Rear Half Shafts. How to remove

[Ratcatcher]

Ok, just started stripping down the rear end to tidy up the years of decay and ive hit a snag trying to remove the rear lower arms. On the advice of my local BMW garage, the intention is to the replace the bushes at both ends but annoyingly the bolt is just a bit too long to take out in situ. So, can i remove the half shaft by taking out the torx bolts or do i have to remove the main nut in the hub end and extract the shaft from the diff ie on a splined shaft? Cheers, ratty..

PXL_20210506_170044122.jpg (176.11 KiB) Viewed 705 times

[G600]

I've not done it myself but the write ups for changing those bushes say to move the diff back rather than remove the drive shafts

[1536Z4]

Just doing this myself but replacing with adjustable camber arms . There are posts regarding this especially if you search E46 rather than Z4 . You can just cut the bolts which is what I did and replace with new BMW item with the same order number ( 33171090824 ) which I have been told not by BMW are shorter . I have just ordered these from Soper Lincoln so will know in a few days time . I wanted the shorter bolts so that if I need to change out the camber arms in the future I don`t have to mess around with the diff again . Hope that helps .

[Spriteracer]

If you do decide to undo the halfshaft, the inner end of it has a shallow dome on it that fits into a recess in the diff output flange. There should be enough movement in the shaft joints to pull it back enough to clear, so no need to undo the other end in the hub. Some say you should replace the halfshaft bolts, although they are heavy steel and mine looked fine so I re-used them. As I recall, getting enough clearance was a bit of a struggle but do-able. I had far more trouble getting the spline out of the hub on one side and had to revert to an 8 tonne hydraulic press and even that had difficulties. The other side drifted out quite easily so you never know. To be clear I was taking the splines out of the hub to take whole halfshaft for checking the balance, so not necessary for the diff work.

[Ratcatcher]

I've not done it myself but the write ups for changing those bushes say to move the diff back rather than remove the drive shafts

Hells teeth, that sounds like an arse hat way of doing things!

[Ratcatcher]

Just doing this myself but replacing with adjustable camber arms . There are posts regarding this especially if you search E46 rather than Z4 . You can just cut the bolts which is what I did and replace with new BMW item with the same order number ( 33171090824 ) which I have been told not by BMW are shorter . I have just ordered these from Soper Lincoln so will know in a few days time . I wanted the shorter bolts so that if I need to change out the camber arms in the future I don`t have to mess around with the diff again . Hope that helps .

This would make a whole lot of sense but from memory (yesterday!) there cant be much reduction on the bolt length as im sure there wasnt much protruding from the lock nut on the other side? I'll check later once my hangover has subsided........
But big thanks for the info

[Ratcatcher]

If you do decide to undo the halfshaft, the inner end of it has a shallow dome on it that fits into a recess in the diff output flange. There should be enough movement in the shaft joints to pull it back enough to clear, so no need to undo the other end in the hub. Some say you should replace the halfshaft bolts, although they are heavy steel and mine looked fine so I re-used them. As I recall, getting enough clearance was a bit of a struggle but do-able.

This was my original plan, as the parts diagram showed the shallowed domed end so i presumed its doable. Im changing the RTA bushes and dampers as well so i should have enough clearance to 'just' move these out of the way.

[Ratcatcher]

Just doing this myself but replacing with adjustable camber arms . There are posts regarding this especially if you search E46 rather than Z4 . You can just cut the bolts which is what I did and replace with new BMW item with the same order number ( 33171090824 ) which I have been told not by BMW are shorter . I have just ordered these from Soper Lincoln so will know in a few days time . I wanted the shorter bolts so that if I need to change out the camber arms in the future I don`t have to mess around with the diff again . Hope that helps .

Just looked that part number up and it seems to be current, also i can measure the 80mm length later:

33171090824
Hex bolt with washer
M12X1.5X80-10.9
From:01/30/1992To:-Weight:0.084 kgPrice:$5.15
Supersedes:
33321090131(04/26/1991 — 02/28/1992), Exchangeable retrospectively33321139200(09/01/1990 — 08/20/1996)
Part 33171090824 was found on the following vehicles:
3' E36   (11/1989 — 10/1999)
3' E46   (04/1997 — 12/2018)
X3 E83   (01/2003 — 07/2006)
X3 E83 LCI   (02/2006 — 08/2010)
Z4 E85   (01/2002 — 08/2008)
Z4 E86   (10/2005 — 08/2008)

[1536Z4]

Just looked that part number up and it seems to be current, also i can measure the 80mm length later:

This is the diy post I looked at amongst others where it mentions about the bolt so just hoping it is correct . Hopefully the bolts will arrive soon .

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/adj ... iy.675565/

[1536Z4]

Forgot to say the new bolts are black with a washer so you have the original silver bolts with the flange the same as me .

[Ratcatcher]

Right, just had another look and its not as simple as i first thought. First off the original bolts are already 80mm long so i dont know if the washer makes a difference to allow them to fit but the biggest problem is the diff is actually offset so theres even less space on the other side!! The bolt head actually hits the diff casing so removing the half shaft would be a waste of time. Its looking like G600's suggestion of moving the diff back is the only possible solution....

There seems to be 3 bolts (1 rear and 2 front) to free the diff but the biggest problem i see is the damn exhaust as its covering the propshaft flange meaning the bolts are very difficult to get to. Balls.

[Ratcatcher]

Forgot to say the new bolts are black with a washer so you have the original silver bolts with the flange the same as me .

Im wondering if being an E86, theres a bit more to play with on yours?

[enuff_zed]

Right, just had another look and its not as simple as i first thought. First off the original bolts are already 80mm long so i dont know if the washer makes a difference to allow them to fit but the biggest problem is the diff is actually offset so theres even less space on the other side!! The bolt head actually hits the diff casing so removing the half shaft would be a waste of time. Its looking like G600's suggestion of moving the diff back is the only possible solution....

There seems to be 3 bolts (1 rear and 2 front) to free the diff but the biggest problem i see is the damn exhaust as its covering the propshaft flange meaning the bolts are very difficult to get to. Balls.

Really stoopid question time...................the caveat being, I have never done this job and cannot tell from your photo..............

Is it possible to cut the bolt out and install the new one from the other end?

[BumpyZ4]

You don't have to take the entire shaft out of the car to get the bolt out. Remove the 6 bolts at the diff and the shaft will move enough to disengaged it from the diff (just let it hang) and then you can remove the bolt.

[Ratcatcher]

Really stoopid question time...................the caveat being, I have never done this job and cannot tell from your photo..............

Is it possible to cut the bolt out and install the new one from the other end?

Unfortunately not. Theres even less space!