87 eta rear axle reinstallation help me please!!!

[BMWamongJDM]

so i went through the joy of having my rear left wheel hub stripped by a tireshop by them over tightening the studs. i went about removing it and also installing a new wheel bearing. now i got everything back together but, i now cant get my rear axle back in.

new hub was pulled from a 87vert mine is a 87 coupe. any reason why it wouldnt slide in ez. also i used a front axle pusher to get out this axle since it was nice and seized in there. no damage to the axle.

so please help me get my e30 running again. any tips or tricks to get a rear axle back in?

[jlevie]

The first thing to look at is to see if there is any evidence of galling on the splines of the half shaft. If there is, the half shaft must be replaced. If there isn't, get a new bearing and a brand new hub as the one the has probably been damaged by galling. Check the new hub against the half shaft before you install it. If the half shaft won't slide into the hub, the splines are damaged (and you missed that when you inspected it) and you will need a new half shaft.

The need for more than a generous tap with a drift to get the axle out strongly suggests that it has galling. Every time that has happened to me the half shaft and hub has had to be replaced.

Your choices for a replacement half shaft are a used part that you rebuild with new BMW boots (~$120 in parts) a reman from the OE supplier (~$350 + shipping from RM European) or somewhat more from your dealer. You can get pacific rim remans from NAPA, Advance, etc, for a good bit less, but their outboard boots are wrong and will rub on the shock, which means replacing them with BMW boots and there can be other quality issues. By the time you are done the cost will be close to what an OE half shaft costs. The least expensive route is a used part that you rebuild, if you can find one that has good splines and little wear in the CV joints.

[BMWamongJDM]

man im not liking this. seems like it would be better off just getting a whole control arm and such.

any specific reason for galling

[jlevie]

I presume it is caused by a bit of corrosion that reduces clearance and no lubricant left in the splines when they are removed.

[BMWamongJDM]

you think a machine shop could resurface the gears or if i did some work with a reobie?

[jlevie]

Very careful work with a scraper might clean up the splines on the half shaft. I think a new hub (and bearing) would still be required.

[BMWamongJDM]

got it in. took a ryobie to it with a metal cleaning tip to get all the grime out. also with a high grate sand paper smooth/polished any galling that i could get to (top of spindles). that with some diff oil wood block and hammer got it back in. basically after i lined it up and pushed and wiggled it till it lined up and tapped it a couple times and it slid in

[BMWamongJDM]

but ty for the help if it wasnt for you i wouldnt have looked for galling.