replace the differential seal.

Hopefully the cores that you are sending back are OEM BMW cores and not some cheap aftermarket cores or else they are not going to accept them and you can add the cost of the cores charge to the bill.

Rmeuropean dot com apparently has the GKN Axles for about $250-$280 range:

X5 3.0i Sport Utility E53 3.0L L6

Hey all, so I went ahead and ordered from CVJ, they are supposed to arrive today! Yes I am going to replace the diff seals while I'm there, and I am pretty sure that my axles are original parts, they look like they have been on there forever and seem to be very well built inner boots still look new, not much corrosion etc. So I am pretty hopeful that the core charge will be reimbursed to me. Wish me luck on the job! lol.

Harbor Freight has the 1/2" earthquake air impact. I have confirmed that it can remove the axle nut without issue. Did it on my X a few months back. Took a few hits, but got the job done.

It's like $70, and they have a 20% coupon all the time, and will accept it from your phone. No need to print even.