BMW E46 330i ZHP Front Wheel Bearing DIY doityourself

[danewilson77]

Time: 1 Hr per side.

Difficulty: 2/PITFA

1. Procure Parts.

New hub with bearing, bearing nut, and dust shield.
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05083.jpg

Bearing nut P/N.
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05084.jpg

Dust shield P/N.
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05085.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05086.jpg

2. Safely raise front end.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05087.jpg

3. Remove wheel.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05089.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05091.jpg

4. Remove Brake Caliper. Utilize a 16mm socket and ratchet here. Ensure you have a piece of wire....approximately 18" long....to hang the calipers from your shock springs. You don't want to let the caliper hang by its brake line.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05102.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05105.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05100.jpg

5. Remove Brake rotor. You may have to remove small allen screw that secures the rotor to the hub. I did not.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05104.jpg

6. Remove bearing nut dust shield. I utilized this Bosch tool and 3lb sledge that I had picked up a while ago. Worked perfect. Just need to tap it.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05093.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05092.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05095.jpg

7. Loosen bearing nut. Un-peen the nut first with a cold chisel. You will need a 46mm socket here.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05094.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05096.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05097.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05098.jpg

8. Remove hub. This may require the use of a three jaw puller. Mine came off with my hands.

No pics....sorry.

9. Install new hub/Bearing race. Use a socket....that is the same size as the bearing race......wrap in rage.....and gently tap bearing into position. I lubricated mine with white lithium grease prior to doing this.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05106.jpg

10. Install new nut....and torque to 215 ft-lbs.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Imola%20Front%20Wheel%20Bearing/DSC05109.jpg

11. Re-install the rest in reverse order.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Nice DIY, Dane. I miss that driveway.

[danewilson77]

Miss u guys.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[kayger12]

Nice job, DW.

Thanks for thinking of the Family and doing the write up.

Great work as always.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[Alphatek45]

Yet another solid DIY. Thank you...

[DirtyPillows]

Do need a new wheel nut?
can you reuse the old one?

[Johal E32]

good diy, thank you sir!

[danewilson77]

Do need a new wheel nut?
can you reuse the old one?

You could reuse the old one...but for $3....why? The nut has to be peened. It can only be peened twice

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[DirtyPillows]

Ah I see. Gad to look up peened to understand why to buy a new one. Ty

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[DirtyPillows]

I was also wandering when bmw say to torque to whatever lbs is it bad to set the torque wrench to a little higher than recommended for that sense of security?

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[Johnmadd]

Nice diy. For step 9 I usually use the old part inbetween a socket.

[danewilson77]

I was also wandering when bmw say to torque to whatever lbs is it bad to set the torque wrench to a little higher than recommended for that sense of security?

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I think its supposed to be 214 ft-lbs....but I went to 215. Every torque has a tolerance...usually +/- 5 to 10%.

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[Oli77]

What symptoms did you have that made you change the bearings?

[danewilson77]

What symptoms did you have that made you change the bearings?

The symptom I had was 130k miles on the clock.

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[Oli77]

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_mQ6POzIm74nXAKcUXEq7rxpE1xHJa R85lLmFJiGFEDn0Gclsvg

[danewilson77]

The normal symptoms...imho....are movement when grabbing wheel at 12 and 6...and/or....kind of a whoooooshing sound that emanates from the wheel when driving. I had run over that log....and that bearing pretty much gives me a perfect front end. I will follow up and do drivers side soon.

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[Hornung418]

Thanks for the bump. Sounds like a good job to do while doing Brakes. And again...no special tools necessary, correct?