MOt time - How to fit front wheel bearings???

[hazd31]

As in title, need to mot the turd this week, got a few bits to do but most important is the front wheel bearings, i have brought a pair, but need a quick guide on how to fit them.

Can it be done at home? or am i best off taking the strut off and taking to down the garage?

[Grrrmachine]

It's not a big job. I've not done it myself, but the Wiki explanation is pretty simple:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... el_Bearing

[hazd31]

Simple job, however i brought a 36mm socket, and it wont fit inside the centre do i have to turn the socket down on a lathe or what?

[Grrrmachine]

It is a very tight fit; seems you need a slim-walled socket. Did you just buy (bought, not brought ) it specifically for this job? Still got the receipt?

[hazd31]

yeh just purchased it, no reciept though, and i wouldnt need one tbh, there good as gold at the motor factors, im chasing up one off a mate, if not ill get this one turned down tomorrow!

[Billwill]

Make sure you do not pack the bearings full of grease....they should come with the correct amount of grease inside.....I learnt this the hard way when I was much younger!

[e30topless]

Simple job, however i brought a 36mm socket, and it wont fit inside the centre do i have to turn the socket down on a lathe or what?

don't buy a hex 32mm socket, it won't fit

you need one like this..



oh and it's much easier to undo while the strut is on the car, the bearing is usually not too bad to remove and it's a really good time to replace the disc backing plate if yours is shot

[Brianmoooore]

I find the old bearing/hub can usually be pulled off by hand if you refit the road wheel after removing the nut, and pull them off together.

[hazd31]

Yep was increadibly easy, soaked the hubs in wd40, machined my new tool down and they came off real easy, by hand, didnt need a hammer or to re fit the wheels

Was concidering packing them with grease, but fortunatly i was lazy!

[asmith88]

my bearing practically fell out when fitting, couldnt ask for handier

[kolee]

Mind if I ask where you got the bearing and how much you paid. Seen a mountain of them on fleabay and prices range from £15.00-£50.00.

[hazd31]

Mind if I ask where you got the bearing and how much you paid. Seen a mountain of them on fleabay and prices range from £15.00-£50.00.

£85 for the pair including vat from the motorfactors.

[hazd31]

Failed on rear subframe bushes and an advisory on driveshaft gator

Booked into a specialist as its cheaper than me mucking around for a couple of days!

I do need a decent drive shaft if anyone has one?

[Duke137]

Failed on rear subframe bushes and an advisory on driveshaft gator

Booked into a specialist as its cheaper than me mucking around for a couple of days!

I do need a decent drive shaft if anyone has one?

I have a pair

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=217745

[mcbonio]

Why are the rear bearings so different from the front? The rears are a real bugger to do, yet the fronts are easy in comparison. I'n guessing due to the parking brake mechanism being there the bearing can't be part of the hub.?

[Brianmoooore]

Nothing to do with the parking brake. RWD is the clue.

[hazd31]

Nothing to do with the parking brake. RWD is the clue.

This is true, front ones on fwd are a lot harder than rear ones.

[mcbonio]

I think as a whole older BMWs are pretty easy to work on. Everything is well laid out, enough space to get hands and tools in and not many special tools needed really.

I do work on my brothers Toyota Supra, everything on that is difficult and time consuming.!