Axle Carrier Assembly: Removal
- Raise and support vehicle. Remove rear wheels.
- Disconnect handbrake cables from handbrake lever. See appropriate article in BRAKES.
- Remove exhaust system.
- Disconnect drive shaft. See appropriate DRIVE SHAFTS & UNIVERSAL JOINTS article in DRIVE AXLES.
- Unscrew bolts of left and right brake line holders. See Fig 1
. Unscrew brake calipers, push them in between axle shaft and control arm and suspend from car with a piece of wire. Disconnect ABS plug. Disconnect brake pad wear sensor.
- On vehicles with drum brakes, Disconnect left and right brake lines. See Fig 2
.
- Support trailing arm from underneath with a lifter. Unscrew bolt (1) and lower lifter. See Fig 3
.
- Pull off speedometer signal plug. See Fig 4
.
- Unscrew heat shield.
- Unscrew bracket. See Fig 5
.
- Pull parking brake cables out of guides.
- Unscrew bolts on trailing arm console. See Fig 6
.
- Position rear axle special tool (00 2 030, 00 2 040 and 33 3 290). See Fig 7
.
- Unscrew rear axle carrier mounting bolts and nuts. See Fig 8
.
- Lower rear axle slowly. Remove coil springs. See Fig 9
.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.