Replacing front wheel bearings

[Masospaghetti]

I already replaced these once about 4,000 miles ago preventatively and unfortunately the RF bearing is making noise. I got the front end apart yesterday and can feel play in the RF bearing so it is definitely bad. For the life of me I cannot press the old bearing out of the spindle with a "Orion" press kit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FLVOAZI...n_title_1&th=1) even though this is what I used the first time. How are you guys changing your wheel bearings? Any tricks?


I'm using the Bentley manual and it calls out a similar tool to the Orion one linked above.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Masospaghetti

I already replaced these once about 4,000 miles ago preventatively and unfortunately the RF bearing is making noise. I got the front end apart yesterday and can feel play in the RF bearing so it is definitely bad. For the life of me I cannot press the old bearing out of the spindle with a "Orion" press kit (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FLVOAZI...n_title_1&th=1) even though this is what I used the first time. How are you guys changing your wheel bearings? Any tricks?


I'm using the Bentley manual and it calls out a similar tool to the Orion one linked above.

Did you hammer the new ones in or press them? Strange it failed unless you hammered on the inner race by accident.

I did a whole thread on it, but I bought eBay steering knuckles and rebuilt them in my shop, then installed them when I had time. My local suspension shop pressed the old bearings and hubs out for me. $15 each I think. I froze the new ones and installed them myself. Would have been easier and much faster to have the shop pressed them in. Or maybe I should have just bought a press.

I’ve got the old knuckles still if you want them. Just pay for shipping.

[80stech]

Yeah front wheel bearings are not easy and really not a typical DIY job. You almost certainly did something wrong the last time to have them fail so quick. I take the knuckle off and use a hollow hydraulic cylinder as a press but you really have to keep in mind where you can press and where you can't. The best way would be to get the crazy expensive hydraulic BMW tool with all the proper adapter plates!

[andrewwynn]

¾” screws do not have the strength but I took the harbor freight kit and drilled out to 1” the bigger plates used for x5.

Grease ‘em up and it pushes the bearing no problem. I bought fine thread grade 8 1” bolts on Amazon.

My 12 yr old son pressed in the bearings on my last x5 bearing job.

The more difficult part is usually getting the spline in and out.

Bearing wearing out is a myth never change one that’s not bad. They get damaged from impact. One bad pothole especially during a turn is all it takes.

BMW acknowledges this point by requiring any wheel impacted in an accident the bearing must be replaced.

Where are you located? I could pick out the few plates and cups needed and send a care package.

[Masospaghetti]

Did you hammer the new ones in or press them? Strange it failed unless you hammered on the inner race by accident.

I did a whole thread on it, but I bought eBay steering knuckles and rebuilt them in my shop, then installed them when I had time. My local suspension shop pressed the old bearings and hubs out for me. $15 each I think. I froze the new ones and installed them myself. Would have been easier and much faster to have the shop pressed them in. Or maybe I should have just bought a press.

I’ve got the old knuckles still if you want them. Just pay for shipping.

I used the bearing press tool, but IMO it seemed to take a very high amount of force to get it in. It didn't break the tool but it ruined the forcing screw. Sounds like using a real press is the way to go.


I'll definitely keep you in mind - thanks for the offer.

Yeah front wheel bearings are not easy and really not a typical DIY job. You almost certainly did something wrong the last time to have them fail so quick.

Yeah I figured it was installation error. The left bearing is still quiet though. So maybe I got lucky with one of them!

Grease ‘em up and it pushes the bearing no problem. I bought fine thread grade 8 1” bolts on Amazon.

My 12 yr old son pressed in the bearings on my last x5 bearing job.

This makes me wonder if I am doing something wrong. Literally, I tried two impact wrenches, and a 3 foot breaker bar, and could not get the bearing to move using all of my strength. I even tried temporarily installing the spindle back on the vehicle to hold it steady as it is unstable on its own. Maybe my impact sucks or I need a better compressor? Even then I couldn't get it to move with the breaker bar.

[Masospaghetti]

The 3/4" screw is not big enough. I went through one screw per bearing until i upgraded.

If you got it in far enough to set the circlip it's good to go.

I broke a 1/2" breaker bar on one. I couldn't get the second one off with breaker bar i got a high torque m18 and never had a problem since.

I used to put the bearing in the freezer overnight but with the 1" screw no longer needed.

1" find thread is rated at 61,000# at 750 ft·lb.

A bigger bolt would obviously be stronger but wouldn't it be just as hard to get it moving, unless the thread pitch was finer? Maybe a 3/4" bolt with fine thread would do it?


Maybe this is an excuse to finally get a high torque electric impact.


I'm in SoCal (Huntington Beach) btw.

[X5chemist]

Waiting for pictures.

If the knuckle has to come off, I'm going to a shop. $20 per bearing.

[andrewwynn]

The 3/4" screw is not big enough. I went through one screw per bearing until i upgraded.

If you got it in far enough to set the circlip it's good to go.

I broke a 1/2" breaker bar on one. I couldn't get the second one off with breaker bar i got a high torque m18 and never had a problem since.

I used to put the bearing in the freezer overnight but with the 1" screw no longer needed.

1" find thread is rated at 61,000# at 750 ft·lb.