[pdxpeter]

I blew up my rear driver's side axle and am looking to replace it. I've not replaced an axle before and am looking for info on how to go about doing it. ISTA says to drop the diff but I was thinking about dropping down the hub assembly.

Does anyone have any guidance on how to go about replacing the axle shaft? I was surprised that there is no youtube video or anything on it. They all show the replacement on prior models which have a different setup.

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by pdxpeter

I blew up my rear driver's side axle and am looking to replace it. I've not replaced an axle before and am looking for info on how to go about doing it. ISTA says to drop the diff but I was thinking about dropping down the hub assembly.

Does anyone have any guidance on how to go about replacing the axle shaft? I was surprised that there is no youtube video or anything on it. They all show the replacement on prior models which have a different setup.

I haven't done it but I believe it can be done either way. If I recall dropping the hub gives more clearance to put the new one in. There's a thread around here about diy lsd install (try searching something like that) where a couple guys discussed the two different methods. There's a special tool recommended to pry out the old shaft without damaging the diff seal or you'll have to replace that too.

[Jvac]

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1595456

Discusses the issue on pg 1

[Pussiwillow]

Originally Posted by Jvac

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1595456

Discusses the issue on pg 1

Not all hero's wear capes unless you do, jvac… lol

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by Pussiwillow

Not all hero's wear capes unless you do, jvac… lol

Haha no cape, just spend a lot of time reading here. I had only basic knowledge of maintenance before I got my 335 and joined this forum. I researched all the mods long before I had the $ to put them on my car. There's so much information on the platform here it's great. Just don't ask me anything useful like how to plan for retirement. I've spent way too much money on this car

[Pussiwillow]

Originally Posted by Jvac

Haha no cape, just spend a lot of time reading here. I had only basic knowledge of maintenance before I got my 335 and joined this forum. I researched all the mods long before I had the $ to put them on my car. There's so much information on the platform here it's great. Just don't ask me anything useful like how to plan for retirement. I've spent way too much money on this car

Hahaha TRUTH I feel that

[pdxpeter]

Originally Posted by Jvac

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1595456

Discusses the issue on pg 1

Thanks! I was looking through that as well.

Popping the axle out of the diff was really easy. 2' crowbar and a piece of a 2x4 and she popped out easy. The bar has to have a thin end like those used for pulling nails in order to fit in between the axle and diff.

Unfortunately, the other end seems to be seized in the hub I don't have a press and am mushrooming both ends of my punch trying to get it out. Used ones are cheap enough so I'm going that route.

[terryd5150]

Originally Posted by Jvac

Haha no cape, just spend a lot of time reading here. I had only basic knowledge of maintenance before I got my 335 and joined this forum. I researched all the mods long before I had the $ to put them on my car. There's so much information on the platform here it's great. Just don't ask me anything useful like how to plan for retirement. I've spent way too much money on this car

What's a retirement fund?

You mean the money I just spent on an LSD, clutch, and FMIC? Lol.

[Jvac]

Originally Posted by terryd5150

What's a retirement fund?

You mean the money I just spent on an LSD, clutch, and FMIC? Lol.

Exactly

[g340ix]

Originally Posted by pdxpeter

I blew up my rear driver's side axle and am looking to replace it. I've not replaced an axle before and am looking for info on how to go about doing it. ISTA says to drop the diff but I was thinking about dropping down the hub assembly.

Does anyone have any guidance on how to go about replacing the axle shaft? I was surprised that there is no youtube video or anything on it. They all show the replacement on prior models which have a different setup.

Did you just get a bmw axle? Need to replace my rear right and the bmw axles are 1200

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by g340ix

Did you just get a bmw axle? Need to replace my rear right and the bmw axles are 1200

Best to buy it used on ebay that came off of a decently low mileage car. I got one for $400

[g340ix]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

Best to buy it used on ebay that came off of a decently low mileage car. I got one for $400

thanks, did you replace the axle seal too? grease the splines and just push it in?

[g340ix]

Axle replacement went very easily.

Unbolted all but (2) of the rear control arms and end link.

I used (2) of the pry bars seen in the picture below and it came out, with relatively minimal effort. Switched over the dust cover as my new axle did not come with one and popped the new axle in. It requires a little force to push in, but with one hand on either side of the differential side boot and a quick jolt, it went in fairly easily.

The hardest part was getting the new axle spline through the hub... I have brand new hubs and a new axle. For anyone trying this, I highly recommend the CTA 5056 tool. I could not get the axle into the hub without it.

[pcking]

Originally Posted by g340ix

Axle replacement went very easily.

Unbolted all but (2) of the rear control arms and end link.

I used (2) of the pry bars seen in the picture below and it came out, with relatively minimal effort. Switched over the dust cover as my new axle did not come with one and popped the new axle in. It requires a little force to push in, but with one hand on either side of the differential side boot and a quick jolt, it went in fairly easily.

The hardest part was getting the new axle spline through the hub... I have brand new hubs and a new axle. For anyone trying this, I highly recommend the CTA 5056 tool. I could not get the axle into the hub without it.

Same problem, struggle coming apart and also going back together. Brand new BMW hub and a low-mile used BMW axle. Used to this stuff sliding together not being a BATTLE. Used a 12-ton press to get the old axle out of the hub and it was nearly to the point of binding...

[g340ix]

Originally Posted by pcking

Same problem, struggle coming apart and also going back together. Brand new BMW hub and a low-mile used BMW axle. Used to this stuff sliding together not being a BATTLE. Used a 12-ton press to get the old axle out of the hub and it was nearly to the point of binding...

I never had that much trouble getting the old axle out, don't get me wrong, took some effort, but I used this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and eventually got the axle to push in

getting the axle to go in the new hub was an absolute nightmare. Which I later found out was because every time I put a new bearing in I was binding/distorting it. If the bearing doesn't go in perfectly straight with a legit shop press you run the risk of this happening.

Having said that, this tool helped pull the axle through the bearing:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1