Front wheel bearing unit replacement

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by bmorekirby

How many miles are on the car? My front drivers side bearing went up on me and I havent even hit 100k yet.

The car has 195k miles. I doubt it's your wheel bearing. Why did you say it is a bad front wheel bearing.

[bmorekirby]

Originally Posted by bazar01

The car has 195k miles. I doubt it's your wheel bearing. Why did you say it is a bad front wheel bearing.

i have done both control arms, control arm bushings, tie rods. i hear this grinding sound as im driving. i hear the grinding sound all the time no matter what the road conditions are. its very loud and annoying. i guess i'll know for sure when i finish my m3 front brake swap today.........

[slow_ti]

It could very well be the bearing. Wouldn't hurt to replace


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[thatjguy]

Went to autozone to pick one up for my ti and came to find out that their hubs dont come with the axle nut! Guy over the counter said that I can still use the old one? Im confused.

[slow_ti]

Some people say not to reuse the axle nut. Idk why but some people do. I reused it and hasn't moved..


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[zoner]

The self-locking nuts used on the front axle should never be reused. Sure, they can be reinstalled, but once you've installed it and torqued it down to 200+ ft./lbs., removed it, then reinstalled it back down to 200+ ft.lbs., you've basically compromised its self-locking properties. For the price of a new nut, it's worth the piece of mind.

[bimmern00b]

Buy a new nut! It amazes me sometimes how some people will spend nearly a hundred dollars on a part and then think they are saving money by reusing another part that only costs a few bucks more. In the few moments that you have while watching your wheel roll away from the rest of your car while you are doing 70mph or more, see how many different ways you can call yourself an idiot for doing something so stupid. One time fasteners are just that, ONE TIME USE ONLY! And if you do have an accident and your insurance company finds out you're reusing parts like that, you better get ready to walk for a long time because you are a risk that no decent insurance company will want to take. After you torque that nut down and then take it off again, the structural integrity is lost and you are taking an extreme risk when reusing it.

[thatjguy]

Originally Posted by bimmern00b

Buy a new nut! It amazes me sometimes how some people will spend nearly a hundred dollars on a part and then think they are saving money by reusing another part that only costs a few bucks more. In the few moments that you have while watching your wheel roll away from the rest of your car while you are doing 70mph or more, see how many different ways you can call yourself an idiot for doing something so stupid. One time fasteners are just that, ONE TIME USE ONLY! And if you do have an accident and your insurance company finds out you're reusing parts like that, you better get ready to walk for a long time because you are a risk that no decent insurance company will want to take. After you torque that nut down and then take it off again, the structural integrity is lost and you are taking an extreme risk when reusing it.

Lol, thanks for the info

[familytruckster]

Originally Posted by zoner

The self-locking nuts used on the front axle should never be reused. Sure, they can be reinstalled, but once you've installed it and torqued it down to 200+ ft./lbs., removed it, then reinstalled it back down to 200+ ft.lbs., you've basically compromised its self-locking properties. For the price of a new nut, it's worth the piece of mind.

It's not a self locking nut!

Hence the part you hammer down to the spindle to keep it from backing out.

Now, using it more than twice would be difficult. The slot on the spindle is slotted all the way through, so you can punch it down 180* from where it was the first time.

[bazar01]

Originally Posted by familytruckster

It's not a self locking nut!

Hence the part you hammer down to the spindle to keep it from backing out.

Now, using it more than twice would be difficult. The slot on the spindle is slotted all the way through, so you can punch it down 180* from where it was the first time.

+1

Don't know what they were talking about. I reuse the nut and torqued it to spec and crimped the edge and it is good to go. Already 10k miles and wheel is still turning on the spindle. Will retorque very soon.

[familytruckster]

I've heard all kinds of amusing things about the nut online- like that it's aluminum and the threads are stripped off when it's installed. I bought on new and reused one, because that's all the dealer had and I had to get the bearings replaced. 30K on mine, neither wheel has fallen off yet.

[zoner]

My bad- I think I was confusing this with the slightly obloid self-locking nut found on the top bolt that mounts the strut to the kingpin. Nonetheless, even with the collared nut on the axle, I consider it a one use fastener (as I do many fasteners in the steering and suspension system) because of the torque applied to it on installation and the stresses applied to it through normal use, not to mention the damage applied to it when you correctly crush the collar. I've had fasteners fail on me while driving- it's not the least bit fun.

For me, spending a few extra dollars to do a job right, even if it is a little bit overkill, is well worth the peace of mind when you pull into a curve doing 80+ MPH.

[bimmern00b]

Originally Posted by zoner

(Snipped)
For me, spending a few extra dollars to do a job right, even if it is a little bit overkill, is well worth the peace of mind when you pull into a curve doing 80+ MPH.

Thank goodness someone with experience has chimed in on this. I have never had the encounter because I am just too paranoid to go about dying like that. The way I see it, anyone willing to take a chance doing something like that might well be heard saying the phrase that doesn't pay, "Hey, watch this!" If you are gonna play with your life like that, at least don't have anyone else in the car with you and no other cars around you!

[bazar01]

Fast forward to 2014. Car now has 230k miles.
Bearing still on the spindle turning as happy as it can be for the last 35k miles.
Autozone front bearing still quiet.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by bazar01

Fast forward to 2014. Car now has 230k miles.
Bearing still on the spindle turning as happy as it can be for the last 40k miles.
Autozone front bearing still quiet.

Good to know.
I'm still one of those people that are paranoid about certain parts.