I've got an ever increasing groan from the front right of my Z3 Coupe (Z3M knuckles). Worth a new bearing, or just swap out the entire spindle with a good used unit? I see them on the Bay for not too much $. 155.5k on car, unknown mileage on Z3M knuckles/bearings.
Any good write-ups out there? I found one for the rear, but haven't yet for front. As much as I can tell, all I really need is a 46mm socket (1 13/16 ok I'd imagine).
At first I thought it was just a noisy tire, but now I'm convinced it's a bearing. On a long sweeping right hander the car is pretty quiet. On a left, the front right buzzes and vibrates like crazy.
Last edited by s8ilver; 04-30-2019 at 10:58 AM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
Front wheel bearings are much much much easier than the rear since they are one piece with the hub. 46mm socket and a big jaw puller and that’s all you’ll need. Also new dust caps since you’ll bang the old ones out. Also also jack up the suspension before breaking torque on that nut.
I swap the whole unit. Super easy
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Any recommended brands?...found Moog on Rock Auto for $70/side. FAG around $130/side, or there are kits (https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble...31226757024kt/), bearing brand unknown.
Also found a pair of low mileage E36 M3 convertible knuckles for cheap, and then wouldn't have to mess with anything other than popping ball joints and of course unbolting the strut assemblies.
I just helped a buddy toss in some TCKs in his M Coupe last week, so the layout of the area is fresh in my mind.
- - - Updated - - -
I'm leaning this way...due for brakes too so two birds. I love shopping for brakes with mismatched components. Sigh.
Last edited by s8ilver; 04-30-2019 at 11:51 AM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
FAG. new ones literally slide right on. very straightforward diy. dont need knuckles
Used knuckles. -- remove all brakes, ABS sensor (break?) ball joint, tie rod end (potential boot damage), then install a used possibly tweaked knuckle with unknown mileage, and then have the car aligned.
New bearing -- remove brakes. Remove dust cap. Remove one nut. Pull off bearing slug. Reverse to assemble. No bent parts, no worn parts, no risk of collateral damage, no need for align.
/.randy
Current knuckles have unknown origin. Car was swapped to M knuckles/brakes/sways/struts/springs by PO so sort of six one way half dozen the other. Also about to do tires, so was thinking alignment anyways. Quite torn here. New knuckles and bearings aren't out of the question.
As an aside, last time I got tires at Discount, the idiots torqued a rear wheel on the front and then wondered why the car wouldn't roll. They may have already done the tweaking for me (it was the side I'm getting the noise).
*Edit: scratch the new knuckle idea. Apparently right side is NLA, or at least backordered with no ETA. WTF.
31 21 2 227 907 Left
31 21 2 227 908 Right
Last edited by s8ilver; 04-30-2019 at 12:27 PM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
Use FAG
Also to clarify, I wasnt saying "complete" as in the knuckle, but bearing with the hub. For some cars the bearings are available separetely and I prefer to swap them when pre-installed into the hub. Looking at these cars they all come pre-installed like that so imo thats my vote - leave the knuckle alone
New FAG on order...$85 apiece from FCP; not terrible.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
2000 Z3 M Titanium Silver / Imola Red+Black Nappa
2011 328i E92 Space Gray Metallic / Leder Dakota+Oyster
Since 1987 12 euros / 2 kdms / 2 jdms
- Zach
i slid the car jack’s handle on a 3/4th breaker bar and sat on it
2000 Z3 M Titanium Silver / Imola Red+Black Nappa
2011 328i E92 Space Gray Metallic / Leder Dakota+Oyster
Since 1987 12 euros / 2 kdms / 2 jdms
- Zach
I did 600ft-lb on an F250 pitman arm. I got this. I have many breaker bars and spare pieces of roll cage laying around to achieve torque I need. Now measuring that torque...pshh that's for engineers. Oh wait, I'm one of those too. Whatever. Gutentight and Bob's your uncle.
I think the spec calls for 215ft-lb. I weigh exactly 215lb so that'll be easy with a 12" bar. I'll just stand on it haha.
Last edited by s8ilver; 04-30-2019 at 05:23 PM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
Wheel bearing replacement with some pics
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sha...4&share_type=t
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Silent__pictorial__write-up...
http://spcarsplus.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/165
I found using the factory tool to be quite useful
Buy new nuts, as collar on the old ones will be deformed, and stake them to prevent loosening
New caps; I used the rawhide side of the BFH to not mar up the pretty caps
Good time to clean everything up (Krylon high-heat engine enamel > high-dollar caliper paint kits)
For all the people looking for write-ups on various tasks related to these cars, it's hard to beat the factory BMW TIS manuals__it's what the dealer technicians use, and contains all relative torque specs, and when special tools are required (oftentimes, just looking at what the special factory tool does will open up your imagination__admitting that this can be both good & bad...__for a suitable substitute). You can claim that they're an antiquated asset, but the information in them is no older than the cars they address. Buy a cheap laptop that runs an old (certainly anything up to Win-7 works, and 10 might) operating system and leave it in the garage. The 5/6 disc sets, covering the workshop procedures, parts catalog (where realoem gets their numbers and images from) ETM and flat-rate manuals can also be found on ebay in the $20-$30 range. A laptop & CDs cost a lot less than a Bentley manual, and will serve you infinitely better.
As the car is approaching 200k should I plan on replacing the wheel bearings or is it one of those..."if it ain't broke, then don't try to fix it"
-Phil
If you track regularly, then its time.
They generally don't just give up and leave you stranded. They will telegraph noise most every time but when they do, it's not long so don't wait. Easy to check. Just jack up a corner and grab wheel top to bottom and rock. If there is movement, look further. Side to side is less accurate as it may be steering play you are feeling, top and bottom is your mark.
Dan "PbFut" Rose
I use this:
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/
Got a new toy to aide in job. Possibly the coolest impact ever made and fits in the tightest of places.
20190502_133624.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Randy, thanks for the pics. I did order new nuts and dust caps as well, and have multiple cans of engine enamel (and one can of black caliper paint). PO went for a blue, which doesn't work for me on a black car. I'll rectify when parts show up.
I went ahead and ordered new brakes too. Zimmermann/Akebono.
Splurged a little on the fronts...couldn't find matching rears (Z3M front rotors, Z3 rear) but I'll look like every C-Class with a Sport Package.
rotor.jpg
Last edited by s8ilver; 05-02-2019 at 04:02 PM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
Right as I get all my parts delivered, we have to drop off the wife's Accord for an airbag recall. They toss in a free multi-point inspection, and find that car badly needs brakes (heard the wear indicators squealing so was on the list), power steering pump (leaking) and PS hoses (leaking), and rear struts (leaking). So, put my car on the back burner to get hers up to snuff.
It never ends, does it? I'll fix mine someday, but happy wife...
Dealer wanted $4,247.58 to do the work (we'd literally sell the car for $2k). 20 minutes on Amazon and $580 later I gots the goods on the way. Dealer wasn't even going to replace rotors, just machine the ones I installed EIGHTY THOUSAND miles ago. Ha. Thanks but no thanks. Oh well, a free PPI was kinda nice (part numbers included to save me the trouble). I did learn something new though about the car. Apparently the 2.4 VTEC requires a valve adjustment every 100k or so. So of course ordered up some feeler gauges and cool tool that holds the rocker arm jam nut while you adjust the clearance (it's basically a flat head screw driver routed through a 10mm socket, but looks like it'll save some headache).
Happy motoring.
Last edited by s8ilver; 05-06-2019 at 05:48 PM.
Nathan in Denver
1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42
Good job on FAG bearing. Only way to go
Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!
PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!
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