Changing rear wheel bearing - easy or difficult?

[325SME]

Got a suspect bearing on the back so just want to know if this is a DIY job and whats involved?

Cheers

Steve

[smithy318i]

I have been told it's an absolute NIGHTMARE of a job. and therefore Not a DIY job.

[Simon]

I was talking to Andy about this, as he said you an him were going to attempt it, but I don't think he realises what a job it is, deffo a no for the home mechanic!

[Simon]

Oh yeah...I almost forgot, get the bloody welsh meet details up, welsh area rep!!

[Karan]

ive done 3 and it can be done

u will have to main probs:

1. getting old bearing out of trailing arm......u'll need to make some kind of threaded rod type puller to pull it out

2. as the inner race of the bearing is in 2 pieces, the outer piece may get stuck to the hub (the bit the wheel and disc bolt to) and u'll need to pull this out or take it to a garage to do so.....

NB....standard legged pullers will do sweet F all....

[fuzzy]

haynes manual lists it as "difficult-suitable for an experienced diy mechanic"

[smithy318i]

If you want to DIY, read this first...... Then get someone else to do it.

http://www.teamdfl.com/bmw/e30/rear_whe ... index.html

[fuzzy]

i think your right mate,thats the last time i believe a haynes manual

[tomstickland]

I assume it's similar to doing the front hubs on a FWD drive car. I've done several. The tips are:

to get old bearing out - blowtorch, big vice and tubes of correct diameter to push it out. I've also spent 30 minutes with hammer and punch, moving a fraction of a mm per minute.

To remove inner race that normally gets left behind on the hub. Use an angle grinder to thin down part of the race so that only about 0.5mm of material is left. Because the metal is hardened it is also brittle, so a few blows with large hammer and chisel and the race will crack off. I've used this technique every time after my initial failed attempts with a bearing puller.

Ideally you need a press, but a large vice will work just as well.

[jonbuoy]

Have you read anything else in the Haynes Manual?
Compared to any other Haynes Manual the Bm one is crap!

The rear bearings are pressed in so you will have a bit of trouble doing it at home, without a press machine to put the new one in. Depending on the experience you have with mechanics it might just be worth chucking it in to the garage for someone else to get pissed of with.

[tomstickland]

It is a bit like that. It can be done DIY but it's worth paying a garage Ԛ£60 to do for you if you can't be arsed.

[OllieB]

Planned on doing both my rear bearings last saturday with a couple of mechanic mates, on a four poster ramp in a workshop. Took them over three hours to do one, mainly because there was loads of stuff to take off, and all the bolts were seized. NOT a DIY jobby in my opinion, unless you are some sort of wizard....

[Simon]

haynes manual lists it as "difficult-suitable for an experienced diy mechanic"

Throw it in the bin.

[325SME]

Read the Haynes and Bentley manual last night came to the conclusion that this is best left to the garage....oh well.....