Well today the decision was made for me 
On my way to work, the CV joint started making that dreaded clumping noise, faint at first, then louder, and I knew exactly what it was, so I turned around and drove back home, hoping I would make it, using the surface streets. I made it back and drove the Bimmer to work.
I ordered the FEQ axle with 2 day shipping. I can not get myself to pay $900 for an OEM one. I already got the old axle out and it was a pretty simple task. The hardest part was getting a big enough breaker bar and pipe extension to break loose the axle nut Upon inspection, the grease was completely liquefied in the outer CV joint. I'm really surprised at how much heat even the rear brakes generate to get that grease liquid like that. The inner one was OK, but it looks like those stamped sheet metal caps don't seal it well, so it probably could leak out there too if it gets hot enough. One thing I noticed was that the axle transmission flange bolts were not tight and I didn't have to break them loose. Source of vibration?
My thought is to replace the grease with the Redline CV-2 high performance grease. I'll see if the boot clamps are standard size. Is the Redline CV-2 available in stores?
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2002 Boxster S - NHP 200 Cell Headers,test pipes,Borla CatBack,Competition Plenum,74 mm TB, EVOMS Tune,Tarett UDP,Eibach Swaybars,BIlstein PSS9s,TuneRS rear toe links,wheel studs,15 mm wheel spacers on all 4,EBC yellow stuff pads,Sebro rotors, EBS oil baffles,160 deg Thermostat,2 quart Accusump,full filtration remote oil filter,rad fan switch,custom gauge/switch plate, Race Capture data logging, 90K miles
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