31 21 180 Replacing the front wheel bearing (vehicles with RWD)

Special tools required: 

• 31 2 230
• 11 8 580

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

• Remove brake disc  . See 34 11 220 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISCS or 34 11 220 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BOTH FRONT BRAKE DISCS (BREMBO) .

Slacken nut (1).

Tightening torque: 31 31 3AZ .

Pull out screw.

Installation note: 

Replace nut (1).

Bolt head points in direction of travel.

To release wheel bearing screw connection:

• Expand swivel bearing with special tool 31 2 230 .
• Pull swivel bearing approx. 5 cm towards the bottom.
  Fig 2: Releasing Wheel Bearing Screw Connection

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note: 

Keep press fit of swivel bearing and spring strut in lower area clean and free from oil and grease.

Align swivel bearing (1) to positioning pin (2) on the rear side of the spring strut along the gap and slide all the way in.

Release screws (1) with special tool 11 8 580 .

Tightening torque: 31 21 1AZ .

Press off wheel bearing from swivel bearing using a suitable tool.

Installation note: 

Replace microencapsulated screws.

Installation note: 

Keep contact surface (1) of swivel bearing and wheel bearing clean and free from oil and grease.

When reusing, all the threads on the wheel bearing must be recut.