Wheel Bearing: Service and Repair

WARNING - Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack
stands designed far the purpose. Place the jack stands beneath a structural chassis point. Do not place jack stands under suspension parts.

The wheel bearing is pressed into the trailing arm and secured with a large cir lip. The stub axle is pressed into the bearing and held in place by the drive flange collar nut. Special press tools are required to replace the wheel bearings. Read the procedure through before beginning the job.






To replace rear wheel bearing
1. Raise the car.
2. Remove the drive axle outer CV joint from the wheel drive flange as described below under Drive Axles. Support the drive axle from the chassis with wire.
3. Pry the lockplate off the drive flange collar nut.
4. Lower the car to the ground. Apply the parking brake to prevent the wheel from turning. Loosen, but do not remove the drive flange collar nut.
5. Raise the car and remove the wheel.
6. Remove the brake caliper assembly and rotor as described in 340 Brakes. Leave the brake hose connected to the caliper. Suspend the caliper assembly from the chassis with wire.
7. Remove the ABS pulse sensor.






8. Remove the drive flange collar nut and remove the flange using a puller if necessary.
9. Remove the large circlip from the trailing arm bearing housing.
10. With the drive flange removed, thread the drive flange collar nut back onto the stub axle until it is flush with the end of the axle. Using a soft-faced hammer, tap the stub axle out of the bearing.
11. If necessary, use a puller to remove the bearing inner race from the stub axle.
12. Remove the bearing from the trailing arm using a puller. (BMW special fool nos. 33 4 031, 33 4 033, and 33 4 038 or equivalents).
13. Clean the trailing arm bearing housing thoroughly. Make sure all thread bores, bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are clean.
14. Install the new wheel bearing into the trailing arm using a press (BMW special tool nos. 33 4 030, 33 4 036, and 33 4 037 or the equivalents). Apply force only to the outer race when pressing in the bearing. Install a new circlip.
NOTE:Make sure that the bearing is pressed in far enough to contact the shoulder at the back side of the housing and that the circlip is fully seated in its groove.

15. Draw the stub axle into the bearing using a puller (BMW special tool nos. 33 4 080, and 33 4 020 or equivalents). Support the bearing inner race when in- stalling the stub axle.
NOTE:BMW specifies special tools to pull the stub axle through the wheel bearing into position. If using alternative tools to install the axle, be sure to support the bearing inner race when pressing or pulling the axle into place.

16. Lightly oil the bearing surface of the drive flange collar nut and install it to the drive flange. Tighten the collar nut firmly, but do not fully tighten it at this time.
17. Install the brake rotor and caliper as described in 340 Brakes. Install the ABS sensor. Install the road wheel.
Tightening Torques:
-Brake rotor to drive flange 16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
-Brake caliper to trailing arm 67 Nm (50 ft-lb)
18. Lower the car to the ground. Apply the parking brake to prevent the wheel from turning. Tighten the drive flange collar nut to its final torque.
Tightening Torque:
-Drive flange collar nut to wheel hub axle 250 Nm (184 ft-lb)
19. Install a new lock plate over the drive flange collar nut.
20. Install the drive axle as described below.