Rear drive axle hub removal on a 1994 318i

If this is independent rear end then you may have to use a puller to get the hub of the axle as it should be splined on and may be rusted on the splines.

Depending on the year and model, it may just be rusty- frozen on the hub. Sometimes you have to use a very large hammer to break it loose. But using a hammer may damage it beyond the point of being useable.

Warn Hubs Installation
A truck or SUV with a four-wheel drive suspension uses locking hubs on the front wheels to engage or disengage the front axle shafts from the hubs. This way, you can drive the truck normally with just rear-wheel drive, or engage four-wheel drive mode when you want to drive off-road. These hubs can wear out, and one improvement is to install a set of Warn hubs. Installing a set of Warn hubs takes about an hour.
1.Park the truck and put on the parking brake. Lift the front of the truck with the jack and put the jack stands under the front axle. Take off the front wheels with the tire iron and put them to the side.
2.Disengage the locking hubs using your hands by turning the knob on the hubs. Remove the snap rings holding the hub locks in place with the snap-ring pliers. Pull the hub off the axle.
3.Install the lock ring wheel from the Warn hub kit in the axle with the factory snap ring and the snap-ring pliers.
4.Make sure the Warn locking cap dial is turned to the "Free' position. Install the locking cap onto the lock ring wheel and hub body with a hex-head key. Reinstall the front wheels with the tire iron and lower the vehicle off the jack stands with the jack.
Thank you for using FixYa. Hope this will help your problem and don't forget to rate me.thanks,
Reymond

Hello lemofla: My name is Roger and I will help with your question. It is not necessary to remove the rear axle from the differential in order to replace the wheel bearing. This operation does require some special tools and alignment of the car to complete the job. You will need to remove the nut on the axle stub at the rear wheel hub. The rear brakes and spindle unit must be removed. The splash shield rivets must be drilled out so the shield is not damaged. You will need a press and snap ring pliers in order to remove the bearing hub from the old bearing. Once the hub is removed you will need to press the bearing out of the spindle.When all is reassembled the dust shield should be reattached with new aluminum rivets. Reinstall the spindle and brakes. Torque the axle nut to 221 (ft.lb.). It may also be necessary to push the axle shaft stub out of the hub with a puller as the axle can be stuck. As you can tell this is not a quick fix and does take special equipment. So if you do this yourself PLEASE be careful and pay close attention to the way things came apart and be sure to have the car realigned. Should you not realign the car it will not drive right and you will prematurely destroy the tire on the side worked on. Should you need further help please just ask. Please rate the answer. Thank You for using Fix Ya. Roger

Removal & Installation To Remove:

1. Remove the front wheel.
2. Remove the front axle hub nut.
3. Disconnect the front stabilizer link from the strut.
4. Disconnect the speed sensor (with ABS).
5. Remove the front brake caliper and rotor.
6. Disconnect the tie rod end.
7. Remove mounting bolts and nut and separate the lower control arm from the ball joint.
8. Using a plastic hammer separate the front axle shaft from the hub.
9. Remove the 2 mounting bolts from the strut. Remove the knuckle and hub assembly.
10. Remove the lower ball joint from the knuckle.
11. Remove the axle hub snap ring from the knuckle.
    
    
12. Remove the axle hub from the hub bearing using special tool 09520-00031 or equivalent hub puller.
13. Remove the inner race from the axle hub using special tool 09950-40011 or equivalent puller.
14. Remove the dust shield from the knuckle.
15. Remove the axle hub bearing from the knuckle using special tool 09520-00031 or equivalent and a press.

To Install:

1. Install the axle hub bearing on the knuckle using special tool 09950-600020 or equivalent and a press.
2. Install the dust shield on the knuckle with 3 mounting bolts.
   • Tighten 73 in-lb (90 Nm).
3. Install the axle hub on the knuckle using special tool 09950-600010 or equivalent and a press.
4. Install the axle hub snap ring.
5. Install the lower ball joint on the knuckle.
   • Tighten the ball stud castle nut 76 ft-lb (103 Nm).
6. Install a new cotter pin.
7. Install the knuckle on the strut with the 2 nuts and bolts.
   • Tighten 162 ft-lb (220 Nm) (except '03-'04) 113 ft-lb (153 Nm) ('03-'04).
8. Lift the knuckle and hub assembly over the axle shaft and into the hub splines.
9. Install the lower control arm on the lower ball joint.
10. Connect the tie rod end to the knuckle.
11. Connect the stabilizer link to the strut.
12. Install the front rotor and brake caliper to the knuckle.
    • Tighten the 2 caliper bolts 79 ft-lb (107 Nm).
13. Install the ABS sensor if equipped.
14. Install the front axle hub lock nut.
    • Tighten 159 ft-lb (216 Nm) and stake the lock nut.
15. Check the axle hub backlash and run-out.
16. Install the front wheel.
17. Check the front wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.

1. Raise and support vehicle, then remove tire and wheel assembly. 2. Install a brass drift or a screwdriver to prevent the rotor from turning, Fig. 7 . 3. Remove axle nut and washer. 4. Remove stabilizer shaft or link from control arm. 5. Remove nut from ball joint, then separate ball joint from steering knuckle using separator tool No. J-36226, or equivalent. 6. Remove drive axle from hub and bearing assembly using front hub spindle remover tool No. J-28733-A, or equivalent, Fig. 8 . 7. Remove drive axle from transaxle using axle shaft remover puller tool Nos. J-33008, J-29794 and slide hammer tool No. J-2619-01, or equivalents, if necessary, Fig. 9 . INSTALLATION 1. Install drive axle into the transaxle using seal protector J-37292-B, or equivalent 2. Seat snap ring by placing a screwdriver into the groove on the joint housing and tapping until seated, Fig. 9 . 3. Grasp the inner housing and pull outward. If the snap ring is properly seated, the axle will remain in place. 4. Install drive axle into hub and bearing assembly. 5. Install lower ball joint to steering knuckle and tighten to specifications. 6. Install stabilizer shaft or link to control arm, tighten to specifications. 7. Insert a screwdriver or drift into caliper and rotor to prevent rotor from turning, Fig. 7 . 8. Install new hub nut and washer, tighten to specification. 9. Install tire and wheel assembly, then lower vehicle

This a fairly simple task,you're going to need a set of roll punchs to remove the pins that hold the axles to the differential.You need to remove the large nut(32 or 36mm) that holds the end of axle in the drive hub,the nut may be punched or "staked"into the grove of the axle end and can usually be pushed out with a cold chisel .On the diff end of the axle there will be a large pin holding the end of the axle to the differential,knock the pin out,you should be able to push the end of the axle off the differential drive splines,if there is not enough room to get the end off you'll have to separate the bottom ball joint from the spindle housing,remove the drive hub to brake rotor bolts and use a large three arm gear puller to pull the drive hub off the end of the axle,torque the puller lightly and tap the the end of the puller push shaft and apply another small amount of torque to the puller,so you don't damage the hub,once its off you may lightly tap the end of the axle,use a piece of wood between the axle and the hammer and the axle should slide out the wheel bearing fairly easy.I based this off axle removal on an 88 XT and 84 Wagon so there may be a few differences,but I think you'll find its actually fairly easy,if you run into problems go register at autozone.com and they should have an on-line repair guide.

rapeck: The Maxima rear axle bearings are manufactured as a hub assembly. There is a ring for the ABS which is fitted to the hub which must be removed and installed on the replacement hub.
A puller or other method is used to remove it and install it.
Aside from that, taking the caliper off and hanging it, removing the brake rotor and removing the axle nut. Torquing the axle nut is necessary. so there you have it...

• Any other questions?

there should be 5 or 6 allen bolts around hub. remove these and cover will come off then there is a snap ring on axle and one around the edge of hub remove thes and will slide off

Here is the easiest way . take a 14mm socket and extentsion and place it on the bolts and place againt your axle tube and start your truck and turn your wheel against it instead of pounding you will use your powersteering like a press to get your hub out its quicker and less strenous than pounding on the bolts ive done this many times i even made a extentsion for it i use a 14mm 1/2 drive shallow socket and a extension thats about 4 inches long i know im posting late on this one but if it helps anyone out then great