Replacing Rear Differential Bearings

X5-D-Sport · Post by **X5-D-Sport** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 11:15 pm

Have a Rear Diff thats whining a bit... not got any worse over 15k miles...
Towed a heavy vehicle for 15 miles... a bit much for my X5 it seems.....

So, I can remove my rear diff in 45 minutes easily..

BUT how difficult is it to replace the bearings, as I have a hydraulic press & puller.
As the shimming is ok and has been for 140,000 miles, surely its just a case of stripping it & a rebuild ?

GB

X5-D-Sport · Post by **X5-D-Sport** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 1:40 pm

Surely some one has done this ?

Greydog · Post by **Greydog** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:02 pm

Hi Grant
I have just had the rear diff fail on my 4.6 the BMW specialist I use was going to rebuild it but as I have a warranty they decided new diff from BMW??? Just spoke my specialist who said look at www.bearing kits .co.uk
Apparently they do complete X5 Bearing kits

X5-D-Sport · Post by **X5-D-Sport** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 7:10 pm

Many thanks - will look..
Regards
Grant B

X5-D-Sport · Post by **X5-D-Sport** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 11:40 am

Well,

I looked up the ££ price of a bearing set for this diff job.... £260...

They're having a laugh !

I am hoping to fid the bearing sizes & get some hardened bearings from a supplier, should be about £15 per bearing + the outer oil seals... so, I should be able to do the job for approx. £80 + 2 hrs to do the job all up..
Much simpler than originally thought.

So... next question...
Any one know where to get the bearing size measurements ?

briankerrys47 · Post by **briankerrys47** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:22 pm

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Well,

I looked up the ££ price of a bearing set for this diff job.... £260...

They're having a laugh !

I am hoping to fid the bearing sizes & get some hardened bearings from a supplier, should be about £15 per bearing + the outer oil seals... so, I should be able to do the job for approx. £80 + 2 hrs to do the job all up..
Much simpler than originally thought.

So... next question...
Any one know where to get the bearing size measurements ?
[/quote]Unless Richard,Raj,Sanji have answer the no/make is stamped on bearing meaning you have to dismantle first

sprintman · Post by **sprintman** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:13 pm

A friend of mine had his diff fail last year-Diff is made by DANA but will not supply parts due to contractural agreement with BMW, bearings specially made for BMW- my local bearing supplier found a source BUT was very expensive(£65 +vat per bearing) in the end got a diff from ebay for £280 ish and was ok, did find some companies willing to rebuild but again was very sketchy on price-£250 min still have his old diff if you want any bits!!

X5-D-Sport · Post by **X5-D-Sport** » Wed Mar 18, 2015 12:52 am

I did read of one guy who discovered that the inner & outer bearing cages are Metric & imperial respectively...
And this chap bought both bearing sets, matched up the cages and fabbo !..
Cost a fraction of the £70 per bearing... whivh we know are only worth £10 per bearing...
I will probably buy a complete used item, strip it & see whats out there to get the bearings at under £20 for each of the 4 bearings if I can..
We will soon see I guess

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Replacing Rear Differential Bearings

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