Rear axles

Thunderzol · 02-06-2019, 09:06 PM

Hello,
What are my options to source these? I don’t want anything that will break in two weeks but also don’t have $1000+ in the budget. Any help would be appreciated.

reelizmpro · 02-08-2019, 08:35 AM

There are many options. Someone on FB R3v was selling rebuilt GKN axles for $260 a pair, shipped. He's in San Diego.

JimmyP · 02-08-2019, 09:22 AM

I literally just went through this shopping experience, as it was time to PM the race car axles.
I googled this 100 different ways, read a million forum posts from all different forums and car types.
The choices are basically (3) when you distill it down.

(1) Cardone rebuilds which are a complete crapshoot.
Even if they dont say Cardone, supposedly any axle that is sold as "rebuilt" (as in requires a core) no matter what brand / company label is on the box comes from the Cardone company. Apparently they are the only ones actually doing the rebuilds.
With these rebuild you never know whats coming out of the box.
I didnt even consider this option.
I have never seen one that the splines were not just fucked.

(2) A slew of "New" Chinese axles, all sold under about 20 different brand labels, but at the end of the day they all seem to be Chinese axles.
It seems like the labels are endless GSP, FEQ, Sure Trak, DSS, etc, etc.
Basically all seem to be under $100 and all come from China (my assumption was probably all from the same factory).

(3) New GKN / Loebro which are the only ones that seem to be BMW quality.
Best price I found was Turner / ECS @ $250 ea., buyer beware with those two as evidenced by my post in the Turner / ECS thread, they may as well have shipped them in a shopping bag. Two expensive, heavy axles with easily damaged threads and splines just chucked in a box with literally 2 thin strips of air pillows as packing. Assholes. I literally wanted to get in an airplane, go to their warehouse and pick a fight I was so mad when I opened what was left of the shipping box.

Since this set of axles I was shopping for was intended for my race car and DNFs cost way more than the cost of the broken parts, I did the GKN option.

For one of my 100% street cars, I might gamble on trying a set of Chinese axles just to see what they are all about.
Or at least buy one just to hold one in my hand and see what they are all about.

bmwman91 · 02-08-2019, 03:58 PM

When I rebuilt the drivetrain and suspension on my E30 a few years ago I went with the GKN Loebro ones. At the time I got them from RM European and they seemed to be packaged a little better than what JimmyP describes. Each one was in its own GKN-branded cardboard box (a box that was properly sized and obviously intended for the product), and those were packed into the larger box with the rest of my stuff.

I have no idea who owns RM European or of they are independent or what, but they are one of the few remaining places I still like. They do not have the lowest prices, but they are reasonable.

ZEKTI · 02-08-2019, 04:03 PM

I purchased 2 new GKN. Fcp has lifetime warranty but if the originals last almost 30 years these might too and who knows what 2050 will look like. I chose OE as I’m planning road trips and I’m not getting stranded from a crap axle.

That being said I think GSP is the main Chinese manufacturer for all the e30 axles. Most others seem to be repacked.

Issue is new Chinese ones historically have had weak cages and break as well as non forged axles. You could buy 2 new GSP ones from ECs, but 2 nasty used ones and get new hardware from the GSP and the used “cores” from donors. I’ve seen that route. Beware new GKN are slightly different design (no hump in center) and made in Spain. That said they are still OE quality replacements.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

CurrusDei · 02-10-2019, 06:22 PM

I rebuilt my factory ones. Details in my build thread. I can elaborate if helpful

JimmyP · 02-10-2019, 07:02 PM

I thought about rebuilding mine and I still have the cores, but when the balls or cages wear or develop play, there is no amount of "rebuilding" we can do as users.

Us "rebuilding" them is just a re-grease with new boots (which is the same thing I think Cardone does, thats what I have heard}.

CurrusDei · 02-12-2019, 07:04 AM

Yeh, my internals were fine, just needed re-packing and a good cleanup. Noticeable improvement in mobility after i did the rebuild

02-06-2019, 09:06 PM	#1
Thunderzol Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Stockton,CA Posts: 172	Rear axles Hello, What are my options to source these? I don’t want anything that will break in two weeks but also don’t have $1000+ in the budget. Any help would be appreciated.

02-08-2019, 08:35 AM	#2
reelizmpro R3V OG Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LA-SoCal Posts: 8,610	There are many options. Someone on FB R3v was selling rebuilt GKN axles for $260 a pair, shipped. He's in San Diego. __________________ "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj 85 323i M TECH 1 - ALPINEWEISS/SCHWARZE 88 M3 - LACHSSILBER/SCHWARZE 89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II/M TECH CLOTH-ALCANTARA 89 M3 S52 - SEPANG BRONZE/SCHWARZE 91 M TECHNIC TURBO - MACAOBLAU/M TECH CLOTH-LEATHER Last edited by reelizmpro; 02-08-2019 at 09:51 AM.

02-08-2019, 09:22 AM	#3
JimmyP Grease Monkey Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 302	I literally just went through this shopping experience, as it was time to PM the race car axles. I googled this 100 different ways, read a million forum posts from all different forums and car types. The choices are basically (3) when you distill it down. (1) Cardone rebuilds which are a complete crapshoot. Even if they dont say Cardone, supposedly any axle that is sold as "rebuilt" (as in requires a core) no matter what brand / company label is on the box comes from the Cardone company. Apparently they are the only ones actually doing the rebuilds. With these rebuild you never know whats coming out of the box. I didnt even consider this option. I have never seen one that the splines were not just fucked. (2) A slew of "New" Chinese axles, all sold under about 20 different brand labels, but at the end of the day they all seem to be Chinese axles. It seems like the labels are endless GSP, FEQ, Sure Trak, DSS, etc, etc. Basically all seem to be under $100 and all come from China (my assumption was probably all from the same factory). (3) New GKN / Loebro which are the only ones that seem to be BMW quality. Best price I found was Turner / ECS @ $250 ea., buyer beware with those two as evidenced by my post in the Turner / ECS thread, they may as well have shipped them in a shopping bag. Two expensive, heavy axles with easily damaged threads and splines just chucked in a box with literally 2 thin strips of air pillows as packing. Assholes. I literally wanted to get in an airplane, go to their warehouse and pick a fight I was so mad when I opened what was left of the shipping box. Since this set of axles I was shopping for was intended for my race car and DNFs cost way more than the cost of the broken parts, I did the GKN option. For one of my 100% street cars, I might gamble on trying a set of Chinese axles just to see what they are all about. Or at least buy one just to hold one in my hand and see what they are all about. __________________ Jimmy P. 87 E30 M3 Prodrive British Touring Car 88 E30 M3 Zinnoberot - Garage Queen 88 E30 M3 Lachsilber - SCCA SPU #98 92 M Technic Cabrio - S14 Powered! 98 318Ti Morea Green 04 325i Touring Alpine 04 Ford F350 Dually Tow Machine Last edited by JimmyP; 02-08-2019 at 09:31 AM.

02-08-2019, 03:58 PM	#4
bmwman91 R3VLimited Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: South Bay Area Posts: 2,245	When I rebuilt the drivetrain and suspension on my E30 a few years ago I went with the GKN Loebro ones. At the time I got them from RM European and they seemed to be packaged a little better than what JimmyP describes. Each one was in its own GKN-branded cardboard box (a box that was properly sized and obviously intended for the product), and those were packed into the larger box with the rest of my stuff. I have no idea who owns RM European or of they are independent or what, but they are one of the few remaining places I still like. They do not have the lowest prices, but they are reasonable. __________________

02-08-2019, 04:03 PM	#5
ZEKTI Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Detroit Posts: 87	I purchased 2 new GKN. Fcp has lifetime warranty but if the originals last almost 30 years these might too and who knows what 2050 will look like. I chose OE as I’m planning road trips and I’m not getting stranded from a crap axle. That being said I think GSP is the main Chinese manufacturer for all the e30 axles. Most others seem to be repacked. Issue is new Chinese ones historically have had weak cages and break as well as non forged axles. You could buy 2 new GSP ones from ECs, but 2 nasty used ones and get new hardware from the GSP and the used “cores” from donors. I’ve seen that route. Beware new GKN are slightly different design (no hump in center) and made in Spain. That said they are still OE quality replacements. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ OBD1 S52 E36 Compact 84 318i M10 Zender

02-10-2019, 06:22 PM	#6
CurrusDei Mod Crazy Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: garage Posts: 622	I rebuilt my factory ones. Details in my build thread. I can elaborate if helpful __________________ _______________________________________________ 4 Year M3 Build, In Progress RMT200 Retrofit

02-10-2019, 07:02 PM	#7
JimmyP Grease Monkey Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 302	I thought about rebuilding mine and I still have the cores, but when the balls or cages wear or develop play, there is no amount of "rebuilding" we can do as users. Us "rebuilding" them is just a re-grease with new boots (which is the same thing I think Cardone does, thats what I have heard}. __________________ Jimmy P. 87 E30 M3 Prodrive British Touring Car 88 E30 M3 Zinnoberot - Garage Queen 88 E30 M3 Lachsilber - SCCA SPU #98 92 M Technic Cabrio - S14 Powered! 98 318Ti Morea Green 04 325i Touring Alpine 04 Ford F350 Dually Tow Machine

02-12-2019, 07:04 AM	#8
CurrusDei Mod Crazy Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: garage Posts: 622	Yeh, my internals were fine, just needed re-packing and a good cleanup. Noticeable improvement in mobility after i did the rebuild __________________ _______________________________________________ 4 Year M3 Build, In Progress RMT200 Retrofit

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