Success, or lack thereof.....
 

Ok, I managed to balance the hub carrier on four pieces of wood and knock the hub out but as predicted the bearing split. After unsuccessfully trying to remove the rest of the bearing for a while I gave up and decided to get a 20 ton frame press from HFT but they had decided in their wisdom not to carry it, only the 12 ton.

I thought about it for a while and then left the store as I feel the 12 ton might be able to do the job but it looks a bit feeble. So, I guess I will have order the 20t version online and wait for it to get here. Unfortunately this means this job will be on hold until after New Year.....

In addtion I bought some Dremel cutting disks to cut the bearing race off the hub. We'll see how that goes a bit later today, first I have to install 2 garage door openers this morning for a friend.

Looking at the picture with the bearing facing up, I can still see that you have the retaining ring on it. Was this picture taking before the remover of the retaining ring or is the retaining ring still in place? It has to come out first. I am getting ready to do this job and have done a lot of research before I get it started. I bought the Harbor freight bearing adaptor as stated on post 11. I believe it is a much easier way. Good luck

Yes, the circlip is out now. I took the pic right after the hub came out. Tomorrow I might go get the 20T press from Harbor Freight. Looks like this repair is headed for January....

I will be very surprised if the 12 ton press doesn't do the trick. By the way HF will easily allow you to exchange it for a 20 ton if you need to.

From the photo it looks like the inside half of the bearing is still attached. You should be able to press the trace out if you apply pressure as close as possible to the outer edge of the bearing.

Good luck

Got the 20T press
 

Got back from a winter break back home in Europe. What a blessing to cruise the autobahn and pass the boys in the blue with 100 mph and not worry about it!! Out of nine days in the Austrian Alps it snowed all but 2 days, great stuff!

Got back home and now facing the reality of a 4.8iS with a seriously disassembled front end.....

Wasted half the day today hunting around different HBF stores for a 20T press but finally found one in Baltimore. Incredible, these guys have no inventory control whatsoever! Got back home around 2pm and assembled the press after a late lunch.

The bearing came out of the hub carrier pretty easily with he press. But pressing the bushing out of the tension strut required quite a bit more force. Hard to know if a 12T press would have been adequate.

The inner bearing race decided it did not want to part company with the hub. I used a 1.5" Dremel cutting disk in my electrical drill to cut a slot in it. Once cut far enough a couple of hits with a drift broke it and it slid off easily.

I pressed in the new bushing in the tension strut but unfortunately at that point got interupted by some visitors and we toasted the NewYear. :beerchug:

I'll shoot some pics tomorrow and post them here.

there is a video on utube...with with a bolt washers and nuts..no special tools

Tried that method but the steel sleeve is a very tight press fit in the tension strut. The bushing can probably be removed from the sleeve that way but since I am replacing with OE style Febi's that is not an option as they come prefilled with the liquid.

I wanted the OE style because the roads around here are in very poor shape and a harsher ride would have been unpleasant. If these don't last I might change my mind but for the moment I am trying to stay with liquid filled bushings.

Trix5,

Let me know how the assemble goes, becuase I just replace my wheel bearing and I am having a hard time pressing the hub into the bearing. I keep getting a little play after everything is assemble. I am using geniune BMW parts. I pressed in the wheel bearing into the carrier with no problem, then I pressed in the hub into the seated bearing. At that time, I check for movement and can see that the hub move a little from side to side. I have already destroyed two $80.00 bearing. Need to find out what I am going wrong before I attempt it again. I am not usig a press, i am using the Harbor wheel bearing removing kit.

Are you supporting the inner bearing race when you press the hub in? If not, then you may be pushing the inner half iof the bearing apart while pressing the hub in. Note that when you remove the hub the outer half is forced apart, the same will happen to the inner half if you dont support it putting the hub back in.

I have the whole thing assembled and no play. It is now back on the car and I need to tighten everything up and put the brake back on. Pictures follow later today.