1997 BMW 540i CARRIER BEARING

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300-6
/Suspension, Steering and Brakes - General
Rear suspension sedan models
Coil spring
Strut
-
'01 arm
Sport Wagon models
In order to provide a wide, ilat iloor in the cargo compartment,
the rear suspension on the Sport Wagon is unique to itself.
The shoclcabsorber is attached diagonally between the lower
swing arm and a mounting bracket on the subframe. The
spring on each side is mounted between a perch at the top
oi
the wheel bearing carrier and the bottom of the cargo com-
partment floor.
Starting with
1999 Sporl Wagon models, a self-leveling air
suspension system with electronic height control (EHC) was introduced. The system is standard on
V-8 models and op-
tional on 6-cylinder models.
On models fitted with electronic height control (EHC) rear
suspension, the standard coil springs are replaced by air
springs. Air pressure in the air springs is automatically con-
trolled by the
EHC system to compensate for ride height and
load variations.

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330 Rear Suspension
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-2
Special tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-2
Rear suspension variations . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-4
Rear Struts and Springs
(sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-5
Rear strut assembly, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-5
Rear strut assembly, disassembling
and assembling
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-7
Rear Shock Absorbers and
Springs (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . . ,330-9
Rear shock absorber, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-9
Coil spring, removing and installing . . . . . ,330-1 1
Air spring, removing and installing
. . . . . . ,330-12
Rear Suspension Arms,
Subframe and Bushings . . . . . . . . . . ,330-13
Rear suspension arm components . . . . . . ,330-1 3
Swing arm, removing and installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-1 4
Swing arm, removing and installing (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-16
Swing arm ball joint, replacing . . . . . . . . . ,330-1 9
Upper rear control arm, removing
and installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . .330-22
Upper rear control arm, removing
and installing (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . .330-23
Upper front control arm (traction strut),
removing and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-25
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . ,330-26
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
. . . . . . . ,330-28
Rear subframe mounting bushings,
removing and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .330-31
Rear Wheel Bearings . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing
and installing (sedan models)
. . . . . . .
Rear wheel bearing carrier, removing
and installing (Sport Wagon models)
. .
Rear wheel bearing, replacing . . . . . . .
Rear Stabilizer Bar
Stabilizer bar, removing and installing .
Stabilizer bar link, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronic Height Control (EHC)
Component Replacement
. . . . . . .
Electronic height control (EHC)
components
.....................
Air compressor pump relay, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EHC control module, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air supply unit, removing and installing
Ride height sensor, removing
and installing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Rear suspension/
31 3 333 "I Rubber bushing removal tool set
(Tool No. BMW
33 3 331,33 3 332,33 3 333,33 3 334)
4 Subframe mount removal set
(ToolNo.BMW334 140,334148,334149,334151,334
155.33 4 156)
4 Subirame mount tool set
(Tool
No.BMW334151,34140,334155,334154)
4 Rear wheel bearing carrier mount tool set
(ToolNo.BMW334151,334152,334153,334154,334
156,334157)
4 Subframe mount installation set
(Tool No. BMW
33 4 153,33 4 155,33 4 156,33 4 157)
Slide hammer set
(Tool No. BMW
33 4 201,33 4 202,33 4 203)
13 4 201

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330-5
Rear Suspension
REAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS
(SEDAN MODELS)
Rear strut assembly, removing and
installing
Replace struts and coil springs in pairs only.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING -
Male sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
- Remove rear parcel shelf:
Remove rear seat headrests by pulling straight up.
Remove both rear roof pillar (C-pillar) trim panels.
Unbolt rear seat
belt anchors. See 720 Seat Belts.
Models with fixed rear seat: Remove rear seat backrest.
See 520 Seats.
* Models with fold-down rear seat: Remove rear seat back-
rest side sections. See 520 Seats. Fold down backrest.
* Working inside trunk, remove roller blind mounting nuts
and bolts, if applicable. Also disconnect roller blind har-
ness connector at right edge of rear seat backrest.
Gently pry rear speaker cover grilles and rear window defog-
ger grilles
(A) out of parcel shelf.
Carefully remove seat belt and headrest mount finisher
strips (B).
Remove
middle seat headrest anchor bolts (C). Remove
headrest anchor.
Remove expansion rivets (arrows) and lift out parcel shelf.
- Remove rear speakers.
- Remove rear wheels. Remove wheel arch trim
- Support rear wheel bearing carrier.
CAUTION-
The strutassembly prevents the drive axle and wheel bearing
carrier
from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bearing
carrierbefore disconnecting the strut mounting fasteners pre-
vents damage to the brake hose, parking brake cable and
drive axle
CV joints.

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330-6
Rear Suspension
4 Remove rear strut top cover. Remove upper strut mounting
nuts (arrows).
Remove strut assembly lower mounting bolt (arrow).
Disassemble strut and spring assembly as described below
in Rear strut assembly, disassembling and reassem-
bling.
Installation of assembly to car is reverse of removal, noting
the following:
Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Install strut assembly top mount using new self-loclting
nuts.
Malte sure long lower strut bushing fits in
hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
Tightening torques Strut to wheel bearing carrier 127 Nm (94
it-lb)
Strut mount to body
Gray fasteners 28 Nm (21 ft-lb)
Yellow fasteners 24 Nm
( 18 it-lb) -
Road wheel to hub 120ilO Nm (89i7ft-lb)

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Rear Suspension
Air spring, removing and installing
CAUTION-
If vehicle is driven with airspring depressurized, the airspring
will be permanently damaged and must be replaced.
An air spring is made from a flexible rubber material which
forms an airtight cavity. It is pressurized by an air supply
pump activated by an electronic control unit to provide a
vari- . . able spring rate depending on vehicle load
CAUTIOIG
Disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug
before performing any repairs. Pump is located beneath a
cover under the spare tire in the floor of
the cargo compart-
ment.
When removing and installing air connections, extreme
cleanliness must be followed. Small dirt particles can
cause leakage in the system.
Remove luggage compartment floor mat.
- Working above air spring, loosen quick coupling screw con-
nection to allow
air pressure to escape.
- Once pressure has been reduced, retighten screw.
Tightening torque Quick coupling screw
to air pump 2 Nm (18 in-lb)
- Remove quick coupler. Plug openings to keep dirt out,
- Remove air spring mounting clips.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under
suspension parts.
- Working underneath rear suspension, lift wheel bearing car-
rier to relieve rear spring tension. Then unbolt air spring
mounting bolt from seat on wheel bearing carrier. Remove air
spring.
NOTE-
Left and right air springs are different. The left air spring is
marked with a red identification
marl. The right air spring is
marked with a blue identification mark.

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330-1 3
Rear Suspension
1 1 4 Check roll fold of air spring (arrows). Reinstall only if roll fold
is undamaged and formed correctly.
- To install air spring:
Check sealing O-rings at air spring inlet. Replace
if dam-
aged. Do not grease O-rings. Reinstall protective plug.
* Install spring above suspension subframe. Make sure ec-
centric lug at bottom of air spring fits in recess of
subframe
spring seat.
Reattach top spring mounting clips.
- Reattach air line connections.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening torques
Air line connection
2 Nm (1 8 in-lb)
Air spring
to wheel bearing carrier 20 Nm (1 5 ft-lb)
Road
wheel to hub 120 510 Nm (89-F-7 ft-lb)
REAR SUSPENSION ARMS,
SUBFRAME AND BUSHINGS
A damaged suspension arm orworn bushings will change the
rear wheel alignment and may adversely affect handling and
stability.
WARNING-
Do not attempt to straighten a damaged suspension arm.
Bending or heating may
weaken the original part. Always re-
olace a damaoed susoension arm.
Rear suspension arm
components
1. Eccentric washer
(for rear toe adjustment)
2. Upper front control arm
(guide link or traction strut)
3. Outer swing arm bushing and
integral link
4. Swing arm (lower control arm)
5. Upper rear control arm
(wishbone)
6. Wheel bearing carrier
7. Circlip
8. Swing arm ball joint
9. Eccentric washer
(rear camber adjustment)

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[Rear Suspension Swing arm, removing and installing
(sedan models)
CAUTION-
If working on a vehicle with compressed airshock absorbers,
disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore performing any repairs.
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
sus~ension Darts.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
Remove
ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE-
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.