Firstfives.org

It looks like they are self contained units, removed by removing the allen bolts.

Yes ? Are there any tricks, as in jacking the axle to an optimum angle ? Or beware the bolts being rust welded,...

Once removed it appears cleaning, replacing the bellows (boots) is not quick and easy.

I jacked mine up, put stands in place and used a block of wood to keep the wheel from spinning while loosening the allen bolts. You can also use the emergency brake too but I wanted to be able to rotate the wheels to gain better access to each bolt while staying underneath the car.

You may want to have a breaker bar handing just in case you come across one that's a bit more stubborn to remove.

It wasn't too bad to R&R them as long as you have some time on your hands.

I have to do this again soon because the new bolts I ordered didn't come on time when I initially had the shafts rebuilt.

If you find you are about to strip the allen head you can always clamp a decent sized vice grips on the outside of the bolt head and use the allen socket and turn them both at the same time. It makes a difference on the stubborn ones.

And yes, replacing the boot is a sluggish and very dirty process. After you get the snap ring off they will often still fight you off the splines.

I have a good set of spares w/boots. The book says to mark the position of the shafts in relation to the plates they are leaving. If I intend to swap in the spares, what's the significance of not being able to orient them using any marks ?

Do I orient them as best I can comparing each side visually or are they delicately balanced at the factory ?

I don't know if it's correct or not, but I swapped in a set from my (E28s) parts car to my driver once upon a time, with no ill effects. That was some 50 or 60,000 Lead-footed km ago.

I saw Andrew swapped in a set to his from an E28 donor, will E28's fit all E12's? I have a 77 and a nice junkyard nearby.

^^alternatively, sir, I have a good used set from an 80 528i.

You have been PM'd.

Ken