Well, I checked the list archive and realized that I did not receive
all the replies of this thread. That was last night. There is one more
added to the archive today and I still do not see them in my mailbox.

Regarding EMPI, the pair of axles for Passat I purchased from a parts
place are from China. I actually had a conversation with the store's
owner about it. I actually called first inquiring the axles. I was told
that they have them and they are made in China, cheap at $65 each.
When I went to pick them up I realized that they are EMPI brand.

I then talked to the store's owner. I expressed concern about quality.
He said nothing about EMPI. But he gave me a lecture about VW in China.
His store is very large... 80,000 square ft warehouse. They use a
electric cart (like a golf cart but much smaller) to go back and forth
between the parts bin and the front counter. He gave me one year
warranty on the axles. The axles look very decent, just like OEM in
the look. I have no doubt that they will work, probably for a while.
I mean a few years.

EMPI is a business that sources from factories all over the world of
auto parts I think. It is an American company. I have no precious
experience with this brand of auto parts. Thanks to Loren and Jim for
their comments about EMPI. I think I made a right decision to keep
the EMPI axles on the Passat. I sure can not afford $500 per axle
OEM price or $350 GKN price either. I will keep my used OEM axles
as spares. I have learned to swap axles in a couple of hours for my
Passat.

Meanwhile, I will be dealing with the wheel bearings. I have to find
a machine shop to do the actual swap of the bearing for me. This can
only be done with a properly equipped press.

David