Rear wheel bearings?

Post Tue May 21, 2013 9:04 pm

are e30 rear wheel bearings all the same across the range??? cheers all

Post Tue May 21, 2013 9:14 pm

I think it depends if you've got ABS or not.

Post Tue May 21, 2013 9:40 pm

Think that's the fronts ....

Rears are the same, apart from M3 and maybe the 4 wheel drive.

G

Post Tue May 21, 2013 9:44 pm

I thought 4cyl were different to 6cyl when I was playing with compact arms. Was years ago though lol

Post Tue May 21, 2013 9:48 pm

May be a drum/ disc thing. 325i ones are the same as M3

Post Tue May 21, 2013 9:49 pm

Think they are different depending on if you have rear discs or drums ... sorry.

G

Post Tue May 28, 2013 11:05 am

Have got a pair of bearings from a dealer who didn't check against the VIN.

Have got front bearings that have teeth that are apparently for an ABS model. He is insisting that it will fit my non-ABS, front disk brake and rear drum 1986 316.

Now I'm wondering the same about the rear. It's a non-ABS drum unit. Will the round smooth bearing provided fit? Are they standard as he claims?

Post Tue May 28, 2013 11:09 am

I'm running the same type of front wheel bearing on both of my E30's.One has ABS(touring)and one does not(cabbie)

Not,yet,had the deep joy of changing rear wheel bearings...

Post Tue May 28, 2013 11:14 am

Arrgh. Confusing.
Do you have pictures or a link to a post somewhere?

Post Tue May 28, 2013 11:26 am

Sorry.
The toothed type will fit and work fine.
There's probably a hole in the strut to take the ABS sensor in your non-ABS car as well!

Post Tue May 28, 2013 11:40 am

Superb.
Thanks for that. I will check with the garage if they have missed something when they informed that it won't fit.

Is there an accessory or a convertor required to fit the 'toothed' bearings instead of a smooth original bearing? the size and shape is quite different.

Post Tue May 28, 2013 7:34 pm

Front bearings with the ABS rings will fit a non ABS E30. I know because mine is exactly the same.

Having not owned an ABS E30, I can't be sure on the rear, but I get a feeling the rings are on the drive shafts and therefore it doesn't matter what type of bearing you receive.

Post Tue May 28, 2013 10:59 pm

There are no teeth on a rear bearing. The front is a complete "hub" unit with ABS or not.
The rear is as stated ... just a bearing and nothing to do with ABS.

G

Post Wed May 29, 2013 7:47 am

Cool.
That saves me a lot of trouble. Because I had got the bearings from Thailand. Couldn't post them back because of the weight.

The front shocks too were fatter than what the shock body would accept. So stuck with those

Trying to see if a local shop will swap the Sachs shocks with thinner ones.

Lesson: Never buy any car parts from a shop where you need to show pictures to make them understand what you need.

Post Wed May 29, 2013 9:04 am

Front struts came in two sizes,45mm and 51mm.

Only 325i saloon came with the bigger units from the factory,but all cabbie/tourings came with them.
I guess from your location you are playing with either a 4 cylinder car or perhaps a 320i?

Post Wed May 29, 2013 3:38 pm

Yes, you guessed right.
It's a 316 saloon.

Imported to India, they were never sold here. And as far as I know there are a TOTAL of 8 or 9 E30s surviving in India.

I have the least desirable cousin, a carbureted M10 version. But I am happy i got what I had been searching for, for over 5 years!