Shop Surprise - told I need two new front CV Axles for 2003 C4S...

Car does have 120K miles on it and records I got when I bought it in 2019 don't show that replacement. $2500 including labor. Is that to be expected?

Looks like aftermarket shafts are $180-500 each. Probably 3hr per side labor. What is actually wrong with the shafts? boits ripped? Thats a $20 for parts repair. If they r clicking and the ***** r worn then it should be replaced. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/por...kn-99634903811 https://www.ebay.com/itm/187961655384 Even $90 https://www.ebay.com/itm/18561811843...d48747c6d56d2c

I replaced both of my front axles on my '04 C4S last year. The car had maybe 60k miles at the time, but due to age, the boots will get torn. The GKN brand is the original manufacturer for Porsche and what I would suggest using. You can find axles for cheaper from other brands, but you'll regret it later, especially if the part was made in China. I have experience with that. Replacing the boots with a rebuild kit is an option, but it's a messy and time consuming job.

Quotes source post: 20531584

The CV joints and rubber boots have been used forever in VW and early P-cars. 6 bolts and 1 nut, plus the underbelly air pans (or whatever they are called) and an axle is out. NBD. Sure, replacing torn boots or an axle assy is not fun. Repack or boot stuff- yes messy, but a heck of a lot less cost than $2500 somewhere. There are great videos on how to do boots and repack CV joints on YouTube. Pretty simple, even if you don't want to take the CV joint apart to repack. The little clips that hold on the underbelly pans are a bit**h to get off, many times broken. Get 6-8 new ones, they are cheap. A replacement boot is also low cost, under ~$40 each @ Pelican and others.? I don't remember exactly. This job is not rocket science and easy doable DIY job, JMO. Many complain about the high cost of simple maintenance tasks and fail to realize they could do these easy things themselves. You don't have to lower or drop the engine, take off bumpers, or a thousand other parts, to do front axles. However, while car is up on jack stands or QuickJack, take off the front bumper and clean the radiators - another simple job. Be aware that some of the goofy/different plastic press-connectors break, but isn't a deal breaker. You don't need "Real P-Connectors, ordinary Detroit ones from a good hardware store will work just fine and look nearly identical. OK on less cost brands from Amazon, they will still last a long time, 4WD hardly ever kicks in, and anyway, 2 sets are less cost that any P-part. I bought a set from Amazon at about $160 +/- and they fit, are silent, and work well. Amazon guarantees stuff to fit and work, so I'm OK with that. So why not? Your choice & wallet. JMO ADDED: A real problem for a C4S is age. If nothing has been done to front axles for car's life, they may be "fretted", meaning mechanically "welded" to the wheel carrier. A 20-50 ton press could NOT get the axles out of wheel carrier (having taken all of this off the car). Then you are left with getting new wheel carriers, next to impossible, so look for used 996 Turbo wheel carriers. Same parts, identical part numbers. ---NOT easy to find. That whole scenario would make a "shop" repair bill astronomical. Find what is wrong yourself and then find the parts. Pretty simple. Think about it. YMMV

If this is a reasonable quote to do the repairs.

Yes if using factory parts at dealer labor rates. It can be done at 1/2 the cost at a decent indy with aftermarket parts.

<100 miles. Here is the result of the "OEM Joint", "premium" axles from one of the popular suppliers on our 986 S, with the autopsy photo of the axle. The axle appeared to be of decent quality, just with an inadequate amount of lubricant. Note the heat discolored rolling element. Just buy OE, although if true GKN was available from a legitimate source I would try that. Maybe I have become overly distrustful about the aftermarket, but I find myself increasingly just buying OE parts. Don't even consider the low end axles.

You could save some money by going RWD