1993 BMW M3 lock

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-
8



REAR
SUSPENSION

CV
boot,
replacing

NOTE-

"
The
outer
CV
joint
cannot
be
removed
from
the
axle
shaft
.
In
order
to
replace
the
outer
CV
boot,
it
is
nec-
essary
to
remove
the
inner
joint
and
boot
first
.

"
If
the
CV
joints
are
worn
or
defective,
acomplete
re-

built
axle
shaft
is
available
from
an
authorized
BMW
dealerparts
department
.

1
.
Remove
drive
axle
from
car
as
described
above
.

2
.
Remove
inner
and
outer
CV
boot
clamping
bands
and

cut
old
boots
off
joints
and
shaft
.
Clean
grease
from

joints
.

3
.
Lift
off
dust
cover
from
inner
CV
joint
and
remove
circlip



5
.
Clean
all
old
lubricantoff
shaftsplines
and
inner
joint's

retaining
joint
inner
hub
to
axle
shaft
.
See
Fig
.
14
.



splines
.

DRIVE
AXLES

-0
1
,
1
1,1
1
L
"I
C
OYA

Drive
axle-"
e
:>,



)



0006560

CV
joint

Fig
.
15
.
Support
CV
joint
at
inner
hub
duringpressing
operation
(ar-
rows)
.

NOTE-

To
inspect
a
CV
joint,
clean
away
the
grease
and
look
for
galling,pittihg
and
othersigns
of
wear
or
physical
damage
.
Polished
surfaces
or
visible
ball
tracks
alone

are
not
necessarily
cause
for
replacement
.
Discolora-

tion
due
to
overheating
indicates
lackof
lubrication
.

6
.
Place
new
clamping
bands
and
CV
boots
over
drive
ax-

le
.

NOTE-

When
replacing
CV
joint
boots,
usecomplete
CV
joint

boot
repair
kits
.
A
kit
will
include
a
new
boot,
clamping

bands,
special
lubricant,
and
anew
inner
CV
joint
cir-
clip
.
The
kit
is
available
from
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
parts
department
.

7
.
Apply
Loctite
®
270
or
an
equívalent
heavy-duty
lockíng

compound
to
drive
axlesplines
.
Position
new
CV
joint

on
shaft
so
that
raisedor
taller
side
of
hub
is
facing
shaft
.

WARNING
-

Fig
.
14
.
Dust
cover
shown
removed
from
inner
CV
joint
.
Clean
away



Do
not
let
the
locking
compound
contact
the
balls
in

grease
and
remove
circlip
(arrow)
from
shaft
end
.



the
joint
.
Apply
only
a
thin
coat
to
cover
the
splines
.

4
.
While
supporting
inner
hub,
press
axle
shaft
out
of
joint
.



8
.
While
supporting
axle
shaft,
press
inner
hub
of
CV
joint

See
Fig
.
15
.



onto
shaft
.
Install
new
circlip
.

NOTE-

Do
not
let
the
ball
hub
pivot
more
than
20°
in
the
outer
ring
of
the
joint
.
The
halls
will
fall
out
if
the
hub
ís
pivoted
too
far
.

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)

Final
driveinputshaft
oil
sea¡,
replacing

1
.
Raise
car
and
support
safely
.

2
.
Drain
final
drive
oil
as
described
earlier
.

3
.
Remove
driveshaft
from
final
drive
inputshaft
flange
.

See
260
Driveshaft
.

4
.
Make
matching
marks
on
input
shaft
and
inputshaft
collar
nut
.
See
Fig
.
4
.

Fig
.
4
.



Make
matching
marks
on
input
shaft
collar
nut
and
flange
.

5
.
Pry
lockplate
from
nut
.
Hold
input
flange
andremove

collar
nut
.
If
necessary,
usea
pullerto
remove
input

flange
.

6
.
Remove
final
drive
front
dust
cover
.

8
.
Install
new
final
drivefront
dust
cover
.

9
.
Lightly
lubricate
inputshaft
and
press
input
flange
back

on
.
Insta¡¡
collar
nut
and
slowly
tighten
until
matching

marks
line
up,
coming
as
close
aspossible
to
specified

torque
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Final
driveinputshaft
flange
to
pinion

with
4
bolt
side
covers
.



.........
175
Nm
(129
ft-Ib)

(or
until
match
marks
line
up)

"
Finaldriveinputshaft
flange
to
pinion
with
6
bolt
side
covers
...........
185
Nm
(137
ft-Ib)

(or
until
match
marks
line
up)

CA
UTION-

If
the
input
flange
nuttorque
is
exceeded,
or
the
nut
is
tightened
past
the
marks,
the
crushable
col-
lar
sleeve
behind
theflange
will
need
to
be
re-
placed
.
This
operation
requires
disassembly
of
the
final
drive
unit
.

10
.
Install
a
new
lockplate
and
refill
final
drive
with
lubri-

cant
.

11
.
Remaining
assembly
is
reverse
of
disassembly
.

Tightening
Torques

"
Driveshaftto
final
dríve
flange
...
See260
Driveshaft

"
Flex-disc
to
driveshaft
or
transmission
flange
...........
See260
Driveshaft

"
Finaldrivedrain
and
fill
plugs
...
.
..
.
70
Nm
(52
ft-Ib)

Final
drive
unit,

removing
and
installing

FINAL
DRIVE



331-
3

1
.
Raise
rear
end
of
car
and
support
it
securely
on
jack
stands
.
Remove
rear
wheels
.

2
.
Remove
driveshaft
from
final
drive
input
flange
.
See
7
.
Pry
faulty
sea¡
from
its
recess
using
a
hooked
sea¡
re-



260
Driveshaft
.
moval
toolor
a
large
screwdriver
.
Dip
new
sea¡
in
final

drive
lubricant
and
drive
it
into
position
.



3
.
Remove
both
drive
axles
from
final
drive
unit
.
Suspend

axle
using
stiff
wire
.
See
330
Rear
Suspension
.

CAUTION
-

ee
careful
not
to
mar
the
housing
when
removing



4
.
Disconnect
stabilizer
bar
from
upper
control
arms
.
Re-

the
seas
.



move
left
and
rightstabilizer
bar
mounts
.

5
.
Disconnect
speedometer
harness
connector
on
final

drive
(where
applicable)
.

6
.
Support
final
drive
with
transmission
jack
.
Remove

mounting
bolts
atfront
and
rear
.
See
Fig
.
5
.

7
.
Slowly
lower
final
drive
unit
and
remove
towards
rear
.

FINAL
DRIVE
SERVICE

331-
4



FINAL
DRIVE

FINAL
DRIVE
SERVICE

0013242
0013243

Fig
.
5
.



Final
drive
to
final
drive
carrier
rear
(A)
and
front
mounting
bolts
(B)
.

8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Check
and
adjust
parking
brake
as
described
in
340
Brakes
.

"
Always
use
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-Ib)

Rear
mounts
.....
.......
.
.
.
..
...
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib)

"
Road
wheel
to
wheel
hub
....
100±10
Nm
(74±7
ft-Ib)

"
Upper
or
lower
control
arm

to
final
drive
carrier
(M12
bolts)
...
..
77
Nm
(57
ft-Ib))