Replacing bearings on hubs BMW E34, E36, E39

Any part of the car gradually becomes unusable, wheel bearings are no exception. Almost any owner of a BMW car can diagnose and replace faulty bearings.

The main signs of wheel bearing failure are the following points:

•       The appearance of vibrations when driving on a flat road;
•       When driving around corners, an increased hum is heard.

To check for a bearing failure, you need to jack up the car and move the wheel with your hands. If a howling sound occurs, the bearing must be replaced.

Replacing wheel bearings BMW E39

There is nothing complicated in self-replacing the bearing. To facilitate the task allows the absence of the need to press anything. Wheel bearings are sold complete with hub.

When buying a new part, be sure to check the completeness of the kit, which should include 4 bolts securing the hub to the hitch, the hub itself with the bearing. To carry out the work, you will need to prepare the required tool.

Work on replacing the front wheel bearing is carried out in the following order:

• Raise the car on a lift or with a jack;
• Remove the wheel;
• Clean the connections from dust and dirt with a wire brush. It is also necessary to process the bolts and nuts that secure the caliper and nose rudder, WD-40. The operation of the product takes only a few minutes;
• Remove the clamp and bracket, then move it to the side and hang it on a tie or wire;
• Unscrewing the brake disc, fixed with a 6 bolt, using the appropriate hexagon;
• Carefully remove the protective cover so as not to break the screws;
• Put a mark on the shock absorber strut, reminiscent of its location on the steering knuckle;
• We unscrew the screws that hold the front strut, stabilizer and steering column;
• Removing the rack from the steering knuckle;
• Unscrew the 4 screws that secure the hub to the handle and tap it lightly;
• Install a new hub and tighten the new bolts from the repair kit;
• Assemble the elements in reverse order.

To replace the rear hub bearing, follow the same steps, but with some differences. Since this BMW model is rear-wheel drive, the CV joint will also be included in the design.

• Unscrewing the central nut of the CV joint;
• Jack up the car;
• Remove the wheel;
• Using a screwdriver, remove the metal bracket holding the brake pads;
• We unscrew the caliper and bracket, and behind it the suspension;
• Reducing the eccentricity of the brake pads;
• Unscrewing and removing the brake disc using a hexagon 6;
• After disconnecting the axle shaft from the gearbox flange with the E12 cylinder head, the CV joint moves to the gearbox;
• Unscrew the fastening bolts;
• Installation of a new center in a fist;
• Reassemble all parts in reverse order.

Replacing the front hub bearing on the BMW E34

To carry out the work, you will need a hammer and screwdrivers, a good jack, heads for 19 and 46.

The part of the car to be replaced is raised on a jack, after which the wheel is removed. You will have to use a screwdriver and hammer due to the need to remove the cover. There is nothing complicated in this, it is important not to break it in the process of work.

Under this cover is a hub nut. It is unscrewed with a 46 head. To facilitate the task, the jack wheel must be lowered to the ground.

Then the car is again jacked up, the wheel and brake disc with pads and caliper are removed. Only then will it be possible to completely unscrew the nut.

You can then knock down the cube. Sometimes a thorough cleaning of the shaft is necessary, as the sleeve sticks to it. The axle and new hub are lubricated with oil, then carefully installed with a rubber mallet, and everything is assembled in reverse order.

Replacing a wheel bearing on a BMW E36

For this model, do the following:

•       Remove the wheel and unscrew the hub mounting bolts;
•       The hub is hung on the rack and the brake disc is removed;
•       The trunk is removed carefully so as not to damage the ABS sensor;
•       The disc boot and the new bearing are installed in place after cleaning from dirt;
•       Everything goes in reverse order.

The procedure for replacing the front and rear wheel bearings on BMW cars is not difficult and can be done independently in a garage. Every driver has the necessary tools for this. A small amount of technical knowledge is required to perform this kind of action.