
300-8
SUSPENSION,
STEERING
AND
BRAKES-GENERAL
Tableb
.
Suspension
and
Steering
Troubleshooting
Symptom
1
Probable
cause
Repairs
(Repair
Groups
shown
in
bold)
Car
pulís
to
one
side,
wanders
a
.
Incorrect
tire
pressure
a
.
Check
and
correct
tire
pressures
.
020
b
.
Incorrect
wheel
alignment
b
.
Check
and
adjust
wheel
alignment
.
320
c
.
Faulty
brakes
(pulls
only
when
braking)
I
c
.
Check
for
sticking/damaged
front
caliper
.
340
Steering
heavy,
poor
return-
a
.
Worn
upper
strut
bearing(s)
a
.
Replace
strut
bearings
.
310
to-center
b
.
Incorrect
tire
pressure
b
.
Check
and
correct
tire
pressures
.
020
c
.
Power
steering
system
faulty
c
.
Check
power
steering
fluid
level
.
Test
system
pressure
.
320
Front-end
or
rear-end
vibra-
a
.
Worn
strut
cartridgesor
shock
absorbers
a
.
Replace
strut
cartridges
.
310,
330
tion
or
shimmy
b
.
Worn
suspension
bushings
(control
arm
or
trail-
b
.
Replace
worn
bushings
.
310,
330
ing
arm)
c
.
Worn
front
suspension
ball
joints
(control
arm,
c
.
Replace
worn
ball
joints
.
310
steering
arm
orsteering
tie-rod
end)d
.
Unbalanced
or
bent
wheels/tires
d
.
Balance
tires
.
Check
tiresfor
uneven
wear
pat-
terns
.
Check
wheels
for
damage
.
e
.
Loose
wheel
lug
boits
e
.
Tighten
lug
boits
to
proper
torque
.
Poor
stability,
repeated
bounc-
I
a
.
Worn
strut
cartridgesor
shock
absorbers
I
a
.
Replace
strut
cartridges
.
310,
330
ing
after
bumps,
suspension
bottoms
outeasily
Suspension
noise
(especially
a
.
Worn
front
upper
strut
bearings
a
.
Replaceupper
strut
bearings
.
310
over
bumps)
b
.
Loose
front
strut
cartridge
b
.
Check/tighten
strut
cartridge
collar
nut
.
310
c
.
Worn
suspensionbushings
(control
arm
or
trail-
c
.
Replace
worn
bushings
.
310,
330
ing
arm)d
.
Worn
stabilizer
bar
rubber
mounts
d
.
Replace
stabilizer
bar
rubber
mounts
.
310,
330
e
.
Loose
suspension
crossmember
e
.
Check
crossmember
for
damage
.
Tighten
mounting
boits
.
Uneven
ride
height
a
.
Incorrect
coil
springs
a
.
Measure
ride
height
and
replacesprings
as
re-
quired
.
310,
330
b
.
Bent
or
damaged
suspension
components
b
.
Inspect,
repair/replace
asnecessary
.
310,
330
c
.
Sagging
coil
springs
c
.
Measure
ride
height
and
replace
springs
as
re-
quired
.
310,
330
Wheel
noise,
continuous
I
a
.
Worn
wheel
bearing
I
a
.
Replacewheel
bearing
.
310,
330
growling,
may
be
more
notíce-
able
when
turning
Steering
loose,
imprecise
a
.
Incorrect
tire
pressure
a
.
Check
and
correct
tire
pressures
.
020
-
b
.
Loose
steering
gearmounting
bolt(s)
b
.
Inspect
and
tighten
boits
.
320
c
.
Worn
tie
rodend(s)
c
.
Replace
tie
rod(s)
and
align
wheels
.
320
d
.
Faulty
front
wheel
bearing
d
.
Replace
wheel
bearing
.
310
e
.
Worn
or
damaged
steering
gear
e
.
Adjust
or
replace
steering
gear
.
320
f
.
Worn
tires
f
.
Replace
tires
.
010
SUSPENSION
AND
STEERING
TROUBLESHOOTING

GENERAL
310
Front
Suspension
GENERAL
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
........
.
310-1
FRONT
WHEEL
BEARINGS
..
.
.
.
.......
310-8
SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
..
.
310-2
Front
wheel
bearing,
replacing
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
310-8
Strut
assembly,
removing
and
installing
.....
310-2
STABILIZER
BAR
..........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
310-9
Strut
assembly,
disassembling
Stabilizerbar,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
...
310-9
and
assembling
.
.
.
...
.
.....
.
.........
310-4
Ride
Height
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.....
.
........
.
310-4
SUBFRAME
CROSSMEMBER
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
310-9
Subframe
crossmember,
CONTROL
ARMS
.
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
.....
310-5
removing
and
installing
.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
...
310-9
Control
arm,
removing
and
installing
....
..
310-5
Outer
control
arm
ball
joint,
replacing
Table
exce
t
M3
models
310-6
a
.
Front
Ride
Height
Specifications
..
.
.....
..
.
..
..
310-5
Control
arm
bushing,
replacing
.
.
.
...
.
.....
310-7
The
E36
front
suspension
is
shown
in
Fig
.
1
.
For
a
general
Specialservice
tools
arerequired
for
most
of
the
work
de-
description
of
the
front
suspension
and
components,
see
300
scribed
in
this
repair
group
.
Read
the
procedures
through
be-
Suspension,
Steering
and
Brakes-General
.
fore
beginning
any
job
.
Stabilizer
bar
Power
steering
fluid
cooler
Control
Strut
assembly
arm
Tierod
Fig
.
1
.
BMW
E36
front
suspension
.
(M3
suspension
shown
.
Others
are
similar
.)
FRONT
SUSPENSION
310-1
Steering
arm
0012132
GENERAL

GENERAL
.......
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.......
.
...
.330-1
CV
boot,
replacing
........
.
.
.
.........
.
.330-8
RIDE
HEIGHT
....
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
...
.
330-1
REAR
SUSPENSION
ARMS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
.
330-9
Trailing
arm,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
....
330-10
SHOCK
ABSORBERS
AND
SPRINGS
.
.
.
330-2
Trailing
arm
bushing,
replacing
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
..
330-11
Rear
shock
absorber,
removing
and
installing
330-3
Upper
control
arm,
removing
and
installing
.
.330-12
Coil
spring,
removing
and
installing
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
330-4
Lower
control
arm,
removing
and
installing
.
.330-12
REAR
WHEEL
BEARINGS
....
.
...
.
.
.
..
330-4
Rear
wheel
bearing,
replacing
.......
.
....
330-5
Final
drive
carrier,
removing
and
installing
.
.330-12
DRIVE
AXLES
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.............
330-6
TABLE
a
.
Rear
Ride
Height
Specifications
..
.
............
330-1
Drive
axle,
removing
and
installing
.........
330-6
GENERAL
Special
service
tools
are
required
for
some
of
the
work
de-
scribed
in
this
repair
group
.
Read
the
procedures
through
be-
fore
beginning
any
job
.
NOTE
-
A
general
description
of
the
rear
suspension
and
a
troubleshooting
guide
can
be
found
in
300
Suspen-
sion,
Steering
and
Brakes-General
.
RIDE
HEIGHT
Rear
suspension
ride
height
is
controlled
by
the
rear
springs
.
If
the
rear
ride
height
is
not
within
the
specifications
listed,
the
rear
springs
should
be
replaced
.
Ride
height
is
measured
from
the
lower
edge
of
the
wheel
arch
to
the
bottom
edge
of
the
wheel
rim
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
Table
a
lists
rear
suspension
ride
height
specifications
.
ooy
98
These
specifications
apply
to
a
car
in
a
normally
loaded
posi-
tion
.
When
checking
ride
heightor
installing
suspension
com-
Fig
.
1
.
Ride
height
measurement
(A)
is
taken
from
center
of
wheel
ponents,
load
the
caras
follows
:
archto
bottom
of
wheel
rim
.
Normal
loaded
position
"
Each
front
seat
..
...
.
.
.............
68kg
(150
lb)
"
Rear
seat
(center)
..
.
.
.............
68
kg
(150
lb)
"
Trunk
.........
.
.
.
.
.
..............
21kg
(46
lb)
"
Fue¡
tank
.....
.
..
.
.
.
................
.
..
..
.
full
NOTE-
M3
ride
height
is
measured
with
the
car
unladen
.
330
Rear
Suspension
REAR
SUSPENSION
330-1
FINAL
DRIVE
CARRIER
.
.......
.
.
.
.
.
..
330-12
Table
a
.
Rear
RideHeight
Specifications
Wheel
size
318,323,325,
M3
modeis
328
modeis
15
inch
std
.
suspension
518
mm
(20
.39
in)
sport
suspension
~
507
mm
(19
.96
in)
16
inch
std
.
suspension
531
mm
(20
.91
in)
sport
suspension
~
520
mm
(20
.47
in)
Continued
RIDE
HEIGHT

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

512-2
DOOR
WINDOWS
WINDOW
SERVICE,
4-DOOR
MODELS
WARNING
-
When
servicing
the
door
wíndows,
theharness
con-
nector
to
the
window
regulator
shouldalways
be
disconnected
to
prevent
pinching
fingers
in
closing
window
.
NOTE-
If
the
battery
is
disconnected,
the
front
window
regula-
tor
motors
must
be
re-initialized
afterrepairs
are
car-ried
out
.
lf
the
window
motorsare
not
reinitialized,
the
programmed
one-touch
upldown
and
anti-pinchfunc-
tions
will
be
disabled
.
See
Front
door
window,
initial-
izing
.
Front
doorwindow,
removing
and
installing
0013061
(4-door
modeis)
Fig
.1.
Lift
off
window
sea¡
from
door
.
Note
metal
retainer
(arrow)
.
2-
door
car
shown
.
1
.
Lower
door
window
about
12
in
.
(300
mm)
.
2
.
Remove
front
door
panel
and
vapor
barrieras
de-
scribed
in
411
Doors
.
WARNING
-
"
Some
1997
and
all
1998
cars
are
fitted
wlth
side-
impact
airbags
in
the
front
doors
.
When
servicing
the
door
wíndows
on
cars
with
front
side-impact
airbags,
always
disconnect
the
negative
()
bat-
tery
cable
.
See
721Airbag
System
(SRS)
for
cautions
and
procedures
relating
to
theairbag
sys-
tem
.
"
Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
bat-
tery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
page
vi¡¡
.
3
.
On
cars
with
side-impact
airbags,
disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.
Then
remove
airbag
unit
fromdoor
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
.
5
.
Carefully
remove
window
innersea¡
and
pry
off
metal
retainers
under
sealing
lip
to
prevent
scratchingglass
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
6
.
Remove
retaining
clips
from
window
slides
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
WINDOW
SERVICE,
4-DOOR
MODELS
Fig
.
2
.
Retaining
clipsfor
window
slides
(arrows)
.
0011696
7
.
While
supporting
window
glass,
pry
window
lifting
arms
out
of
left
and
right
slides
.
See
Fig
.
3
.
NOTE-
8
.
Pivot
window
up
at
rear
and
out
of
door
.
In
some
modeis
covered
inthis
manual,
it
is
not
essen-
tial
to
remove
the
side-impact
airbag
to
access
internal
9
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal,
notingthe
following
:
door
components
.
However,
the
procedure
is
recom-
"
Usenew
mounting
bolts
when
reinstalling
the
side-im-
mended
forsafety
reasons
.
pactairbag
to
the
door(where
applicable)
.
See
721
Airbag
System
(SRS)
.
4
.
Disconnect
harness
connector
from
window
motor
to
"
Adjust
window
as
described
later
.
prevent
accidental
operation
.
"
Re-initialize
window
regulator
motorsas
described
earlier
.

512-
4
DOOR
WINDOWS
7
.
Push
regulator
stop
tightly
against
window
regulator
4
.
Lower
door
window
about
12
in
.
(300
mm)
.
Remove
sector
and
tighten
nut
.
window
lifting
arm
retaining
clip
from
window
slide
.
Re-
o
Check
for
tight,
even
fit
at
top
of
window
frame
.
fer
to
Fig
.
2
.
"
If
necessary,temporarily
reconnect
negative
(-)
cable
to
battery
and
raise
window
so
it
is
pressing
uniformly
WARNING-
against
toprubber
sea¡
before
final
tightening
.
Once
the
window
is
lowered,
dísconnect
harness
connector
from
power
window
motor
to
prevent
ac-
8
.
Reinitialize
front
window
motorsas
described
earlier
.
cidental
operation
of
the
window
.
Tightening
Torques
"
Regulator
stop
to
window
regulator
....
9
Nm
(7
ft-Ib)
"
Window
regulator
bracket
to
door
.....
9
Nm
(7
ft-Ib)
Rear
door
window,
removing
and
installing
(4-door
models)
1
.
Remove
rear
door
panel
and
vapor
barrier
.
See
411
7
.
Remove
window
glass
from
above
.
Doors
.
2
.
Pul¡
out
rubber
guide
at
front
of
window
frame
.
Remove
three
screws
and
pul¡
off
exteriortrim
cover
.
See
Fig
.
6
.
UJ117U1
Fig
.
6
.
Trim
covermounting
screws
(arrows)
.
To
remove
cover,
slide
upand
off
door
.
3
.
Lift
up
andremovewindow
inner
sealing
strip
.
Remove
clipsat
edge
of
window
channel
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
1
.
WINDOW
SERVICE,
4-DOOR
MODELS
5
.
Pry
lifting
arm
out
of
slide
.
Refer
to
Fig
.
3
.
NOTE
-
Support
window
in
door
before
disconnecting
lifting
arm
from
window
slide
.
6
.
Remove
rubber
channelfromdoorframe
perimeter
.
8
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.
"
Rear
window
adjustment
is
similar
to
front
window
ad-
justment,given
earlier
.
"
Reinitialize
window
motorsas
described
earlier
.
Rear
door
fixed
glass,
removing
and
installing
(4-door
models)
1
.
Remove
window
from
rear
dooras
described
earlier
.
2
.
Remove
upper
and
lower
bolts
at
guide
rail
.
Lift
up
rub-
ber
sea¡
to
accessupper
bolt
.
See
Fig
.
7
.
Fig
.
7
.
Rear
guide
rail
mounting
bolts
(arrows)
.

640-8
HEATING
AND
AIR
CONDITIONING
0012649
Fig
.
22
.
A/
C
control
head
faceplate
screwson
rotary
knob
version
(ar-
rows)
.
Once
screws
are
removed,
faceplate
must
be
un-
clipped
from
control
head
.
Fig
.
23
.
Push
control
panel
out
ofcenter
console
.
4
.
Remove
harness
connectors
.
Unfasten
heater
duct
control
flex-shaft
on
right
side
of
control
head
by
squeezing
retaining
tab
.
PA
shaftout
of
coupling
in
control
head
and
remove
head
.
5
.
Installation
is
reverseof
removal
.
HEATER
AND
CONTROLS
0012650
Heater
and
A/C
control
head,
removing
and
installing(digital-display)
1
.
Remove
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
module
from
center
of
dash
.
See
620
Instruments
.
2
.
Reach
into
dash
through
MID
opening
and
push
A/C
control
head
outwards
.
3
.
Disconnect
harness
connector
and
remove
control
head
.
4
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
Heater
andA/C
control
module,
removing
and
installing
(rotary-knob)
1
.
Remove
Multi-Information
Display
(MID)
module
from
center
of
dash
.
See
620
Instruments
.
2
.
Remove
center
console
.
See
513
Interior
Trim
.
3
.
Disconnect
wiring
harness
connectors
to
A/C
control
module
in
center
console
and
removemodule
.
See
Fig
.
24
.
0013007
Fig
.
24
.
A/
C
control
module
(A)
in
center
console
.
Arrows
point
to
electrical
harness
connectors
at
A/Cmodule
.
Heater
and
A/C
control
module,
removing
and
installing(digital-display)
TheA/C
control
module
for
cars
with
the
digital
display
is
mounted
on
the
back
of
the
control
head
.
See
Fig
.
25
.
1
.
Remove
control
head
as
described
earlier
and
place
onan
anti-static
mat
.