Quote:
Originally Posted by Shern
These posts invariably contain a few oblique references to disaster: "known to fail," "catastrophic failure" etc,
How exactly do these so called Chinese axles "fail?"
I've yet to read any first hand experience, or even a third party anecdote.
One of the first things I had to deal with as a new owner was a busted axle due to a torn boot. I didn't know any better, so I purchased and installed a generic homokinetic axle.
The next time it happened (4 years later on the other side), I did the same with a generic annular axle. No issues to date. The former has about 60k miles on it.
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Calling something a Chinese axle covers multiple manufactures that are bought and sold buy multiple companies under that own company's name not the Chinese manufactures name. So it is tough to nail down what company selling them here is selling the good ones.
There is threads that describe how the Chinese annular axles have had the differential end bolts come out on them.
Other threads were people had trouble fitting the Chinese axles. A few where the homo kinetic Chinese Axles had started making noise.
Some like yourself have not had issues.
If you drive locally and by the Axles locally it is fairly easy for you to exchange them under a lifetime warranty.
Cheapest choice for real Mercedes rebuilts is that Autozone and other Car Part Chains carry Car Done axles. I put a set on and about 5 years latter the Boots on them started getting small exterior cracks and I re-booted them with the mentioned Dorman Boots. But, the seam Cardone axles have been on the car since 2008 but as I said I changed the boots. And you would get what ever warranty Autozone or the others have.
Next is CVJ (company in Colorado) rebuilt original Mercedes axles and they are sort of the Mercedes of the axle re builders.