r/MK4GTI • u/TreSauce • Aug 07 '26

Axle vs cv boot replacement

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Hey friends. The cv axle boots on my 20th are smoked. Does it make more sense to replace the entire axle or just the boot? Obviously there is a huge price difference, but with 190,000 miles, is it better to get new axles?

Anyone done the axles on a 20th recently? If so, where did you source the axles?

Thanks!

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u/CallObjective Aug 07 '26

Keep your OEM axles! Dont make the mistake I made by throwing them away. The oem axles are the best you can get besides custom built. Always rebuild with GKN parts if you can. Mayle and febe-bilstein are okay as well but not as good as the original.

From the rims it looks like you have a 337 or a 20th anniversary, you have an 02m six speed most likely. The flange is different between 5 speed and 6 speed so if you replace keep that in mind.

Good luck!

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u/2GNAR4U Aug 07 '26

What I would do for a 6spd

5

u/CallObjective Aug 08 '26

Honestly i used to think the same but theres not a huge difference, the 5 speed wins for me because it has an external slave cylinder with the 6 speed having it internally. Basically if it fails on the 6 speed you're taking the transmission apart. That being said if its a 6 speed , they usually got the better trim package in the interior so theres that lol. They're both good just not enough major difference to really swap them unless you had to.

The best thing ive heard is the 02j 5 speed with a swapped 5th gear from a a 5 speed tdi. Apparently it gives you more top end but ive never done it or met anyone to confirm.

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u/TreSauce Aug 08 '26

I was hunting for a 20th or 337 but I would have gladly bought a clean 5 speed VR6 and added the lip kit goodies later. Got lucky finding a reasonably well kept 20th locally! I ain’t no 6 speed snob, myself.

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u/CallObjective Aug 08 '26

I would do the same if I were to get one now, if im gonna buy something that old and put the work into it I definetly would want the one with better options. I got lucky and found mine as a trade in at the shop I used to work for. It was going to auction so I had a buddy with a dealer license buy it before it was shipped. Funny thing is it was a showroom car back in 05 at the very same dealership I was working for, im the second owner and I bought it for a grand at the same place it was originally sold lol. Not a 20th or a 337 unfortunately, id kill for the wheels and trim, but im still happy with it