Failed rear wheel bearing, costly mistake
 

Well, I pride myself on my DIY skills, but sometimes a repair task can and does get the best of me. Take my '08 4.8i: Symptoms started with tracking issues around curves, especially while pulling our Airstream. Then, the unmistakable roar started. Yep, very bad rear wheel/axle bearing after a 1200 mile road trip.

No problem, I can fix this...NOT! I should have learned my lessen from trying to perform the same task on my E46. On the E46, I could not get the hub off the stub axle and resorted to replacing the entire trailing arm/axle with a spare I had laying around. Well, same problem on the X5, could not get the hub separated from the stub axle. Even broke the purpose built tool borrowed from Autozone. So, screw it, lets put the collar nut back on and let the dealer or Indy fix it. (Note, dealer was cheaper than Indy.)

Uh oh, the collar nut won't go back on...yep, buggered up the treads by not clearing the collar nut staking properly. Well, maybe the dealer can clean up the threads and make it work. Nope, dealer said new axle (with half-shaft) or no joy...safety. Dang, a $150 bearing will end up costing me $2500.

Lesson learned...never attempt a rear wheel bearing replacement on a BMW ever again. Should have listened to that little voice in my head all along:dunno:

Yikes.

Eh.

Every once in a while my DIYing costs me a few bucks.. (I actually cant remember the last screw up...)

But even then, consider that over the years youve saved way more than the 1500 extra this is costing

I tend to go too far in 'making my own specialty tools'. Like a motorcycle fork spring compressor using ratchet tiedown straps and wood clamps. oh and coat hanger wire...

Or an extension for my air ratchet to reach down inside fork tube and remove a bolt, from a floor standing torche lamp pole.

I hope to get a welder and multiply my craziness by an order of magnitude :cool: