Hi all,

I have a split gaiter on o/s d/shaft.

When I removed the d/shaft I noticed that there is considerable play in the wheel hub.

I drifted that out and saw the bearing(s) moving about all over the place!

It seems to be two seperate bearings. There is movement back and forth, also up and down. Then I saw there is a 50 thou plus gap between the inner bearing and the lock ring. The lock ring appears to be fully home.

I'm waiting for the tool to undo and have a look-see: has anyone hjas a similar situation?

I was not aware of any noise from that side when driving.

Also... I have other spare d/shafts, 2 of which have the middle section slide in and out of the coupling, changing the lengh of the shaft, the 3rd has no movement. Are there different designs of shaft?

Many thanks for any info.

Chris

Chris,
'A' series wheel bearings are standard 'double row ball' type, so once you undo the driveshaft nut or rear hub nut which is clamping the two parts of the inner race together, things will wobble around...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attach ... tid=291979

The outer race is held into the hub carrier by the bush nut and as long as that is tight you've got nothing to worry about.

All A series driveshafts are 'plunging spline' type.
Have you tried pulling a bit harder on the one which doesn't move?

Ken

....and it looks like you are measuring the play between the retaining ring nut and the nylon ball cage - there should also be a dust seal in there too a simple press fit

if it were fine before its fine

Looks O.K..

I took the advice given and reassembled as was, with new seals, and.....everything's fine! No movement, no noise.

So I now have a new spare bearing and tool: probably come in useful at some point in the future.

Yes Ken, I pulled harder and the shaft is moving again. I suppose it was the suction effect from the grease and the tight gaiter.

A great forum with accurate and concise advise.

Much appreciated!

Chris

do the big nut up REALLY tight

Or maybe aim to get it to the correct torque?
Seem to recall someone stripping the threads on their driveshaft recently by going a bit Rambo with a scaffold pole on the breaker bar...

a full lenght scaffold pole ken?

WITH A LEVER.

Did the front wheel bearing this afternoon. Whilst the wife was out, I popped the new bearing and the drive flange in the deep freeze for half an hour. Took the drive shaft out and undid the large screwed ring. The old bearing started to fall to pieces at this stage, assisted by a big alloy drift, the drive flange came out. Cleaned it all up and the new bearing slid in so easily. Locked this in place with a new screwed ring. Let the whole get back to ambient temp, fitted new oil seals and then fitted the 'frozen' drive flange into the new bearing - this went in easily and once the drive shaft was in, nipped up the big nut. Replaced split pin. Took the opportunity to grease the king pin. Job done - about an hour and a half including a cup of tea.