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      07-11-2018, 12:12 PM   #1
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F30 335 xDrive Anybody blow up their front axle bearings?

I recently, a couple of weeks ago, shifted manually (8spd AT) into 2nd going onto freeway ramp, went wot as I always do and BANG blew out my right axle bearings. I got a used axle from a '14 donor and installed it but I'm leary about going wot at the moment. I'm getting ready to install the Speedtech kit with BW 8374. I know that we will be limiting torque in 1st and 2nd gear so that makes me feel better but I was wondering how common or uncommon this axle issue is. I talked to one of my buddies who has a friend who had the same issue.
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      07-11-2018, 03:49 PM   #2
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Are you lowered? I read that if you’ve dropped the car it puts extra strain on the axles and they’re prone to breaking. To back it up as soon as I put coils on my 435xi I started feeling vibarations from the front passenger side when taking off from a stop.
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      07-11-2018, 06:18 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ldvudi View Post
Are you lowered? I read that if you’ve dropped the car it puts extra strain on the axles and they’re prone to breaking. To back it up as soon as I put coils on my 435xi I started feeling vibarations from the front passenger side when taking off from a stop.
Definitely lowered a couple of inches, I don't feel any vibrations though. I guess I'll have to buy a spare for each side lol, I told the tow truck driver he would probably be picking me up again, he already towed me 3 times over the last 3 years.
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      07-12-2018, 11:04 AM   #4
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I've heard of this happening from launching too much without limiting boost in 1st or 2nd and if upgraded turbo, in third. Did you have boost limited and are you running upgrade turbo? How many miles on your car? I've just ordered some suspension goodies to lower my car.....exact same one you have
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      07-12-2018, 11:25 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Marlinman View Post
I've heard of this happening from launching too much without limiting boost in 1st or 2nd and if upgraded turbo, in third. Did you have boost limited and are you running upgrade turbo? How many miles on your car? I've just ordered some suspension goodies to lower my car.....exact same one you have
I haven't launched at all and still on the stock turbo. I have about 80,000 miles on my car. I've been thinking about the design of the axle and I really don't see any reason lowering the car a couple of inches would put any extra stress on the axles so I think it's the miles on the axle bearings, all it takes is 1 of the bearings having a single flaw and it will go under stress at some point. With the JB4 and all of my mods as well as running e50 I'm sure I'm running significantly higher torque than stock. When Trebila does my tune he'll limit the torque/boost in 1st & 2nd gear.

This will not deter me, still looking to get to 700hp!!!
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      07-12-2018, 12:34 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zole2112 View Post
I haven't launched at all and still on the stock turbo. I have about 80,000 miles on my car. I've been thinking about the design of the axle and I really don't see any reason lowering the car a couple of inches would put any extra stress on the axles so I think it's the miles on the axle bearings, all it takes is 1 of the bearings having a single flaw and it will go under stress at some point. With the JB4 and all of my mods as well as running e50 I'm sure I'm running significantly higher torque than stock. When Trebila does my tune he'll limit the torque/boost in 1st & 2nd gear.

This will not deter me, still looking to get to 700hp!!!
I love the enthusiasm!!
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      07-12-2018, 04:45 PM   #7
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I love this car, I bought it to mod so going all the way baby!
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      07-13-2018, 07:35 AM   #8
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Cool, I know plenty who have lowered their xdrive f30s despite the recommendation of course that it will indeed impact the xdrive system and axels etc. I have stage 2 turbo and have limited boost in first, second and third so hopefully that keeps me safe.
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      07-15-2018, 06:59 PM   #9
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What setup do you have specifically? OP?
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      07-17-2018, 08:03 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlinman View Post
What setup do you have specifically? OP?
I installed the CATuned coilovers for my 335xi along with the rear subframe inserts, rear Megan sway bar and upper adjustable rear camber arms.

My tires are about 1/2" outside my fenders so I lowered it to about a 1" gap between the tires and fender and then I set the damper to 20 (out of 30) on both front and rear. I haven't installed my front sway bar yet, it's a Megan as well, because I needed shorter custom length end links, I'll install that when I do my turbo install.

One thing to note is that I have no sound, clunks/squeaks/rattles from the CATuned coilovers at all. I expected some noise from them but they are making no noises at all. I've been impressed with them so far. I think they were about $1200. Install was pretty easy since I have a lift. The front install is a lot easier if you lower the strut to the lowest setting and then raise it when it's in place, really easy to adjust height. Also, the rear coils keep the metal top hat insert above the stock coils. In addition I trimmed the stock rubber bump stops to fit the length of the new rear shocks.
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      07-18-2018, 11:39 AM   #11
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and you're snapping that thing on a stock turbo!? yikes.

I hammer on my PS2 almost every chance I get when merging on the interstate. I'm stock suspension though and boost limited in third gear even. I'll be placing stiffer struts and ACS springs soon so I'm hoping this won't result in the snapping/blowout you experienced.
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      07-18-2018, 03:49 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlinman View Post
and you're snapping that thing on a stock turbo!? yikes.

I hammer on my PS2 almost every chance I get when merging on the interstate. I'm stock suspension though and boost limited in third gear even. I'll be placing stiffer struts and ACS springs soon so I'm hoping this won't result in the snapping/blowout you experienced.
yeah I hope you don't experience the same issue. I really don't want to raise mine back up so I'll see how things go, hopefully that was an anomoly lol.
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      07-18-2018, 05:28 PM   #13
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Bad news, for me anyway. I'm out of state for work and my son just called, he's using my car while his is worked on and the right axle just blew out again. Now I'm thinking that maybe I can't lower my xdrive that much so when I get home I'm going to install a replacement axle and raise it a couple of inches. That sucks since I love it lowered but it does me no good if I want to drive it.
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      07-18-2018, 09:30 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zole2112 View Post
Bad news, for me anyway. I'm out of state for work and my son just called, he's using my car while his is worked on and the right axle just blew out again. Now I'm thinking that maybe I can't lower my xdrive that much so when I get home I'm going to install a replacement axle and raise it a couple of inches. That sucks since I love it lowered but it does me no good if I want to drive it.
Car must be sitting very low for that to happen! Any pics of how car sits?
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      07-18-2018, 09:36 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlinman View Post
and you're snapping that thing on a stock turbo!? yikes.

I hammer on my PS2 almost every chance I get when merging on the interstate. I'm stock suspension though and boost limited in third gear even. I'll be placing stiffer struts and ACS springs soon so I'm hoping this won't result in the snapping/blowout you experienced.
The ACS springs are basically the Mperformance springs. So the car will lower and look much like a stock rwd f30 335i or 435i with M performance suspension. Definitely lower than the Xdrive springs.So I highly doubt you would have the same issue at all.
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      07-18-2018, 11:05 PM   #16
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My cars pretty low, judging by this I’m half expecting to blow all 4 at the same time. Lol
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      07-19-2018, 10:42 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ceedawg View Post
The ACS springs are basically the Mperformance springs. So the car will lower and look much like a stock rwd f30 335i or 435i with M performance suspension. Definitely lower than the Xdrive springs.So I highly doubt you would have the same issue at all.

Thanks ceedawg. Yes that is what I think as well. The ACS drop I don't think will be as much as zole's. That angle looks steep man!
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      07-19-2018, 09:01 PM   #18
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Mine isn't any lower I don't think...yours actually looks lower than mine for sure. huh

I need to figure out the root cause of this, I like it low and I prefer not to raise it but I can't keep replacing axles, there are not that many used available.
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      07-20-2018, 10:35 AM   #19
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Please let us know if and when you find the root cause, it would be very helpful!
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      07-21-2018, 05:00 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlinman View Post
Please let us know if and when you find the root cause, it would be very helpful!
I'm going to talk to a couple of Mechanical Engineering gurus at work next week. I'm starting to think maybe the angle change with a 2" drop, which is about 5 degrees difference I believe, may change the direction of the load on the 3 bearings at the end of the shaft outside of the differential enough that the load they can handle is significantly reduced, that's all I can figure at the moment anyway.
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      08-14-2018, 08:08 AM   #21
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Any update OP? Your drop did look a little more than most I've seen with this setup....What's your status now and info you received on the setup? Thanks!
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      08-14-2018, 09:49 AM   #22
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I replaced the right axle and raised my car about 1" front and rear about a couple weeks ago. In addition I rotated my front right strut a few degrees toward the front of the car to angle the swaybar end so it was a bit farther away from the axle, it made me feel better anyway lol. So far no issues but I am still leery of going wot. I am so tempted to buy another axle as a spare but I hate to pay another tow bill.

I have the old axle and 2 of the 3 bearings, I haven't had a chance to discuss with anybody yet but there is a local tuner who moonlights as a mechanical engineer so I'm planning to stop in and see what his thoughts are.

I want to put it back up on the rack so I can measure the length of the axle in it's normal position so I can compare it to the old axle so I know how far into the receiver the bearings are. Then I can calculate how much this would change when lowering the car another inch.

I wish I had something definitive. I had made 2 changes before the first axle blew out, lowered the car and stiffened the suspension both primarily through the coilovers. The most likely culprit was the lowering. I like how low I had it but it appears to be the issue.

The weird thing about it is that the left axle is much shorter than the right so lowering it should have had a significantly greater effect on the left axle vs the right.
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