BMW 3 Series Driveshaft Removal How To Remove ABS Rings Change E90 E91 E92 E93 5DB0 5BD1 5DC1

Driveshaft removal and ABS ring change on the BMW 3 Series E90 due to error codes 5DB0 5DB1 and 5DC1. This may cover other newer and older BMW models such as the 1 series and 5 series.

The car was not driving properly as the wheel speeds could not be accurately read with the ABS rings now expanded so far they were hitting the sensors. So the traction control kept kicking in when not required.

The preferred method would of course be replacing the shafts completely however genuine parts can be very expensive and not suit some budgets. The ABS rings were by Q Drive code: 659 77 0191 and they’re now only about £9 each. The hub nuts were: 620 11 0198.

For this job you will need:
E12 Socket
30mm 12 side socket
A torque wrench.

M24 hub nut is 145Nm + 45 degrees.
This car had the M24 hub nuts but there are also M27 versions with a slightly higher torque requirement.

Once you’ve removed the wheels you’ll immediately know whether the job is likely to be possible for you. The hub nuts on the BMWs are notorious for corroding beyond recognition and in this case you wouldn’t be able to remove them with a socket and impact driver without heating them up and possibly having to remove with a chisel. As you can see in the video we were lucky enough to have pretty clean examples and managed ok with the impact gun.

Once you’ve managed to remove the hub nuts you’ll need to remove 6 E12 bolts from the driveshaft at the differential side. These can be very tight too. Soak in WD40 and clean off with brake cleaner before attempting them and you should have any problems. You’ll want to jack up the hub on the side you’re working on as straightening the driveshaft makes the bolts easier to access, holds the driveshaft still, and allows removal once the bolts are out.

Now you'll see how much the rings have really expanded especially when you size them up against the new ones. Remove the layers of rust with a hammer then if you have access to a wire wheel this will be the easiest way to clean up the shaft ready for the new ring. In extreme cases the shafts could be too small for the new rings due to the amount of material lost to corrosion, in this case you'll need to decide if you can make them secure enough possibly by dimpling the surface with a hammer and punch and using something such as threadlock to keep the ring in position.

With the new rings fitted you can now refit, the splines may be just as difficult to refit as they were to remove. Insert the shaft and carefully knock the shaft in until enough threads are showing to fit the new hub nut, at this point you will be able to pull the shaft through with the nut. Once again the hub will need to be jacked for the shaft to be straight otherwise the differential side won't fit back into position. Clean up to E12 bolts and refit noting to position and orientation of the 3 clamps is the same as when removed, I aren't aware of a torque spec for these bolts so tight is what we want using a standard length ratchet for all 6 bolts will certainly be enough.

Last job is torque the hub nut. You'll need to lock the hub in position to allow for this. We've fitted 2 wheel bolts and used a crow bar, taking care not to image the threads on the bolts of course. There were 2 torques specs showing for this car, M24 was 145Nm + 45 degrees and the M27 option showed 420Nm or 300Nm for the M3 model. Ours was the M24 option but do take care to obtain the right figure depending on what car you're working on.

Now all that's left is the wheels and if you did the offside driveshaft make sure the exhaust mounts are back in. These wheels were 120Nm but check yours for sure.

I'm glad I was able to somewhat record this job on my own and I hope it helps someone complete the job themselves providing they have the right tools. You'll be surprised what you're capable of but as mentioned be aware the hub nuts could be in a terrible state and the 6 bolts could be very difficult to remove so allow extra time, in this environment the job was completed in about 5 hours without any complications and taking extra time to record.

Please like and subscribe, all comments welcome, happy to answer questions and receive constructive criticism, all the best with your jobs!

Видео BMW 3 Series Driveshaft Removal How To Remove ABS Rings Change E90 E91 E92 E93 5DB0 5BD1 5DC1 канала Tolly Swift