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If you have ever tried to change rear wheel bearings on an E39 you will all ready know that it doesn't happen like the books say !
You just aint going to pull the hub from the bearing ( not very often any way) even with the hub puller tool.
I have come up with a method which I successfully used to replace both rear bearings yesterday, now at fist glance it would appear to be a thug heavy handed "bodge " job - it is not and it requires a delicate and confident hand.
You will need a fly wheel puller - a cheap generic one will do and a set of reversed torq sockets (star head sockets).
Here goes - Jack up and remove wheel and put on axle stands.
Remove brake calliper and brake disc.
Undo the 4 star head torq bolts holding the bearing to the hub carrier - they are hard to get at and it is some times easier to jack the hub carrier up and down until the bolts can be accessed . ( spray some release oil on the threads that can be seen behind the handbrake shoes - it really helps)
Take off Remove the Drive shaft Nut.
With all 4 out now use the puller to remove hub and bearing from the drive shaft - this is way way easier than pulling the hub from the bearing which is a tool breaking , knuckle skinning impossibility.
Now for the controversial bit
With the hub and bearing mounted firmly in a vice cut two 45degree cuts across the outer race of the bearing with a disc cutter - you may not get the cut all the way across - this is ok - just don’t cut in to the hub.
Now use a cold chisel to split the outer race and remove with all the bearings.
You will now have the inner races left on the hub ( which is the best you will get if you are successful with a puller) .
Now again cut diagonally across both races and remove with a cold chisel
I found removing the guard and using a small almost worn out disc worked best.
You will now have a free hub.
Bolt in place new bearing , slot hub on to drive shaft splines and gently squarely until you can get the driveshaft nut on ( use a block of wood so you can tap it on in the centre of the hub)
Now pull the bearing in using the drive shaft Nut.
I know that there plenty of BMW mechanics out there rolling the eyes to heaven and calling me a butcher but I could not afford the 5 hours @ £75 per hour I was quoted to have the job done for me .
It took me 3 hours start to finish - and if you totally balls it up a new hub is only £30 from euro parts so go for it!