33 31 011 Replacing Rear Axle Carrier

Necessary preliminary tasks: 

• Remove rear differential. See 33 10 010 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING REAR DIFFERENTIAL 
• Remove complete rear axle carrier. See 33 31 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COMPLETE REAR AXLE CARRIER 

Remove brake discs (disconnect brake hose from brake line). See 34 21 320 REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING BOTH REAR BRAKE DISCS

Remove brake lines from rear axle carrier.

Remove stabilizer bar (remove stabilizer links from wheel carrier). See 33 55 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING REAR STABILIZER 

Remove ride-height sensor with bracket. See 37 14 512 REPLACING REAR RIDE-HEIGHT SENSOR

Fig 1: Identifying Brake Lines From Rear Axle Carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove camber arm on both sides from rear axle carrier. See 33 32 190 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT CAMBER ARM 

Remove toe arm on both sides from rear axle carrier. See 33 32 180 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT TOE ARM 

Remove trailing arm on both sides from rear axle carrier. See 33 32 021 REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT TRAILING ARM 

Remove guide arm on both sides from rear axle carrier. See 33 32 091 REPLACING A GUIDE ARM 

Remove control arm on both sides from rear axle carrier. See 33 32 071 REPLACING ONE UPPER CONTROL ARM 

Remove wheel carrier on both sides with output shaft and all suspension arms.

Fig 2: Identifying Wheel Carrier On Both Sides With Output Shaft & Suspension Arms

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

After installation: 

• Bleed brakes. See 34 00 050 BLEEDING BRAKE SYSTEM WITH DSC
• Adjusting handbrake. See 34 10 014 ADJUSTING HANDBRAKE
• Perform chassis alignment check. See 32 00 ... CHASSIS/WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK PROCEDURE