E36 M3 axle differences

[RobertE36]

does any know if the e36 m3 axles are interchangeable from 27mm to 38mm
my axle is toast and i found a new set of 27mm axles for a steal

currently have the 38mm in the car now

have been looking extensively on the forums but there seems to be no definitive answer

I know one in solid and one is hollow but thicker.

Does anyone know if they are directly interchangeable or will something like the abs sensor not work properly, flange not bolt up?

Real oem has 2 different part numbers for the different diameters and not much more info

Thanks for the help

[bluptgm3]

The 1996+M3s got the larger diameter hollow axles. These changed to better handle the greater torque of the 3.2L engine.
As I recall, the 1995M axles will fit.


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[pbonsalb]

They fit fine. 325 and 328 axles won’t fit the M3 diff outputs or the M3 rear trailing arms.

Beware most 20-25 year old CVs need servicing. It’s a pain to do right but not as hard to flush and repack. Whatever grease is in there now is probably like soup.

[Braymond141]

The 1996+M3s got the larger diameter hollow axles. These changed to better handle the greater torque of the 3.2L engine.
As I recall, the 1995M axles will fit.


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Not correct. The axle change happened with the 6-bolt to 4-bolt change in 10/1996. All 1996 model year and first run 97 model year have solid axles with 6-bolt CV. Power output had nothing to do with it.

Yes they are interchangeable. You can also mix them if you wanted to try to reduce wheel hop for any straight line style racing (The Pontiac GTO guys do this).

[pbonsalb]

How will mixing the solid and hollow axles reduce wheel hop?

[RobertE36]

Thanks for the info just ordered my new set

[Braymond141]

How will mixing the solid and hollow axles reduce wheel hop?

Something to do with the masses when spinning. Having different weights keeps the IRS from hopping. I’ve never tested this myself.

[bluptgm3]

How will mixing the solid and hollow axles reduce wheel hop?

Something to do with the masses when spinning. Having different weights keeps the IRS from hopping. I’ve never tested this myself.

I think it is the differential in axle ‘wrap-up’.
A shaft of larger diameter of the same mass as smaller solid shaft is going to have different torsion properties, than a solid shaft of smaller diameter.
The differential values must keep the rear from hopping by imparting differential torsion frequency to each rear tire.

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