My 05 R53 Mini developed a subtle tremor late in the tracking season last year. I first notice while at Portland International Raceway during a HPDE day. My Desire is swine bone stock with the exception of 15% pulley, and Swift springs. The symptom was at the braking zone when I stomped on the brake at the end of the straightaways there was this unsettling tremor that persists after the release of the brake while negotiating the curve. I had checked all the usual suspects (too long a list to list) and everything looked normal. I am quite sure one of the front axles is on the way out. I have owned enough German cars with CV joints to know the symptoms and difficulties of accurately diagnosis a problem caused by a lightly worn CV joint that begins to exhibit subtle symptoms.

a foto of my serving of an axle with German GKN plunging CV joints



I had read horror stories of people buying Cardone reman'ed axles (the passenger side) and aware of the outrageous prices of MINI's axles. In my research I infer some of the usual Mini suspect vendors rebuild the axles. A bit of research it appears to me they might use this Meyle CV kit p/n 314-498-0002-INT. Yet searching this forum yielded squad, WTF?

OK, I am no idiot. I know our Mini's axles has two joints. A non-plunging outer CV and a sliding non-articulating inner joint. I infer the sliding non-articulating inner joint has no replacement part/kit. For my problem, I am quite sure the problem lies in one of the two outer non-plunging CV joints. I would prefer to replace the CV joints rather than either playing Russian roulette of the reasonably price replacement axles. Yet I cannot find anything on R5X owners servicing their own axles with this Meyle kit.

For what's worth, I am actually very surprised this kit from Meyle. There were only two German CV manufacturers, and now it has long since been consolidated into one that is GKN. Meyle is not known for CV joints or drive axle manufacturer, so to me it is likely just a rebranding or "value added" kitting.

So after my long-winded post, who has service their own axles with this Meyle CV kit p/n 314-498-0002-INT CV joint service kit?




The information provided is less than useful. I infer the CV joint is retained by the axle shaft by the C-clip in the crap photo. So the product photo is misleading that it shows also the axle stub, which is the axle shaft that you reuse. I infer some Mini specialists on this forum do rebuild the drive axles with similar or the exact service kit.

My Mini has less than 50k miles. I know many axles lasts over 100k. I suspect what kills the joints is how tight you turn the steering wheel. Full lock turn while negotiating a driveway must be what killed mine rather than pop-the-clutch driveline abuse which I never do.

 

For what it's worth, I recently replaced both axles at 156K miles due to torn and leaking boots. Replaced both with Cardone A1. Passenger side then leaked transmission lube. Another member reported the same problem; he installed an axle from AutoHausAZ which fixed his leak. Before I could follow his lead my leak slowed to the point where it wasn't worth the time, expense, and risk of causing more problems every time I get under the car. I'll keep an eye on it and report back if the leak repeats.

 

Thanks for chiming in. I am familiar with the threads of the reported issue. Passenger side carrier bearing pressed in at incorrect spot of the axle preventing the oil seal surface properly mating to the seal. There is no telling if Cardone ever get their jig setup corrected - and I think likely not.

 

Industrial tooling, with use over time does fall out of spec, sometimes in tiny increments until it is finally "noticed."

One example that comes to mind are the headstocks on C.F. Martin guitars.

Over many years, the router template used to carve the outer profile of the headstock wore - eventually leading to rounded corners.
Compare the headstock from 1935 (left) to one from 1965 at right.

On guitar parts, it's a matter of aesthetics.
On automobile parts, it's unacceptable.

 

Your mention of the router tooling wear piqued my interest. I suspect it is ole wives' tale which tend to stick for something like a cult guitar. It does not pass common sensibility test for me knowing how typically a carpenter uses a router jig. Craftsman always, especially in repetition of a production line, run the router one way - say CCW. This repetitive motion will cause a very slow wear on the jig if millions were made. However the wear will not be symmetrical on the two top corners. The jig wear to this excessive degree will cause most dissonant asymmetry on the head stock.

A quick search I found this post that debunks the popular tale. I think it is more likely just evolution of atheistic taste by the factory.