Removal and installation axle shafts (BMW 3 Series E36)

Removal

Press the lock "1".

Unscrew nut "2".

Attention: The nut is tightened with a high tightening torque. For safety reasons, put the wheel on, lower the car and only then unscrew the nut.

Loosen the wheel bolts.

Raise the rear of the car.

Remove the wheel.

Remove the exhaust system final silencer.



Loosen the bolts securing the axle shaft to the differential gearbox and tie the axle shaft with wire. Caution: Do not let the axle shaft sag, as this will overload the outer constant velocity joint.

All models except Compact: Unscrew the stabilizer from the rear axle beam and fold it down.

Compact models: Support the diagonal arm with a jack. Unscrew the shock absorber from the diagonal arm and lower the diagonal arm.



If present, unscrew and remove the ABS sensor.



Press the axle shaft out of the wheel hub. This requires a special tool, such as BMW tools, see the picture. The bridge is screwed on with 2 wheel bolts, and the spindle is screwed into the thread, resting against the axle shaft and pressing it out. The spindle and axle shaft are connected with a threaded part.

Remove the axle shaft.

Installation

Install the axle shaft and tie it with wire.

Press the axle shaft in using a special tool, such as the BMW threaded rod 332119 with the nut 332115. To do this, first screw the spindle completely into the bridge. Screw the threaded part onto the spindle and onto the axle shaft. On the other side, screw the nut onto the spindle and clamp the bridge. In this case, the axle shaft will be pressed into the hub. Make sure that the splines on the axle shaft and in the hub match.

Lubricate the contact surface of the new lug nut and lightly screw the nut on.

Tighten the axle shaft to the differential gearbox using a torque wrench. The tightening torque depends on the thread size of the bolts. Thread M10: 85 Nm; thread M8: 65 Nm. Don't forget to put in spacer washers.



Remove the axle suspension wire.

Install the final muffler.

Compact models: Install shock absorber.

Put the wheel on and lower the car.

Tighten the lug nut to a torque of 200 Nm.

Lock the nut with the boss by driving the boss of the nut into the recess on the axle shaft with a drift.

Tighten the wheel bolts to 110 Nm.

Bring the car to a normal condition, i.e. it should stand on wheels and have a normal load. Screw the stabilizer to the rear axle beam.