*** Front Passenger Axle Grease leak out on two new Axles..
#1
*** Front Passenger Axle Grease leak out on two new Axles..
Hello,
I have been dealing the front passenger axle for a bit on 535xi sedan. I have replaced two front passenger axles with GKN brand which is OEM to BMW in 12K miles. On both of them I have experienced same symptoms. The grease leaks out of the inner boot only right above the control arm. Outer boot does not have any leaks, but seems stretched. There are no tears in the boot that I can see.
Also the both inner and outer boots seems collapsed as if the air is sucked out of them. I wonder if the axles are pulled more than usual, causing the boot to stretch as in the picture? Could the axle be slightly shorter?
The car seems to be driving fine with no vibrations.
Any thoughts...
Thank you
I have been dealing the front passenger axle for a bit on 535xi sedan. I have replaced two front passenger axles with GKN brand which is OEM to BMW in 12K miles. On both of them I have experienced same symptoms. The grease leaks out of the inner boot only right above the control arm. Outer boot does not have any leaks, but seems stretched. There are no tears in the boot that I can see.
Also the both inner and outer boots seems collapsed as if the air is sucked out of them. I wonder if the axles are pulled more than usual, causing the boot to stretch as in the picture? Could the axle be slightly shorter?
The car seems to be driving fine with no vibrations.
Any thoughts...
Thank you
#4
#5
The other thing I was thinking is buying a original BMW and GKN from FCP to compare and return one of them. NO known issue according to them.
#6
I have measured the distance between the front two tires and the rears while the car was on my four post lift. The tire were sitting on the lift runner under cars weight.
The rears are about 3/4" wider than the front. I would have thought the front would be anywhere from 2 to 6 inches wider than the rear with the issue I am dealing with.
This has me baffled....
The rears are about 3/4" wider than the front. I would have thought the front would be anywhere from 2 to 6 inches wider than the rear with the issue I am dealing with.
This has me baffled....
#7
New Members
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 619
Likes: 70
From: Abbotsford, BC
My Ride: 2009 535xi Touring 6MT, 2001 325i 5MT
Engine: N54, M54
Sorry if this is unhelpful. @jadidaskv had a thread a while back about his replacement front axles being too short so he asked me to measure mine while I had it out. Maybe measure yours and see if there's a problem there?
Last edited by kd7iwp; 01-22-2020 at 07:26 AM.
#8
Sorry if this is unhelpful. @jadidaskv had a thread a while back about his replacement front axles being too short so he asked me to measure mine while I had it out. Maybe measure yours and see if there's a problem there?
#9
New Members
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City
My Ride: 535i XDrive Touring
Model Year: 2009
Engine: N54
Same Problem with my 2009,535i XDrive-Touring. I am on my second set of GKN Drive lines. The CV boots on my GKN shafts appear the same as pictured above. They are collapse and they are over extended and collapsed. The tear is on the inner boot and on the first set the CV boots tore on the outer. This is a problem and the distributor of GKN
drive shafts acknowledged this problem. I drove the car 1500 miles on the second set of GKN half-shafts and the inner boot tore on the passenger side this time. My Mechanic is working to replace the boots with rubber because the GKN boots are plastic. I want BMW shafts at this point.
I do not believe that GKN can solve this issue. Funny side note is that the driver side shaft has BMW stamped in the shaft. Can anyone provide their solution or additional information.
drive shafts acknowledged this problem. I drove the car 1500 miles on the second set of GKN half-shafts and the inner boot tore on the passenger side this time. My Mechanic is working to replace the boots with rubber because the GKN boots are plastic. I want BMW shafts at this point.
I do not believe that GKN can solve this issue. Funny side note is that the driver side shaft has BMW stamped in the shaft. Can anyone provide their solution or additional information.
Last edited by Tetonfiber; 04-24-2020 at 04:49 PM. Reason: adding year of vehicle
#10
What did GKN have to say? It's mind boggling that is the weak point. I have used them on e46. No isssues.
Both the boots itself does not have enough bellows..The boots also seem shorter than Original BMW axle.
I see two possibility. Replace both the boots with BMW or release the clamps on each side of the boot to let some air in so they don't collapse after couple hundred miles.
I did talk about this with local BMW shop foreman and he did offer to compare to original BMW next time if I do replace.
I am driving this till its an issue before I replace. I have already replaced one thru FCP. Getting tired of replacing them.
Both the boots itself does not have enough bellows..The boots also seem shorter than Original BMW axle.
I see two possibility. Replace both the boots with BMW or release the clamps on each side of the boot to let some air in so they don't collapse after couple hundred miles.
I did talk about this with local BMW shop foreman and he did offer to compare to original BMW next time if I do replace.
I am driving this till its an issue before I replace. I have already replaced one thru FCP. Getting tired of replacing them.