Rear axle/driveshaft... how much play is OK?

erron · 03-15-2019, 05:44 PM

Had my rear pass wheel bearing changed last week and the mechanic told me I may need an axle. OK, no problem. I took the wheel off today to check the brakes and I could pull the bar for the axle in and out about 2 inches I would say. It made me think the axle is totally trashed. But then I took the drivers side rear wheel off and it did the same thing. Are both bad, is that normal?

Also when turning the rotor a get about 2 inches of play front and backwards with a pretty decent clunk sound coming from what sounds like could be under the middle of the car. Is that a sign of a bad driveshaft? Can the joints be rebuit or do I have to replace? If anyone has any insight let me know. Car seems to drive just fine. Every so often when making a slow approach to park i get a little feeling of a clunk one time but I thought that might be a motor/trans mount I could do in warmer months.

nsjames · 03-18-2019, 10:06 PM

in and out play is normal. The shaft must plunge in and ou of the CV joints as the suspension cycles so that it can follow the arc and not get bound up.

2 inchs of play, is that 2 inchs at the tire, 2 inches at the rotor?
You'll have some play, and a clunk. That's normal CV joint stuff.
If it's not making clicking noises under acceleration, it's probably fine.

03-15-2019, 05:44 PM	#1
erron Private 10 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 06 325xi, 04 x3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Detroit iTrader: (2)	Rear axle/driveshaft... how much play is OK? Had my rear pass wheel bearing changed last week and the mechanic told me I may need an axle. OK, no problem. I took the wheel off today to check the brakes and I could pull the bar for the axle in and out about 2 inches I would say. It made me think the axle is totally trashed. But then I took the drivers side rear wheel off and it did the same thing. Are both bad, is that normal? Also when turning the rotor a get about 2 inches of play front and backwards with a pretty decent clunk sound coming from what sounds like could be under the middle of the car. Is that a sign of a bad driveshaft? Can the joints be rebuit or do I have to replace? If anyone has any insight let me know. Car seems to drive just fine. Every so often when making a slow approach to park i get a little feeling of a clunk one time but I thought that might be a motor/trans mount I could do in warmer months.
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03-18-2019, 10:06 PM	#2
nsjames Brigadier General 2466 Rep 4,328 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	in and out play is normal. The shaft must plunge in and ou of the CV joints as the suspension cycles so that it can follow the arc and not get bound up. 2 inchs of play, is that 2 inchs at the tire, 2 inches at the rotor? You'll have some play, and a clunk. That's normal CV joint stuff. If it's not making clicking noises under acceleration, it's probably fine.
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