31 12 138 Replacing rubber mount in left or right trailing link

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Special tools required:

IMPORTANT: The rubber mounts are only permitted to be replaced once.

Carry out check:

There must always be a minimum amount of play in the guide joint.

Check guide joint play
NOTE: Apply light pressure to the trailing link (in the area of the guide joint) in the horizontal and vertical directions.
- Play is OK: Check the screw connection. (see Point 2)
- Play is not OK: Replace RUBBER MOUNT AND GUIDE JOINT .
  
  Fig 1: Identifying Guide Joint
  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Check screw connection (trailing link to guide joint) by tightening to 60 % of tightening torque 31 12 2AZ and listening for cracking sound.
- Torque wrench cracking sound: Replace rubber mount
- Screw connection turns: Replace trailing link and guide joint . See 31 12 026 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING GUIDE JOINT IN SWIVEL BEARING or 31 12 080 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BOTH TRAILING LINKS .

Replacing rubber mount:

Remove TRAILING LINK .

Using a press and special tools 31 2 261 and 31 2 264 , press rubber mount out of tension strut.

NOTE: Special tool 31 2 264 must be exactly flush with rubber mount bush.

Fig 2: Pressing Rubber Mount Of Tension Strut

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note:

Keep rubber mount and bushing in tension strut clean and free from grease.

Align rubber mount and trailing link with markings (K) and press into place.

Fig 3: Aligning Rubber Mount And Trailing Link Mark

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation note:

Protrusion (A) equally large.

Fig 4: Identifying Protrusion

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.