Loose Wheel Bearing, Exhaust Heat Shield 323i

[e21Keith]

Two questions:

1. The front wheel bearing on my 323i is loose and won't tighten. I've checked the ETK and it shows only 1 part number but says it's from 9/81, but I suspect this is a herring rouge and they are all the same, unless someone knows different?
And is there a reason I can't adjust the play out of it?

2. The bulkhead sound deadening is melting where it passes under the floor above the exhaust. Has anyone else experienced this, I don't thnk it's because the exhaust is too hot but it may be that the sound insulation is deteriorating because of age. Has anyone constructed an additional heat shield for this area that I could copy?

[Atle_323i]

Two questions:

1. The front wheel bearing on my 323i is loose and won't tighten. I've checked the ETK and it shows only 1 part number but says it's from 9/81, but I suspect this is a herring rouge and they are all the same, unless someone knows different?
And is there a reason I can't adjust the play out of it?

2. The bulkhead sound deadening is melting where it passes under the floor above the exhaust. Has anyone else experienced this, I don't thnk it's because the exhaust is too hot but it may be that the sound insulation is deteriorating because of age. Has anyone constructed an additional heat shield for this area that I could copy?

I´m no expert on these kind of things, but there are 2 bearings on each side, inside and outside, 2 and 5. Are these within the dimensions?

From my Danish supplier, the bearing marked 2 has these dimensions: 31,7x59 and 13x15.8 and the bearing marked 5 has these dimensions: 19x45 and 23x15,49.

[BertjeConti]

Today i discovered exactly the same problem with the left front wheel bearing on my E12 (E12 and E21 have the same bearings at the front).
The bearing/hub assembly is torqued to spec, bearings are inspected a few weeks ago and OK (replaced them a few years ago due defective bearings).

When rocking the hub, i can't feel any play, and it turns with a little resistance as it should. So all seems ok.

But with the wheel attached there is little play on the hub when rocking it hard, i can feel it and hear a little knock. The play is definitely in the hub assembly.

Today i checked again with the dust cap removed, and now the play was visible.
It isn't in the bearing itself, but the inner cup from the outer bearing has some play on the axle stub. Nothing can be done here, only replacing the complete strut.

The axle stub might be damaged due te old faulty bearing, but no damage visible.

Right side doesn't have this problem.

[e21Keith]

Looks like the correct bearing.

I have a feeling I have the same problem, play between the bearing and the stub axle, I've ordered a new bearing anyway to see if that will cure it. But the strut is almost new, being replaced not long before the vehicle was laid up.

Let's see what happens?

[Jeroen]

Fingers crossed!

[uwbuurman]

When the car is jacked, there is also always a bit of play in het top strutmount or upper strut bearing. I once confused that for play in the wheelbearings after fitting new ones...

[BertjeConti]

In my case it is defenetly the fitment of the inner race on the axle stub which is a loose fitment. I can see the inner bearing race move on the axle stub when rocking the wheel.
It is a well known problem with all older bmw's with this front wheel bearing setup.

Some recommend using loctite green, which is ment for this purpose. I'm going to try.

[e21Keith]

Definitely no play in the strut, I can see the disc move relative to the calliper.

I haven't had time to dismantle the hub yet as I'm busy with other projects. When I restored the car the strut was almost new, still with BMW parts dept sticker, there was also a photo of the old strut with the spring carrier detached. Luckily I have a spare pair of front struts if needed.

[BertjeConti]

Today i tried fixing the loose wheel bearing on my E12 left front.
First marked the nut position, which makes reassembling iasier.
Removed the nut, washer and bearing race, cleaned the bearing race ID and axle stub free from grease where the bearing sits.

Assembled the bearing race with loctite green 648, washer and central nut back to the marked position.

Loctite green 648 is used for cilindric parts fitment like bearings are.
It wil fill up gaps up to 0.15 mm, after 12 hours fully cured.



Hope this works

[e21Keith]

I have performed the same repair today and so far I can see no excessive play in the bearing, lets see how it goes now?

I also want to do something about the bulkhead sound deadening which is being affected by heat from the exhaust, perhaps after 40 years the material has lost some of its properties.

Has anyone installed a separate heat shield here?

[Jeroen]

Fingers crossed gents!

Yeah that heat shield comes apart over time. Be very careful... you can order them new from the dealer but they are very brittle, most arrive damaged and they require extremely careful installation. But I think you're not looking to pull the engine for a job like that... no experience with local fixes myself.

[Atle_323i]

I have performed the same repair today and so far I can see no excessive play in the bearing, lets see how it goes now?

I also want to do something about the bulkhead sound deadening which is being affected by heat from the exhaust, perhaps after 40 years the material has lost some of its properties.

Has anyone installed a separate heat shield here?

As Jeroen said, they are very fragile, I ordered 1 for my E21, but when I opened the shipping box, it was all cracked, and in pieces, so I complained about the how they shipped it, and that they need to make sure it can´t move inside the box, and they agreed, and sent a new one cost free, but even that one was cracked. So now I have 2 cracked I can´t use without clueing it to the firewall. But I think it will work just fine, but it will still be cracked and not in one piece.
I got my money back, after complaining again.
Not sure what material they are made out of, but they are very fragile.

[e21Keith]

The RHD one is not available unfortunately so I'm going to have to do something a bit more creative.

[Jeroen]

[jbrunken]

I recently replaced the sound deadening on my 323i, and as others have mentioned, it arrived at the dealer that I usually buy my parts from, from the warehouse, damaged.

My local dealer did something clever though: They requested two of them. They shipped stacked, and one supported the other. The one that I took delivery of was in perfect condition when it arrived.

I was able to install it from above, but this was because I had the cylinder head off of the motor and the pedal assembly removed, which requires the steering column and brake booster to be removed. I was in the process of rebuilding and refinishing these parts, so it wasn't too terrible of an experience for me.

Not an easy fix, by any means...