33 32 131 Removing And Installing / Replacing A Steering Knuckle / Wheel Carrier

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 BMW X5, 2009 BMW X5, 2008 BMW X5, and 2007 BMW X5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Remove rear wheel.

IMPORTANT: Expand turning lock sufficiently to avoid damaging thread when releasing collar nut.

Release collar nut (1), activate parking brake for this purpose.

Installation:

Replace collar nut, oil collar nut/wheel bearing contact surface only and tighten down.

No oil permitted on thread of shaft journal or collar nut.

Tightening torque. See REAR AXLE - TIGHTENING TORQUES .

Secure collar nut by positive peening on flat areas of output shaft.

Fig 1: Identifying Collar Nut

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove expander lock for handbrake shoes . See 34 41 250 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING EXPANDER LOCK FOR HANDBRAKE SHOES .

Remove handbrake Bowden cable from wheel carrier (see 34 41 280 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING ACTUATING UNIT WITH CONTROL UNIT FOR PARKING BRAKE (EMF) ).

Remove wheel bearing (do not pull out drive flange). See 33 41 151 REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT WHEEL BEARING ON REAR AXLE SHAFT .

Remove pulse generator from wheel carrier . See 34 52 535 REPLACING A REAR PULSE GENERATOR .

Tension rear coil spring and leave on vehicle at rear. See 33 53 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING REAR LEFT OR RIGHT COIL SPRING .

Version with ride-height control:

Deactivate and drain air spring/suspension system . See 37 00 100 DRAINING/FILLING AIR SPRING SYSTEM .

IMPORTANT: Do not use any tools to remove the lower section of the air spring (1).

Tilt lower section of air spring (1) by hand towards front/side.

Installation:

Press lower section of air spring (1) by hand into wheel carrier until it can be seen and heard to snap into place.

Fig 2: Removing Lower Section Of Air Spring

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Secure wheel carrier against falling out.

Remove integral link . See 33 32 051 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT PUSH ROD/INTEGRAL LINK .

Remove guide arm from wheel carrier . See 33 32 091 REPLACING A GUIDE ARM .

Remove upper control arm from wheel carrier . See 33 32 071 REPLACING ONE UPPER CONTROL ARM .

Remove wheel carrier.

Fig 3: Identifying Wheel Carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacement:

Modify brake carrier/brake guard plate . See 34 21 169 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING A BRAKE CARRIER / BRAKE GUARD AT REAR .

IMPORTANT: Make sure spring pad is correctly installed in order to prevent the coil spring from jumping out.

Modify lower spring pad (1). To do so, lever out upper section (2) with a suitable tool.

Fig 4: Identifying Lower Spring Pad And Upper Section

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

After installation:

Activate and fill air suspension system . See 37 00 100 DRAINING/FILLING AIR SPRING SYSTEM .
Adjusting parking brake . See 34 41 006 ADJUSTING PARKING BRAKE .
Replacement only: Perform CHASSIS ALIGNMENT CHECK