Rear Suspension Trailing Arm — Removal, Repair and Installation (BMW 3 Series E46)

Removal

1. Support the front wheels. Raise the rear of the vehicle and place it on stands (see "Lifting and installing the car on supports"). Remove the corresponding wheel.

2. Remove the corresponding drive shaft (see chapter 8).

3. Remove the two caliper bracket mounting bolts and remove the caliper from the brake disc. Use a piece of wire to secure the caliper to the suspension spring, making sure not to stretch the brake hose.

4. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the wheel (see chapter 9).

5. Remove the ABS wheel sensor (see chapter 9, paragraph 20).

6. Remove the rear anti-roll bar (see paragraph 16).

7. Unscrew the bolt securing the brake hose bracket to the trailing arm and remove the bracket.

8. Support the rear of the trailing arm with a jack.

9. Remove the lower shock absorber mounting bolt.

10. Remove the plastic pins, then pull out the clips and remove the fuel tank panel from the underside of the vehicle.

11. Mark the position of the eccentric washers relative to the trailing arm (fig. 13.11). Also, mark the position of the front control arm bracket on the body. This is necessary to ensure the correct installation of the rear wheels during assembly.



12. Lower the jack and remove the spring.



13. Loosen the nut of the lower arm axle bolt. Remove the bolt.

14. Loosen the nut and remove the upper arm axle bolt. Note the bolt location.

15. Unscrew the three bolts securing the trailing arm bracket to the body and remove the arm.

Note: Do not loosen the control arm pivot bolt unless the bushing or bracket needs to be replaced.

Repair

16. Loosen the nut, remove the bolt and disconnect the front support bracket from the trailing arm.

17. Thoroughly clean the trailing arm in the area of the fastenings, removing traces of dirt and old sealant. Carefully inspect the arm and make sure there are no cracks, deformations, signs of wear or other damage. Pay special attention to the support bushings. If replacement of the bushings is required, contact a specialized service station, since replacing the bushings requires a hydraulic press and a set of spacer bushings. Inspect the axle bolts and, if necessary, replace them.

18. Install the bracket on the lever, insert the bolt and screw on the nut. Using a steel rod with a thickness of 8 mm (fig. 13.18) install the bracket and tighten the bracket bolt and nut to the specified torque.

Installation

19. Raise the trailing arm and install the support bracket mounting bolts. Align the marks made before removal, then tighten the bracket mounting bolts to the specified torque.

20. Align the upper control arm with the trailing arm and insert the bolt. Note that the bolt should be inserted from the rear. Tighten the bolt nut by hand.

21. Install the spring, then raise the arm with a jack. Insert the lower arm pivot bolt, put on the eccentric washer and screw on the nut. Install the washer according to the mark made before removal, then insert the lower shock absorber mounting bolt. All bolts should be hand-tight for now.

22. Install the fuel tank panel to the bottom of the vehicle.

23. Install the brake hose bracket onto the trailing arm and fully tighten its bolts.

24. Install the rear anti-roll bar (see paragraph 16).

25. Connect the parking brake cable to the drive lever (see chapter 9), then install the ABS wheel sensor. Reinstall the caliper and tighten the bracket mounting bolts to the specified torque.

26. Install the drive shaft (see chapter 8) and lower the car to the ground.

27. Rock the vehicle to settle the suspension components, then tighten the upper control arm and lower shock absorber mount bolts to the specified torque. Make sure the lower control arm eccentric washer does not rotate, then tighten the lower control arm bolt to the specified torque.

Note: After completing the work, it is necessary to check the camber and wheel alignment angles and, if necessary, adjust them.

(This article is based on data from the website «BMWMan.ru»)