rear axle drive BMW 540i 1998 E39 User Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
--
C. -- -- - -- Rear ~us~ensionl
Depending on year and model applications, the Sport Wagon
rear suspension may be equipped with:
Conventional shock absorbers and coil springs
Electronic height control (EHC) system which incorporates
air springs
NOTE-
. Suspension and EHC troubleshooting is covered in 300
Suspension, Steering and Brakes-General.
EHC system repairs, other than air spring replacement,
are covered in Electronic height control
(EHC) compo-
nent replacement.
Replace shock absorbers and springs in pairs only.
Rear shock absorber, removing and
installing
- Raise car and remove rear wheels,
WARNING-
Male sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place
jack stands under
suspension parts.
CAUTION-
If working on a vehicle with compressedairshock absorbers,
disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore performing any repairs. Pump is located beneath a cover
under the spare tire in the floor of the cargo compartment.
- Support swing arm from below
CAUTIOG
The shock absorber prevents the drive axle and wlieel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting fasteners prevents damage to the
brake hose,
parking
brake cable and drive axle CVjoints.
- Working in cargo compartment, remove carpet. Remove tri-
angular upper shock mount covers located beside spare tire
well.
- If applicable: Detach air supply line from shock absorber.
Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Rear ~us~ensionl
Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools
33 2 302,33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33 2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
4 Remove ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the
brake hose, park-
ing brake cable and drive axle
CVjoints.
- Remove shock absorber lower mounting bolt
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE -
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-1 9
Rear suspension1
Swing arm ball joint, replacing
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension
parts.
- Sport Wagon model: Support wheel bearing carrier from be-
low.
CA
UTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the
shoclc absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the brake hose, park-
ing
brake cable and drive axle CVjoints.
- Model with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shoclc absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Sport Wagon model: Remove shock absorber lower mount-
ing bolt.
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
Model with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under
the spare tire in the floor of the
carao
comoartment.
4 Model with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres.
sure.
WARNING-
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened.
- Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-24
Rear Suspension
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301 between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool 33
2 304 from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
4 Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools 33
2 302, 33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33
2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
4 Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
WARNING -
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened. 1
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorber prevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting iastenerprevents damage to the brake hose,
parl-
ino brake cable and drive axle CV ioints.
- Models with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shock absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Remove shoclc absorber lower mounting bolt

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-26
/ Rear Suspension
Remove inner control arm eccentric nut and bolt (A)
Remove control arm ball joint nut (6). Press ball joint out
of wheel bearing carrier.
Lifl out control arm.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Use previously made
marks to install eccentric bolt and
nut.
Always use new self-locking nuts.
Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
0 Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening
torques
Road wheel to hub 120klONm
(89 i7 ft-lb)
Upper front control arm (traction strut) to 60
Nm (44
ft-lb)
subframe (rear toe adjusting bolt)
Upper front control arm (traction strut) to wheel
65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
carrier
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (sedan models)
In case of damage to the subframe, or if a pressed-in bushing
is worn, remove
subframe by removing complete axle assem-
bly.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place
jack stands under
suspension parts.
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System
- Detach driveshaft from differential. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect brake fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Remove lefl and right ABS sensors from wheel bearing car-
riers.
- Disconnect parking brake cable from brake shoe expander.
See 340 Brakes.
- Remove heat shield from above driveshaft.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
330-28
Rear Suspension
4 To install, jack subframe into position. Install and tighten sub-
frame mounting bolts. Note that on each bolt, rubber-coat-
ed detent plate
(arrow) must be installed at rear in driving
direction.
Tightening torques
Rear
subframe to body (M12) 163 Nm (120 ft-lb)
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Make sure long lower strut bushing fits in hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
111 0 Tighten suspension arm and shoclc absorber fasteners to
502330036 final torque only afler vehicle has been lowered and sus-
pension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier 8 Nrn (6 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub
16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
- MI0 (Tow bolts) 70 Nm (51 ft-lb)
MB (compression nut) 32
Nm (24 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad
carrler (caliper) to wheel 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
bear~ng carrler
Rear strut to
wheel bearlng carrler 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120210Nrn
(89 57 ft-lb)
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
Incaseof damage to thesubframe, or if apressed-in bushing is
worn, remove
subframe by removing complete axle assembly.
In Sport Wagon models with conventional coil spring, lower
subframe slowly, making sure rear springs stay on spring
seats.
In models with air suspension
(EHC), disable the air supply
pump, deflate the air springs and disconnect them from the
wheel carriers before lowering the subframe.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
331-2
Final Drive
This repair group covers removal and repair informat~on for
the final drive (differential), axle shafts.
CV joints, CV joint
boots, and final drive seal replacement.
Internal repairs of the differential assembly are not covered in
this manual.
Special tools
BMW recommends some special tools for the removal of the
drive axles as well as the installation of rear differential input
and output drive flange seals. Some common pullers and
drifts can often be substituted for these tools.
4 Drive flange holder
(Tool No. BMW
2 30 020)
< Drive flange puller
(ToolNo.BMW31 2101 131 2102131 2103131 2104)
< Drive pinion set
(Tool No. BMW 33 1 340)
4 Clamp~ng tool set
(ToolNo.BMW332101 13321021332103)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Final Drive
Final drive, removing and installing
- Raise rear of car.
WARNING-
Make sure that the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place the jaclc stands beneath struc-
tural chassis
~oints. Do not i lace iaclc stands under
( suspension barfs.
Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System.
Disconnect drive shaft from final drive. See
260 Driveshaft.
Remove drive axle CV joint bolts (arrows) at left and right
sides. Suspend drive axles from body using stiff wire.
4 Support final drive with BMW special tool 33 4 390.
* Remove front final drive mounting bolt.
Remove rear final drive mounting bolts
(2).
Carefully lower final drive unit.
- To install, use BMW special tool 33 4 390 to lift final drive into
place.
CA UTIOP&
The following sequence must be used when installing the fi-
nal drive to prevent torsion stress on the final drive during in-
Install mounting bolts and finger tighten only.
Remove final drive support.
Tighten both rear mounting bolts.
Tighten front mounting bolt.
NOTE-
Use new self-locking nuts.
- Check differential oil level. See Differential oil level, check-
ing.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Final Drive
Tightening torques
F~nal drive to rear axle carrier 105 Nm (77 it-lb)
Driveshaft CV joint to final drive flange
- MlO (Torx bolt) 70
Nm (51 ft-lb)
- M8 (compression nut) 32 Nm (24
ft-lb)
Drive axle to final drive
ilange
Torx bolts (M10) 83 Nm (61 ft-lb)
Torx bolt with
rlbbed teeth (M10) 64 Nm (47 ft-lb)
Torx bolt
wlth ribbed teeth (MI0 sliver) 80 Nm (59 ft-lb)
Torx
bolt with ribbed teeth (M10 black) 100 Nm (74 ft-lb)
* Torx bolt with ribbed teeth (M12) 135 Nm (100 ft-lb)
Differential oil level, checking
The E39 differential is filled with lifetime oil that ordinarily
does not need to be changed. BMW recommends using only
a specially formulated synthetic gear oil
(SAF-XO) that is
available through an authorized BMW dealer parts depart-
ment. For additional information on this lubricant and any oth-
er lubricants that may be compatible, contact an authorized
BMW dealer service department.
< Check rear differential oil level at filler plug (arrow).
- Check lubricant level with car on a level surface:
Level is correct when fluid just reaches edge of filler hole.
If necessary, top up fluid.
* Replace filler plug sealing ring.
Install and tighten oil filler plug when oil level is correct.
NOTE-
Use either a 14 mm or 17 mm Allen socket to remove the
drain plug.
If car is raised in the air. it should be level when
checkino " or filling final drive fluid level.
- Tightening torque -
Filler plug to final drive housing 70 Nm (52
ft-lb) -

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine
Final Drive
Front final drive mount
4 Remove front final drive mount using BMW special tools 33
3312,333314, 333315,334161
and334162.
I i 4 Coat bearing sleeve in rear axle carrier and rubber mount
with
~ircolight~ anti-friction agent.
Slide rubber mount from side with large diameter into
BMW special tool 33
4 165.
Milled recess
(A) makes firm contact with rear axle carrier
when top rubber mount is tightened down.
The
slolled srde ot r11e rubber mounl must be ar r#ghl angles
lo
rhe groove rn specal roo/ 33 '1 165 and shoulo be lrghrened
I down ~ransversely across the vehicle axis. I
Draw rubber mount in firmly with BMW special tools 33 3
314,333315,334164,334165and334166.
NOTE-
Male sure special tool 33 4 166 is properly seated.
0 Rubber mount must locate flush in rear axle carrier. If nec-
essary, rotate special tool
33 4 164 through 90" and draw
in overlap.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal