CV Axle replacement?

[Ralph III]

Hello Everyone,

Has anyone replaced the front cv axles on their all wheel drive BMW's before? Our 2007 530xi has 260k miles on it and I'm in the process of replacing the lower and upper control arms (etc). I also need to replace the front cv axles. So, once the axles are disconnected from the outside hub, does it just slip out of the differential? Consequently, I just slip the new cv axle in and then reconnect everything? Anyhow, I wondered if anyone has taken on this job before....


Thanks,

Ralph

[Rafichicago]

I did not do the front one. I have tried to do the rear one in z4. It was the first job I wasn’t able to do and I doubt I will try again. The axle was stuck in the hub so hard that it took a 20T press to get it out of the hub. It’s a royal PITA to do. Never again.

[Ralph III]

Thanks for the reply. I was lucky and was able to beat it out with a 3 lb hammer without excessive force. I resorted to hitting the shaft end with the hammer itself though which allowed me to get more force on it versus using a punch and hammer.

Ralph