330-2
REAR
SUSPENSION
Table
a
.
Rear
RideHeight
Specifications
Wheel
size
318,323,
325,
M3
modeis
328
modeis
17inch
std
.
suspension
546
mm
(21.69
in)
sport
suspension
~
535
mm
(21.06
in)
1
540
mm
(21
.26
in)
Maximum
variation
between
sides
:
10
mm
(0
.4in)
Maximum
deviation
from
specifications
:
10
mm
(0
.4in)
SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
The
BMW
E36
independent
rear
suspension
is
shown
in
Fig
.
2
.
Refer
tothis
illustration
while
performing
repairs
on
components
covered
in
this
repair
group
.
NOTE-
Shock
absorbers
andlor
springs
shouldalways
be
re-
placed
in
pairs
i
Stabilizer
bar
link
Trailing
arm
-
bushing
Fig
.
2
.
BMW
E36
rear
suspension
.
SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
Lower
control
arm
Trailing
arm
front
bracket
WARNING
-
"
Do
not
reuse
self-locking
nuts
.
They
arede-
signed
to
beused
only
once
and
may
fail
if
re-
used
.
Always
replace
them
with
new
self-locking
nuts
.
"
Personal
injury
may
result
if
procedures
de-
scribed
here
are
undertaken
without
the
proper
service
tools
and
equipment
.
Be
sure
to
have
the
right
tools
onhand
before
beginning
the
job
.
"
Do
not
install
bolts
and
nuts
coated
with
under-
coating
wax,
as
correct
tightening
torque
cannot
be
assured
.
Always
clean
the
threads
with
sol-
vent
before
installation,
or
ínstall
new
parts
.
"
Do
not
attempt
to
weld
or
straighten
any
suspen-
sion
components
.
Replace
damaged
parts
.
330-
4
REAR
SUSPENSION
7
.
Installation
is
reverse
ofremoval,
noting
the
following
:
"
Make
sure
all
threaded
bolts,
nuts
and
makng
surfaces
are
clean
.
"
Instan
shock
absorber
finto
shock
tower
using
a
new
uppermounting
gasket
and
new
self-locking
nuts
.
"
Tighten
lower
boltto
its
final
torque
oncecar
is
on
ground
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Road
wheel
to
hub
.........
100±10
Nm
(74±7
ft-Ib)
"
Shock
absorber
to
trailing
arm
(car
in
normalloaded
position)
......
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Shock
absorber
to
upper
mount
.....
14
Nm
(10
ft-Ib)
"
Shock
absorber
upper
mount
to
body
(M8
self-locking
nuts)
.............
24
Nm
(17
ft-Ib)
Coil
spring,
removing
and
installing
WARNING
-
"
The
coil
spring
is
undercompressive
force
and
ís
extremely
dangerous
until
compression
isre-
moved
.
"
lt
is
recommended
that
a
restraining
chain
be
in-
stalled
between
the
bottomof
the
coil
spring
and
the
upper
control
arm
to
retain
the
spring
in
case
of
accidental
release
.
Personal
injury
can
result
if
the
compressed
coil
spring
is
not
released
slowly
and
carefully
.
"
Make
sure
that
the
car
is
firmly
supported
on
jack
standsdesigned
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack
standsbeneatha
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not
place
jack
stands
under
suspension
parts
.
1
.
Raise
car
and
remove
rear
wheel
.
2
.
Support
suspension
arm
from
below
using
a
transmis-
sion
jack
orequívalent
.
Tightening
Torques
3
.
Remove
drive
axle
from
final
drive
.
See
Fig
.
6
.
Suspend
"
Drive
axle
to
final
drive
flange
drive
axle
from
chassis
using
stiff
wire
.
M8
Torx
bolt
.
..
...
.
.............
64
Nm
(47
ft-Ib)
M10
Torx
bolt
...................
83
Nm
(62
ft-Ib)
4
.
Disconnect
shock
absorber
from
traíling
arm
.
"
Road
wheel
to
hub
.........
100±10
Nm
(74±7
ft-Ib)
"
Shock
absorber
to
trailing
arm
......
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
5
.
Lower
suspension
slowly
and
carefully
until
the
com-
pressed
coil
spring
is
fully
unloaded
.
CAUTION
-
The
shock
absorber
prevents
the
drive
axle
and
trailíng
arm
from
drooping
too
far,
so
always
sup-port
the
trailing
arm
before
removing
the
shock
.
Damage
to
drive
axle
CV
joints
can
result
.
6
.
Remove
restraining
chain
and
remove
coi¡
spring
.
REAR
WHEEL
BEARINGS
Fig
.
6
.
Driveaxle
to
final
drive
mounting
bolts
(arrows)
.
0012103
7
.
If
spring
is
to
be
reused,
carefully
inspect
it
for
any
sur-
face
damage
or
corrosion
.
Inspect
spring
mounts
for
any
signs
of
damage
.
Replace
any
parts
showing
evi-
dence
of
wear
or
damage
.
8
.
Fit
coil
springtospring
mountsand
insta¡¡
restraíning
chaina
9
.
Slowly
lift
suspensionback
into
position,
making
sure
coil
spring
is
correctly
seated
in
upper
and
lower
coil
spring
mounts
.
10
.
When
suspension
has
been
lifted
sufficiently,
instan
shock
absorber
to
trailing
arm
.
Remove
restraining
chain
.
11
.
The
remainder
of
installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
REAR
WHEEL
BEARINGS
The
rear
wheel
bearing
is
a
unitized
assembly
and
is
not
re-
pairable
separately
.
See
Fig
.
7
.
Special
press
tools,
to
be
used
with
the
trailing
arm
at-
tached
to
the
car,
are
requiredto
replace
the
wheel
bearings
.
Read
the
procedure
through
before
beginning
thejob
.
330-
6
REAR
SUSPENSION
12
.
Install
brake
caliper
assembly
and
rotor
as
described
in
340Brakes
.
13
.
Install
drive
axie
as
described
below
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Brake
rotor
to
drive
flange
.........
16
Nm
(12
ft-ib)
"
Brake
caliper
to
trailing
arm
........
67
Nm
(50
ft-Ib)
"
Drive
axie
collar
nut
to
drive
flange
..
.
..
..............
250
Nm
(184
ft-Ib)
M3
.....
...
..
.
.............
.
300
Nm
(221
ft-Ib)
"
Road
wheel
to
hub
.........
100±10
Nm
(74±7
ft-Ib)
DRIVE
AXLES
The
drive
axles
use
constant-velocity
(CV)
joints
on
both
ends
.
To
replace
a
CV
joint
or
dust
boot,
the
drive
axie
must
be
removed
fromthe
car
.
The
components
of
the
drive
axie
are
illustrated
in
Fig
.
10
.
Drive
axie,
removing
and
installing
1
.
Raise
rear
of
car
.
Remove
rear
wheel
.
Dust
cover
Fig
.
10
.
Driveaxie
assembly
.
DRIVE
AXLES
Inner
CV
boot
kit
-Reinforcement
WARNING
-
Make
sure
that
the
car
is
firmly
supportedon
jack
stands
designed
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack
stands
beneatha
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not
place
jack
stands
undersuspension
parts
.
2
.
Pry
off
dust
cap
from
center
of
wheel
hub
.
3
.
Remount
wheel
and
lug
boits
.
4
.
Lower
car
to
ground
.
With
an
assistant
applying
brakes,
loosen
collar
nut
.
Do
not
remove
completely
.
See
Fig
.
11
.
The
drive
flange
collar
nut
is
tightened
to
a
torque
of
250
Nm
(184
ft-Ib)
.
Make
sure
the
car
is
firmly
on
the
ground
.
5
.
Raisecar
andremove
wheel
.
6
.
Remove
brake
caliper
assembly
and
rotor
as
described
in
340
Brakes
.
Leave
brake
hose
connected
to
caliper
.
Suspend
caliper
assembly
from
chassis
using
stiff
wire
.
7
.
Remove
drive
axie
from
drive
flange
.
See
Fig
.
12
.
Sus-
pend
drive
axie
from
chassis
using
stiff
wire
.
Outer
CV
boot
kit
Drive
axle
Outer
CV
joint
Fig
.
11
.
Drive
flange
collar
nut
(arrow)
.
0012111
8
.
Support
trailing
arm
from
below,
using
a
transmission
jackorequivalent
.
Remove
shock
absorber
to
trailing
arm
bolt
.
WARNING
-
It
is
recommended
that
a
restraining
chain
be
in-
stalled
between
the
bottom
coil
of
the
coil
spring
and
the
upper
control
arm
to
retain
thespring
in
case
of
accidental
release
.
Personal
injury
can
re-
sult
if
the
compressed
coil
spring
is
not
released
slowly
and
carefully
.
REAR
SUSPENSION
330-
7
9
.
Lower
trailing
arm
sufficiently
to
gain
clearance
for
re-
moving
drive
axle
.
If
necessary
use
an
appropriate
puller
to
Rmove
drive
axle
from
wheel
bearing
housing
.
See
Fig
.
13
.
10
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
Fig
.
13
.
Press
drive
axle
from
wheel
bearing
housing
using
puller
.
"
Apply
a
light
coating
of
oil
to
contact
face
of
collar
nut,
and
install
it
loosely
.
"
Install
road
wheel
and
lower
car
to
ground
.
"
With
an
assistant
applying
brakes,
tighten
drive
axle
collar
nut
to
its
final
torque
.
"
Install
a
new
collar
nut
retaining
plate
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Brake
caliper
to
trailing
arm
........
67
Nm
(50
ft-Ib)
"
Brake
rotor
to
drive
flange
.........
16
Nm
(12
ft-Ib)
"
Drive
axle
collar
nut
to
drive
flange
.
.
....
..
.
..........
250
Nm
(184
ft-Ib)
M3
......
.
.
.....
.
.
..........
300
Nm
(221
ft-Ib)
"
Drive
axie
to
final
drive
unit
mounting
flange
.
.
.
.....
M8
Torx
bolt
.
...
...
.
............
64
Nm
(47
ft-Ib)
M10
Torx
bolt
...
...............
100
Nm
(74
ft-Ib)
Road
wheel
to
hub100±10
Nm
(74t7
ft-Ib)
0012103
"
Shock
absorber
to
Fig
.
12
.
Drive
axle
to
final
drive
mounting
bolts
(arrows)
.
trailing
arm
.
.
...
...
.
............
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
DRIVE
AXLES
Fig
.
20
.
Trailing
arm
front
bracket
bolts
(arrows)
.
NOTE-
BMW-supplied
replacement
trailing
arms
come
with
the
bushings
installed
.
Anew
wheel
bearing
will
have
to
be
installed
.
0013222
11
.
If
trailing
arm
is
being
replaced,
transfer
trailing
arm
front
bracket
.
Transfer
attached
brake
system
compo-
nents
to
newarm
as
described
in
340Brakes
.
Insta¡¡
a
new
wheel
bearing
as
described
earlier
under
Rear
Wheel
Bearings
.
12
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
"
Alwaysuse
new
self-locking
nuts
.
"
Have
car
professionally
aligned
when
job
is
complete
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Drive
axle
#o
final
drive
unit
mounting
flange
M8
Torx
bolt
......
.
...
.....
.
..
..
64
Nm
(47
ft-Ib)
M10
Torx
bolt
.....
...
.
....
.....
100
Nm
(74
ft-Ib)
"
Road
wheel
to
wheel
hub
.
...
100±10
Nm
(74t7
ft-Ib)
"
Shock
absorber
to
trailing
arm
......
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Trailing
arm
tofront
bracket
.......
110
Nm
(81
ft-Ib)
"
Trailing
arm
bracket
to
body
........
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"Trailing
arm
to
upper
or
lower
control
arm
(M12
bolt)
....
110
Nm
(81
ft-Ib)
REAR
SUSPENSION
330-
1
1
Trailing
arm
bushing,
replacing
NOTE-
When
replacing
any
bushing
in
the
rear
trailing
arm,
measure
and
recordthe
orientation
and
protrusion
of
the
bushing
from
its
boss
.
Press
in
new
bushing
to
match
the
positionof
theold
one
.
1
.
Remove
trailing
arm
as
described
above
.
2
.
Pressbushing
out
of
trailing
arm
using
appropriate
press
tools
.
3
.
Coat
new
bushing
with
Circolight
9
lubricant
or
equiva-
lent
.
4
.
Using
appropriate
press
tools,
draw
new
bushing
into
trailing
arm
until
previously
measured
protrusion
is
achieved
.
5
.
If
front
bracket
bushing
was
replaced,
alignfront
brack-
et
before
tightening
bolt
.
See
Fig
.
21
.
A
B=8mm
measured
upfrom
cast-
ing
mark
on
trailing
arm
.
0013237
Fig
.
21
.
When
installing
trailing
arm
front
bracketuising
8mm
bar
stock
.
6
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
"
Have
car
professionally
aligned
when
job
is
complete
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Trailing
arm
tofront
bracket
.......
110
Nm
(81
ft-Ib)
"Trailing
arm
bracket
to
body
......
.
.
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
REAR
SUSPENSION
ARMS
330-
1
2
REAR
SUSPENSION
Upper
control
arm,
removing
and
installing
1.
Raise
rear
end
of
car
and
remove
wheel
.
WARNING
-
Make
sure
that
the
car
is
firmly
supportedon
jack
stands
designed
for
the
purpose
.
Place
the
jack
stands
beneatha
structural
chassis
point
.
Do
not
place
jack
stands
under
suspension
parts
.
2
.
Remove
drive
axle
as
described
earlier
.
3
.
Remove
stabilizer
bar
link
fromupper
control
arm
.
4
.
Support
trailing
arm
from
below
with
a
transmission
jackorequivalent
.
WARNING
-
It
is
recommended
that
a
retaining
chain
be
in-
stalled
between
the
bottom
coil
of
the
coil
spring
and
the
upper
control
arm
to
retain
thespring
in
case
of
accidental
release
.
Personal
injury
can
re-
sult
if
the
compressed
coil
spring
ís
not
released
slowly
and
carefully
.
5
.
Remove
lower
shock
absorber
bolt
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
18
.
Slowly
lower
trailing
arm
until
coil
spring
is
fully
re-
leased
.
Remove
restraining
chain
and
remove
spring
.
7
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
"
Always
use
new
self-locking
nuts
.
"
Have
car
professionally
aligned
when
job
is
complete
.
"
Insta¡¡
drive
axle
as
described
earlier
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Drive
axleto
final
drive
flange
M8
Torx
bolt
..........
..
.
..
....
64
Nm
(47
ft-Ib)
M10
Torx
bolt
.........
..
..
.
...
100
Nm
(74
ft-Ib)
"
Shock
absorber
to
trailing
arm
..
..
..
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Upper
control
arm
to
final
drive
carrier
(M12
bolt)
...
..
.
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Upper
control
arm
to
trailing
arm
(M12
bolt)
.........
110
Nm
(81
ft-Ib)
Lower
control
arm,
1
.
Raise
rear
end
of
car
and
support
it
securely
on
jack-
stands
.
Remove
rear
wheel
.
2
.
Remove
both
lower
control
arm
mounting
bolts
.
FINAL
DRIVE
CARRIER
3
.
Use
a
soft
hammer
to
tap
control
arm
out
of
its
mount-
ing
points
.
4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
NOTE-
Use
a
new
bolt
and
washer
assembly
at
the
final
drive
carrier
mountíng
point
forthe
control
arm
.
Tightening
Torque
"
Lower
control
arm
to
final
drive
carrier
(M12
bolt)
......
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Lower
control
arm
to
trailing
arm
(M12
bolt)
....
..
.
..
110
Nm
(81
ft-Ib)
FINAL
DRIVE
CARRIER
Final
drive
carrier,
removing
and
installing
1
.
Raise
rear
end
of
car
and
support
it
securely
on
jack
stands
.
Remove
rear
wheels
.
2
.
Remove
driveshaft
.
See
260
Driveshaft
.
3
.
Remove
both
drive
axles
as
described
earlier
.
6
.
Remove
both
upper
control
arm
mounting
bolts
.
Re-
move
control
arm
.
4
.
Disconnect
stabilizer
bar
from
upper
control
arms
.
Re-
move
stabilizer
bar
mounts
.
5
.
Disconnect
speedometer
harness
connector
on
final
drive
(where
applicable)
.
6
.
Remove
rear
section
of
exhaust
system
.
See
180
Ex-
haust
System
.
NOTE-
It
may
be
easier
to
remove
complete
exhaust
asonepiece
.
See
180
Exhaust
System
.
7
.
Remove
upper
and
lower
control
arms
as
described
earlier
.
8
.
Support
final
drive
carrierwith
transmissíon
jack
.
Re-
move
mounting
bolts
and
nuts
at
final
drive
carrier
bushing
mounts
.
See
Fig
.
22
.
9
.
Slowly
lower
final
drive
and
final
drive
carrier,
detaching
removing
and
installing
wire
harness
and
connectors
as
necessary
.
10
.
Finaldrive
may
now
be
unbolted
from
final
drive
carrier
.
Fig
.
22
.
Final
drive
carrier
mounts
(arrows)
.
11
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
uu1J221
"
Check
and
adjust
parking
brake
as
described
in
340
Brakes
.
"
Alwaysuse
new
self-locking
fasteners
.
"
Have
car
professionally
aligned
when
job
is
complete
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Drive
axle
to
final
drive
flange
M8
Torx
bolt
................
...
64
Nm
(47
ft-Ib)
M10
Torx
bolt
..........
..
...
.
.
100
Nm
(74
ft-Ib)
"
Driveshaft
to
final
drive
flange
...
See
260
Driveshaft
"
Final
drive
carrier
to
body
......
...
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Final
drive
to
final
drive
carrier
(M12
bolts)
Front
mount
.................
...
95
Nm
(70
ft-lb)
Rear
mounts
................
...
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
"
Road
wheel
to
wheel
hub
....
100±10
Nm
(74t7
ft-Ib)
"
Upper
or
lower
control
arm
to
final
drive
carrier
(M12
bolts)
....
.
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)
331-2
FINAL
DRIVE
Make
sure
that
the
car
is
firm1y
supportedon
Tjack
.
.-
"
:
.-
:
.
n
-
2
.
Detach
drive
axle(s)
from
final
drive
.
See330
Rear
Suspension
.
CA
UTION-
Suspend
the
detached
drive
axlefrom
the
car
body
with
a
stiff
wire
hook
to
prevent
damage
to
the
outer
CV
joint
.
Fig
.
3
.
Drive
flange
snap
ring
(arrow)
to
be
removed
from
final
drive
3
.
Pry
drive
flange
from
final
drive
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
housing
.
Fig
.
2
.
Drive
flange
being
pried
off
.
For
leverage,
use
a
wooden
dowel
as
shown
.
4
.
Remove
wire(snap)
ring
from
final
drive
opening
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
NOTE-
Inspect
flangeat
the
point
where
the
oil
seal
rides
on
the
shaft
.
Replace
the
flange
assembly
if
there
is
agrooveworn
in
the
shaft
FINAL
DRIVE
SERVICE
9
.
Attach
drive
axle
and
tighten
bolts
.
10
.
Top
off
final
drive
with
ofl
.
B315
5
.
Pry
old
oil
sea¡
from
its
recess
using
a
hooked
seal
re-
moval
tool,
or
a
large
screwdriver
.
Use
pan
to
catch
draining
fluid
.
CA
UTION-
Be
careful
not
to
mar
the
final
drive
housing
when
removing
the
sea¡
.
6
.
Dip
new
seal
in
final
drive
lubricant
and
drive
seal
into
place
untilfully
seated
.
7
.
Insta¡¡
new
snap
ringin
groove
of
final
drive
housing
.
Make
sureboth
ends
ofring
are
fully
seated
in
groove
.
8
.
Insta¡¡
drive
flangeby
pressing
it
in
by
hand
until
snap
ring
engages
.
It
may
benecessary
to
turn
drive
flange
slightly
while
pushing
.
Tightening
Torque
"
Drive
axle
to
final
drive
flange
M8
Torx
bolt
..
..................
64
Nm
(47
ft-Ib)
M10
Torx
bolt
.
.................
100
Nm
(74
ft-Ib)