Removing and replacing the outer CV joint?

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:00 pm

Hi folks something has fooked up on the rear end of my 89 325i Sport. Diff seems fine and has no whines or big leaks. Both wheels spin when jacked up but, car moves but with a nice grinding noise coming from behind the rear disks. This noise is not so apparent when the back is not under load. I have removed the rear disks and everything looks fine.

If you turn the rear wheels with your hands you can feel it becomes alot harder to turn in the same place every rotation. I cannot hear any noise indicating the wheel bearing to be worn, but i would of had warning if these were wearing. This problem has really come out of the blue and occured afer i had the front end jacked up to change the FRONT pads!

My own process of elimination has led me to the outer CV joint theory? Sorry for the long post but i'm a bit stuck! I've removed the nuts up by the diff, but to remove the outer cv i have to take out the drive shafts as these are in separable items?

Thanks Guys!

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:05 pm

Dude there is a big bolt in the centre of the hub, take that off, then get a hub puller and take the hub off, then the whole shaft can slide off. But i would get a whole arm it would be easier to change that.

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:51 pm

.. rear axles HAVE CV joints???

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:04 pm

Yes the drive shafts on the rear arms consist of two CV joints. (rasta smilie)

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:17 pm

Andy what size is this big nut as i only have 30mm and 27mm on my socket set, 30 is to big really and 27 too small! I realised this nut would have to come off to get the drive shaft out. These nuts look like they have not been off before. Should i change the wheel bearings while i'm there? i already have one at home but i've heard this is a turd job.

Do you know how much this driveshaft outer CV part costs at all?

Thanks Dude

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:32 pm

Ã‚£289 for the drive shaft.
There is a securing plate that needs to come off. The nut size is 30mm.

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:37 pm

tell me you are fooking joking!

Post Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:37 pm

Post Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:26 am

I can get you one mate, but it won't be for a week or two. Much cheaper than that aswell.

Post Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:37 am

i have 2 here u can have for free.... but they are still attached to the arms, but u can take the whole lot--they are the drum brake arms anyway

Karan

Post Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:20 pm

Karan will or are they the same on all models? i've still on to get them off! got way to cold last lite and windy!

Any tips on getting this 30mm nut off the hub? And secondly is it hard to pull out?

Post Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:33 pm

ok heres how u get the big nut off

attach driveshaft back to diff as u took it off didnt you?

whack handbrake on and out car in gear

with car resting on its wheels... get a breaker bar or extension on a normal socket set and undo it

take wheel off..raise car...undo drive shaft..get under car and then pull drive shaft out by pulling it towards centre of the car.. if it doesnt shift then hit it with a hammer from the outside of the hbub inwards, dont miss and fuck up the threads on the end of it, ideally put apiece of wood in between

its easy when u've done it once

Karan

Post Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:37 pm

Right i've just taken the diff off! and i can't get rid of the smell of that minging LSD oil from the back of my throat! Diff looks ok crown wheel and pinion have all their teeth and thats where my knowledge ends. Which leads me to my question where is the place to go to get my slipper reconditioned?

Post Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:17 pm

get in touch with neil at all gears... courier it to him, and he'll recon it for you

his no is 07796 202200

he really knows his stuff!!

are u sure ure diff is buggered?

u checked the cv joints visibly for play and knocking?

did u actually take the diff off or just the back cover

cheers
Karan

Post Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:56 pm

Simon13 wrote:Right i've just taken the diff off! and i can't get rid of the smell of that minging LSD oil from the back of my throat! Diff looks ok crown wheel and pinion have all their teeth and thats where my knowledge ends. Which leads me to my question where is the place to go to get my slipper reconditioned?

Simon,

I had my diff rebuilt at a place in Leatherhead.

http://www.hardyengineering.co.uk/

This was just the main diff side of things. They did not touch the LSD itself, but I don't doubt they could if you asked.

My diff is now silent

Ian.

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:37 pm

there's something holding that 30mm nut on! just trying to get that off first.

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:58 pm

Ok,

I've removed the diff completely. I have also removed the drive shafts with the CV's still attatched and hey, the drivers side one is nice and loose, and passenger side is shagged both inner and outer they will hardly move. My money is on this being my lock up problem. So do i replace both? And who can sell me some decent ones?

I have a wheel bearing at home, so is it worth me replacing them both while i've got the back end in bits?

I'm having second thoughts on my LSD now as a) there was over a litre of oil in it with no metal shards mixed in
b) it has never whined apart from in reverse
c) crown wheel and pinion had all their teeth!

So i think a good clean up some new oil and gaskets should keep it sweet

Any tips are more than welcome!

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 5:03 pm

simon ure diff should be fine- mine's had 160k hard miles and its hangin in there.

get some 2nd hand driveshafts and also do the wheel bearings (these are very hard to do, but hey there's a first for everything!

Karan

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:01 pm

It would make sense i already have one bearing, BUT how do you get the hub off? does not look a fun job at all to be honest

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:06 pm

Hi Simon, When you locate some Driveshafts, make sure that they have the ABS rings on the outer cv joint, i would think for sure that your car has ABS, a lot of the smaller engined versions do not have this ring on because they dont have ABS, cheers Dave.

Post Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:12 pm

Cheers Dave found this out an hour ago, also can only have one off a car with rear disks so post 88 325i really which all had ABS as standard i believe, or the odd 318iS with ABS

Post Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:50 pm

Bump i need an outer CV driveshaft plus inner please!? passenger side

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:50 pm

Big up Andy P, Bharat, Demlotcrew for the part guys! I've got the diff back in so just the driveshafts to do now. Fingers crossed it will be ok!

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:04 pm

good luck with it simon.

Hope you get it sorted as planned.

Hows the eye mate?

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:42 pm

Going in for an artificial lense on the 18th of Feb, but nothing else really just getting on with life again after the shock! Do you still need that alternator?

Post Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:44 pm

Glad to hear you got the package mate.

Hope the courier delivered it on time

Sorry, but I ran out of time, so could not get the Alpina 'dressing' as discussed

Post Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:26 pm

Bharat thankyou, but please don't throw the drivers side one! I'll have it off you if you are at the Ace cafe 31ist, if not i'll pay postage?

Post Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:47 pm

Simon13 wrote:Big up Andy P, Bharat, Demlotcrew for the part guys! I've got the diff back in so just the driveshafts to do now. Fingers crossed it will be ok!

no problem mate, that is why we are here to help each other out when in trouble,, its just a shame the delivery driver only had a 4 POT

Post Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:52 pm

Simon, Did you get the nut off ok ?.

There is a locking plate that needs pulling out first, bit of a butchery job to get it out if it's rusted. Screwdrivers and hammers to tear it up then long nosed pliers to extract it.

ECP do driveshafts complete with both joints for about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£80+vat.

And change the bearing while you are there.

Cheers,

Iain T

Post Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:50 pm

Right put it all back together. Diff on thursday and driveshafts today. Car now drives but still makes horrible metal grinding noise which seems to be coming from the front of the car now! I'm going to look at the centre propshaft bearing now. Well if it ain't than then gearbox? I love cars..................................