Removing half shafts

[Nick325is]

I am currently in the middle of replacing all of the rear bushings in my 325is along with the rear wheel bearings. I am having a great difficulty getting the half shafts to come out of the hub.
The nut and locking plate are removed as well as the differential. The inner part of the halfshafts are being supported by wire.
What is the best way to get the half shafts to come out of the hub without destroying the hub or the halfshafts?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
Nick

[1990m3]

I put a piece of wood on mine and tapped it a few times with a mallet. Both sides came out pretty easily I thought. Car had 132k and was driven during winters. I was surprised.

[EtaSport]

I just took mine out. Used an old pinion shaft and a 35 pound sledge hammer. Took A LOT of force. I was able to use the nut again, but the shaft was pretty fucked. If you get something in the center of the hub where its recessed and back the nut off so you dont mushroom the threads you may be able to slam it off that way.

[T.Dot E30]

If your changing the wheels bearings anyways your gonna have to use a puller to pull off the rear hubs.....once the rear hubs are off, the halfshalf no longer have anything to be in or pushed out.

That way there is no hammering or banging or damaging anything.

[Nick325is]

If your changing the wheels bearings anyways your gonna have to use a puller to pull off the rear hubs.....once the rear hubs are off, the halfshalf no longer have anything to be in or pushed out.

That way there is no hammering or banging or damaging anything.

Ah that makes sense. I will give that a try tommorow after work. How am I supposed to get these halfshafts back into the hub?


Thanks,
Nick

[EtaSport]

The should slide in so far, then you bring them back in with the nut. Good luck getting that hub off. I had a puller that we used to try and push the axle out, but there was fear of the hub coming out instead. This was no wimpy puller either. The hub started to bend, and nothing even budged.

[T.Dot E30]

I had a puller that we used to try and push the axle out, .

Umm, why are you using a puller to try to push something out?


With the right tools, I'd have the hub out in 5mins or less.

[T.Dot E30]

Ah that makes sense. I will give that a try tommorow after work. How am I supposed to get these halfshafts back into the hub?


Thanks,
Nick

They are alot easier to get back in, kinda like a ball joint, they get stuck, but once you have em out you just need to line it up.

Also ya, you dont need to push it in all the way, only enough to catch the nut and when you tighten the nut, it will bring the axle in.

[Nick325is]

We ended up getting it out today using the puller I have as a pusher to push the axle out. Now on to getting the hub off and the bearing out.


Thanks guys,
Nick

[EtaSport]

We ended up getting it out today using the puller I have as a pusher to push the axle out. Now on to getting the hub off and the bearing out.


Thanks guys,
Nick

This is why I was using a puller as a "pusher" Because the threaded bolt of the puller will push the axle through the hub. If you happen to look at the bentley it uses my principle in order to remove the axle. Only difference is the "puller" bolts to the hub. Apperantly it works.

[Nick325is]

This is why I was using a puller as a "pusher" Because the threaded bolt of the puller will push the axle through the hub. If you happen to look at the bentley it uses my principle in order to remove the axle. Only difference is the "puller" bolts to the hub. Apperantly it works.

Yeah, I got the idea from the Bentley manual.



Nick

[Garageaholic]

Get this... I used a professional expensive puller and it STILL didn't come out.. so i put pb blaster on it and am letting it set overnight. i'll check it tomorrow.. hopefully it made a difference... I tried heat, brute force and everything... nothing worked..

[Nick325is]

I let the puller sit for awhile under pressure and gradually tightened it. Eventually the axles came loose from the hub.

I am finally getting around to putting the subframe and all back in the car. Just waiting for my trailing arm bushings.


Nick

[Garageaholic]

I let the puller sit for awhile under pressure and gradually tightened it. Eventually the axles came loose from the hub.

I am finally getting around to putting the subframe and all back in the car. Just waiting for my trailing arm bushings.


Nick

I'm going to give it another college try this afternoon after the PB blaster has set in.. Do you think it will help???