CV Axles needing special tools??
 

Took X in for brakes last Friday to my independent shop and they called me and said my CV boot was torn and the axle needed replacing - quoted around $600. They called back a few minutes later and said they could not do it because it required special tools that they did not have. Called a second shop and they told me the same thing.

Is this true?? Am I going to have to find a BMW repair shop or heaven forbid the dealer to do this repair??

My indy was able to remove the axles to do CV boots quite easily. Big 12 point socket required but it was in his Snap-on kit. I have seen them for sale on-line so you do not need to go to the $tealer.

The axle boots are only $50 a piece (inner and outer) vs. $500 for the axle, there shouldn't be any "special tools" needed to do the boot replacement according to the tech as he said that I could do it DIY, but why not bring it in here Sat and we'll throw it on the lift and work on it together and be done in half the time. So I'm taking my '01 3.0 in this Saturday to get the boots done (inner and outer since it'll be apart already might as well do a little preventive maint.) as a side job for one of the techs, he takes me back there to help him, so I will let you know if anything special is in fact needed if you haven't solved the issue by then...if it helps.

PMPNX5 - thanks, keep us updated.

They are telling me it is the axle replacement that needs the special tools, not the boots.

Dealer came back with a quote of $850.

That's about right for a dealer... I paid $560 including tax last month for the CVboot job at an indy mechanic.

Make sure that dealer quote includes both inner and outer boot on both sides.

Will do, we're actually going to take the axle out to clean and put new grease and boots on both CV Joints (inner and outer), so I'll keep a close eye on it.

You don't really need any special tools, just some brute force. The special tool they may be talking about is the one used to pull the axle back through the hub/knuckle, but this tool is not an absolute must.

Also just cause your boot is torn doesn't nessescarily mean you need a whole axle. Was there noise? They might just be trying to upsell.

Also if it is just the outer boot that is torn there is no need to do the inner boot. You don't have to remove the axle to replace the outer boot.