Question on front CV outer boot
 

I've purchased 02 X5 3L not too long ago and it's been sitting in my garage last few days to fix some engine / power steering oil leaks. Common stuff here and there in this era of BMWs. :)

When I purchased it, front CV were fine and on very next day, I've noticed driver side outer boot is loosing grease.

So jacked it up and realized the CV boot was actually fine. It was the outer clamp which was gone for some reason, hence boot to pop out from CV.

Now when I pop the boot back in, seems like the boot is stretched too far, not like passenger side.

Should I loose smaller boot clamp and move it outward little bit?

Please take a look at pictures and give me some opinions.

Thanks.

two different boot kits are on that axle. count the folds

Yes, they do look different indeed.
Driver side looks much newer than passenger side.

If I were you I would replace both sides, they are not expensive and you don't know how much dirt has gotten into it. I replaced both on my old 05 4.4 just to be safe.

Lol look again, there are 2 extra folds on the boot in your first pic.

:iagree:

Anybody recommend a specific boot to use? Mine are tearing rather quickly causing joint failure. Perhaps a larger boot because being lowered "stretches " the boot and joint according to the dealer. Any thoughts?

Yes, I do see there is extra fold in the new boot.

Since it was previous owner who installed it, I'm not sure what brand he used.
Having said that, I won't be replacing whole CV shaft nor new boot.
I'll just re-pack the grease and move inner clamp down (so less stretchy) and re-install outer clam and call it a day.

When the boot rips or starting to cause weird noise, behavior, then I'll just replace whole shaft based on it's condition.

Thanks for input.

For what it's worth, gkn loebro is the OE for the boots and axles and I bought their branded boot kits from pelican for 12.50 apiece last year and did both outer boots and re packed my joints. At 70k miles then they were starting to show age cracks inside the folds, but never tore or spilled grease.

I suspect doing the boots preventatively will extend the life of my axles for at least another 70k

I searched the part number for the dealer boot kit on Pelican and found the GKN kits. Nothing different except one is in a BMW box and costs 40 bucks

:iagree: