E30 Zone

There seems to be a few choices from GKN when it comes to replacing the diff side c.v. joints.

Are the 100mm 25 spline joints on page 5 in the following GKN catalogue the same quality as oem or are you better off using good original ones ?

I am not sure what to do about the driveshafts, I was going to use the C.A. tuned ones but they seem to have a bad reputation.

Has anyone found a good replacement for the wheel side c.v. joints ?


http://www.gknservice.com/fileadmin/use ... alogue.pdf

gkn are oem. no better or worse, with big power its the outer cv that starts going though not the inner. usually once you upgrade the shafts the next thing to go is the diff output flanges and you end up having to do both

Outers are a problem that lasts right through to the E46. Not uncommon to see an E46 m3 with the drive splines on the outer CV twisted into a helix.

Danthe had a good picture a while back clearly showing how even a stock E46 M3 can twist them up.

The back end of the E30 is just not designed for over 300hp, without custom trailing arms that can take bigger splined shafts its n expensive loosing battle.

SKF list a new inner CV joint and they are about £35 each with the metal caps, boot and bolts.
It's a shame you can't buy the outer joint or the metal crimp cap so you can make it serviceable easily.
If you are junking the outer CV's could I have them as I have the joints which are as new, but need the metal caps which I can remove and re-crimp.

GKN are proper gear Keith

Strong diff -



If those outputs were made by CAtuned they would be in a million pieces

It is possible to carefully pop the cap off the outer joint in a way that allows you to clean/remove/change an outer joint, done it a couple of times with no long term issues.
You just have to make sure you recrimp the cap well or tack it with a couple of small MIG tacks.

As the cv joints seem to be in good condition I have decided to just clean, regrease and fit new boots.
Thanks for the replies.