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Thread: Rear axle nut size?

  1. #1
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    Rear axle nut size?

    I need to replace one of my rear wheel bearings this weekend and I need to know the correct size 12pt socket I need to remove the axle nut. I've heard 30mm, but somehow I don't think that's right. Anyone know for sure?

  2. #2
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    Mine is a 12 point 30mm nut.

  3. #3
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    My 99M3 is 36 mm 12 pt. I think 96-99 328i are the same as the M3, but I am not sure.

  4. #4
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    36mm 12pt. on my 99 328is... Did my wheel bearings last weekend... Plan on them taking a while...

    EDIT: You can got to autozone and rent axle nut sockets for free, fyi...
    Last edited by white96850turbo; 09-15-2009 at 03:42 PM.

  5. #5
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    I'd rather buy one. But Autozone has them?

    Looks like 36mm wins.

    On second thought. There's no way it's 36mm. I have a 36mm 6-pt socket and it fits over the nut loosely. So I'm going to continue to search for a 30mm one. I'd have found one by now but I'm looking for an impact socket, which seems to be a bit harder to find.
    Last edited by anarchyx34; 09-16-2009 at 06:13 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  6. #6
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    Ok so i just did the job. On my '96 328i it's definitely a 30mm 12pt.

    Now that that's said I just have to say this. That was the biggest PITMFA I could've imagined. The axle was seized so badly in the hub, that I had to bring the whole trailing arm/axle mess to a friend's shop and use his 20ton press, which barely broke it loose. When it came apart it was like a shotgun going off. I've been working on cars a long time and I've never seen anything like this. Oh and naturally because I was pressed for time I ended up having to cut the parking brake cable after fighting with it for 30 minutes. So I'll need to replace that eventually.

    Noise is gone though.

  7. #7
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    When you stuck it back together, did you paint some anti seize compound on the splines?

  8. #8
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    I ran the axle over my bench-grinders wire wheel first to clean it up, and then I dipped the mo-fo axle in my tub of anti seize. I also put a liberal (read: rediculous) amount of anti seize on the inside of the hub too. I put a freaking lot in there, so much so that when I shoved the axle through (still required tapping with a hammer) anti seize was squirting out.
    Last edited by anarchyx34; 09-18-2009 at 06:36 AM.

  9. #9
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    It took me about an hour to get the parking brake cable out on one side. I was wiggling and pulling for a long time. I am in NH and it had rusted in place. I was redoing the entire rear suspension. I ended up using a press like you for the bearings and most of the bushings.

    There are tools to do just the wheel bearings. You can use a 3 jaw puller or similar device to get the axle out -- essentially pressing it out. And there is a special BMW tool called the B90 that does the rear wheel bearings.

  10. #10
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    I tried a 3 jaw puller. It laughed at it. No B90 tool or any other kind of tool would've worked. 20 tons!

  11. #11
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    I’m doing doing the rear bearing on my 2004 330ci and the nut on this is 33mm 12 point.

  12. #12
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    I used an M24 bolt (yea, 1" bolt) and used a brake rotor as my backup plate. I think part of my bearing puller was the right size for the inside.

    I broke many other tools (breaker bar, pullers, pulling parts, etc) before getting there. It was a total PITA...but finally worked.
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  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scotty69 View Post
    I’m doing doing the rear bearing on my 2004 330ci and the nut on this is 33mm 12 point.

    Two things, Scotty. This post is old and gray and nobody has looked at it for 9 years, and your '04 330 is not an E36 so there's no reason to think that what you have and what the guy working on his car 9 years ago would have found by now.

    Please, pay attention to the dates of the old posts you find.

  14. #14
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    328i is listed as M24x1.5 which would mean a 36mm socket.

    M3 is listed at M27x1.5 (41mm socket)
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by JDStrickland View Post
    Two things, Scotty. This post is old and gray and nobody has looked at it for 9 years, and your '04 330 is not an E36 so there's no reason to think that what you have and what the guy working on his car 9 years ago would have found by now.

    Please, pay attention to the dates of the old posts you find.
    People are always referencing old posts. As I am right now. My 1997 328is rear axle nut is a 30mm, btw.
    Last edited by rjteeter; 06-27-2020 at 05:55 PM.

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