[the_awakening]

Hi All,

Recently, I had been observing an issue with my 2008 335xi e90 where upon letting off the gas, especially when going around turns or even gentle angles on, say, a highway, the car will pull to one side. I've also experienced intermittent vibration from the front end.

I pulled off the driver's side wheel and found this mess! What I can not tell is whether the oil is coming from the cv joint / boot (which is confirmed as NOT ripped) or from the bottom of the strut, which does have a small rust pock-mark once cleaned. It seems like a lot of grease to be the CV, but do struts on our cars leak like this? Would strut failure lead to odd steering/ vibration?

I bought the car CPO in 2012 with 50k. It now has 125k. I have a full front and rear suspension rebuild kit waiting to be put in (bushings, rods, control arms, etc), and was planning on buying struts and springs anyway. The question is now whether I need to be buying CV axles as well ($$$$).

Any insight from the group is much appreciated.

Thanks!

[relative4]

Definitely the CV boot. Look again.

[NinetyEight740]

Axle for sure

[Efthreeoh]

Outer CV join boot is torn and most all the grease has worked it's way out of the joint from centrifugal force. The boot can be replaced, but the CV joint needs to be evaluated for contamination and resultant wear. Might be better to get a new halfshaft installed if you are experiencing drivability problems.

Struts leak from the piston seal where the chrome piston (rod) enters the strut body, which is evidenced by oil leaking down the strut body.

[the_awakening]

Thanks guys. With drive ability issues I’m having, I think the CV is shot. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about aftermarket axles around the forums. Seems like consensus is to get BMW oem remanufactured or oem off a low mileage donor car.

Any harm in replacing just one side or should I go for both since I’m doing all other suspension components anyway?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by the_awakening

Thanks guys. With drive ability issues I’m having, I think the CV is shot. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about aftermarket axles around the forums. Seems like consensus is to get BMW oem remanufactured or oem off a low mileage donor car.

Any harm in replacing just one side or should I go for both since I’m doing all other suspension components anyway?

I can't speak directly to the front shafts, but GKN are OE supplier to BMW for the rear shafts. I'd expect GKN supply the fronts as well. I installed a OEM GKN halfshaft in the left rear of my car. Perfect fit and great quality.

[the_awakening]

BTW, to close out this thread, it was my CV joint, which was totally shot. I replaced the two front axles with GKN replacement parts from FCP, and while I was at it, has a full suspension refresh done to include shocks, springs, bushings, arms, etc. The car drives great now.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

They make quite the mess when they crap out don't they