325iX Steering Rack, Suspension, Oil Pan Job & MORE w/Pics!

[MrWaffles]

Do I need to remove the front axle to get the engine out the top? I can't find a write up about removing the motor from a ix anywhere. Thanks

[EyExR]

Oh! I missed the part about him driving the car with some of the front drivetrain out...

[nando]

because the bearing is supported between the end of the CV shaft and the hub nut. That's why the torque is so high - it's not because your wheel will fall off. :p

[EyExR]

Hey guys. Sorry i revived this old thread. I need some help

I saw you removing the front axles and i need to remove all of the front wheel drive components to fix some stuff.

If i remove my front differential with its attached CV joints, is my car going to leak engine oil through the oil pan? Or it has nothing to do with it?

I do this question because i need to fabricate my front passenger side CV axle and it's the same length as the other one (i've got it). I wanted to do this while i drive the car.

I will not remove the CVs that are attached to the wheel hubs. That would kill my bearings.

Thanks!

Why would removing CVs from the hubs destroy bearings?

[notanawdix80]

It's a common misconception. But the oil in the pan and the front drivetrain are completely separate and sealed off from each other.

That BMW still uses the same layout to this day shows it is effective.

Yep i get it. I was sure they are completely different things but i didn't know if removing the FWD stuff would affect any sealing in the pan

Sure it's effective. It's been used even in Skyline GTRs hahah

[nando]

It's a common misconception. But the oil in the pan and the front drivetrain are completely separate and sealed off from each other.

That BMW still uses the same layout to this day shows it is effective.

[notanawdix80]

No it's not going to leak engine oil. They have nothing to do with each other.

Thank you nando!

[nando]

No it's not going to leak engine oil. They have nothing to do with each other.

[notanawdix80]

Hey guys. Sorry i revived this old thread. I need some help

I saw you removing the front axles and i need to remove all of the front wheel drive components to fix some stuff.

If i remove my front differential with its attached CV joints, is my car going to leak engine oil through the oil pan? Or it has nothing to do with it?

I do this question because i need to fabricate my front passenger side CV axle and it's the same length as the other one (i've got it). I wanted to do this while i drive the car.

I will not remove the CVs that are attached to the wheel hubs. That would kill my bearings.

Thanks!

[chilton88]

It was considered about having it "st...e," to across the border to our friends in the south, but I advised him against it...,instead, it's getting a second life with our family now...

[nando]

haha, I was just being cheeky!

for $1500, damn, you stole it!

FWIW I know the E46 front driveshaft has flanges on both ends (the E30's has splines on one, and a flange on the other) so it should be simpler to remove, especially if you do it with all 4 wheels off the ground.

it's actually remarkable how similar the E46 and E30 AWD systems are given 15 years of engineering progress!

[chilton88]

Well, I can tell you for $1500.00 it was a worth it buy from a retiring nurse, sure it might be a POS, but a lot of the design and placement is similar, plus I get to be a gear head on the days I have off and when my wife let's me, instead of a physician...hahaha...
This DIY was really a goldmine of information in comparison to the TIS and Bentley stuff I've researched...

[EyExR]

xi = E46 pos :p

lol. to each his own I guess...

[nando]

xi = E46 pos :p

[EyExR]

I always do it with all 4 wheels in the air. I can't work under the car with the rear on the ground, need more room.

on the xi it shouldn't matter as the transfercase is open.

Good point - you can definitely work with all 4 wheels off the ground. At the time, I only had two jack stands...

xi =

About to post another iX job - Engine Removal :)