Time for an overhaul of my 1.9 '98 BMW Z3 Individual

[Matt Barnes]

just so I can prepare myself, the handbrake bracket bolts are M8 x 22, I'm assuming standard pitch (1.25 mm) I've seen that a tap required for this is 6.75mm...has anyone tapped out this size before ?

I did some digging (while ordering some new M8 x 22 bolts) on an E46 forum that unless specified as "fine" all BMW M8 bolts are 1.25mm pitch.....and when I get mine delivered, I'll find out they're 1.0mm pitch

 

[Matt Barnes]

ok so maybe a controversial one....rather than remove the hub, I've seen videos where people have cut the back plate off and cut a slot in the new one to slide over the hub... bad form?

 

[Kenhayes247]

I am sure someone will be along shortly to clarify but cutting a slot in the brake plate to get it over the hub may result in the car failing it's MOT.

 

[Matt Barnes]

I am sure someone will be along shortly to clarify but cutting a slot in the brake plate to get it over the hub may result in the car failing it's MOT.

ooooo that's interesting!... just a shame to destroy a perfectly good hub just to refresh the trailing arm...

 

[Kenhayes247]

It does seem a waste and makes me wonder why it's not manufactured in 2 parts to avoid exactly that. As already mentioned iam not entirely sure cutting a slot will cause the car to fail it's MOT but I have seen reference to it when I was looking at doing the same albeit not on my Zed! I opted to remove the hub to be 100% sure but as you say it is a waste.

 

[Kenhayes247]

Matt, search for this " Davesters crusty sport refresh". Page 2 of 4 will answer your question I believe. Lee at the ZedShed did what your proposing.

 

[Matt Barnes]

Matt, search for this " Davesters crusty sport refresh". Page 2 of 4 will answer your question I believe. Lee at the ZedShed did what your proposing.

thank you mate....if Lee's done it, it must be kosher!.... my hubs feel fine, turn smoothly, no play and no rumble...think this is the answer!

 

[Kenhayes247]

How To Guide - Replacement of rear brake shields without removing hub and bearings.

Started researching replacement of the rear brake shields without removing the hub and having to replace the bearings, found quite a few references to being able to cut the shield and fit it without having to carry out bearing replacement but nothing found to show how actually to do it. Couldn't...

zroadster.org

 

[Matt Barnes]

How To Guide - Replacement of rear brake shields without removing hub and bearings.

Started researching replacement of the rear brake shields without removing the hub and having to replace the bearings, found quite a few references to being able to cut the shield and fit it without having to carry out bearing replacement but nothing found to show how actually to do it. Couldn't...

zroadster.org

that is perfect @Kenhayes247 .. Just what I was looking for. I did have an idea of cutting down between the handbrake cable support holes, as when you bolt that support bracket back on it will pull the two sides together...cheers mate!

 

[Matt Barnes]

well today was time to strip down one of the trailing arms... after shearing one bolt last week I took your advice and used Heat + Hammer several times !!

gentle application of the Erbauer Screw extractor.... with an Axle stand post !

aaaaaaaand... success !!

now to drill out the one I snapped

did the same thing with the backplate screws, heat and a few "love taps".... odd the difference.. one was knackered while the other one looks brand new !

Then took the advice of @Kenhayes247 and visited the forum post where it discusses cutting off the backplate ... and did the same thing !

bit of a wrestle to get it off but it came off without creasing, practicing my technique for getting a new one on

then I thought I'd be the first person since manned space flight to remove an ABS sensor out without breaking it..... and failed

but... apart from the drop link bracket and a couple of clips... everything is now off... ready for the rust removal and paint.

Just need to do a Copy & paste for the passenger side... but for now..... Gin time...

 

[IainP]

Certainly setting yourself some challenges there for a first time welder

 

[Matt Barnes]

Certainly setting yourself some challenges there for a first time welder

@IainP ..if only I had some bits to practice on eh ! ... still need to find a decent welder that won't break the piggy bank...still looking for a flux core or a MIG that will take flux core as I don't trust myself with gas

 

[IainP]

Gas you have to factor in a regulator, that needs changed every five years, bottle rental or deposit, then the fill charge. You also need to ensure you turn the regulator on/off in the correct sequence, or, you split the diaphragm inside which makes it leak away your expensive gas. Then, since the gas is heavy, you can’t have a pit, or use it anywhere it can pool into a low spot any animals use.

Oh, and factor in a decent helmet.

I have the same problem at the moment, my lad needs to do some welding to his Mini over the winter, currently in a garage 4 miles away. Nothing spectacular, mostly screw holes no longer required and a couple of tiny patches, maybe other bits as they appear. Do we haul my 40kg of welder (with 40kg bottle) back and forward, or do I buy him a 5kg gassless mig?
I went to get the Parkside one this morn, but when you read the box it has an industrial plug, and the emissions are clearly not for a household setting, hence the plug. Naughty. Though I’m not quite sure it would matter at an isolated garage. I’ll need to have a check what people say on the welding forums.

 

[Matt Barnes]

Now there's a military saying "Hoistered by your own Petard".... a Petard was a directional explosive charge designed to blow castle gates open.. more often than not, the soldier would get caught in the blast..... now then.... my fiendish plans of leaving the hub in place, may have been thwarted by the fact the hub is now in the way of my trying to drill out the snapped bolt.

This is the only longish drill bit I have in that size so my options are to see if I can get a cobalt bit that long... or.... wait until I have my welder, and weld a nut onto the shank... so with that parked for now... it was on to cleaning... more angle grinder, more knotted wire wheel and more poly carbide discs...

 

[Matt Barnes]

Gas you have to factor in a regulator, that needs changed every five years, bottle rental or deposit, then the fill charge. You also need to ensure you turn the regulator on/off in the correct sequence, or, you split the diaphragm inside which makes it leak away your expensive gas. Then, since the gas is heavy, you can’t have a pit, or use it anywhere it can pool into a low spot any animals use.

Oh, and factor in a decent helmet.

I have the same problem at the moment, my lad needs to do some welding to his Mini over the winter, currently in a garage 4 miles away. Nothing spectacular, mostly screw holes no longer required and a couple of tiny patches, maybe other bits as they appear. Do we haul my 40kg of welder (with 40kg bottle) back and forward, or do I buy him a 5kg gassless mig?
I went to get the Parkside one this morn, but when you read the box it has an industrial plug, and the emissions are clearly not for a household setting, hence the plug. Naughty. Though I’m not quite sure it would matter at an isolated garage. I’ll need to have a check what people say on the welding forums.

@IainP .. oooo that's interesting !... I've been waiting for a Parkside welder for about 6 months and they're never in stock... it's supposed to be up to 120A which is just enough for a 13A plug to handle. Maybe I should look elsewhere like Sealey or something for a 100A one, as that should do up to 2mm?... cheers mate

 

[IainP]

Loads of them in the Lidl’s up here, it’s the 3 year guarantee over the one year from eBay, if that.
Oh and I see on the app we have 10% off from Thursday.

 

[Matt Barnes]

Loads of them in the Lidl’s up here, it’s the 3 year guarantee over the one year from eBay, if that.
Oh and I see on the app we have 10% off from Thursday.

Not been a Lidl welder in Portsmouth for months !... only the plasma cutter....I've just read the Parkside Welder box online... and it states it's "not designed for Residential areas where the power is supplied via public low voltage supply system"

 

[Matt Barnes]

ok.. so I was slowly removing the trailing arm "furniture" and decided to remove the bung, and heard a "hiss" and a "pop" when I got it out... is this the point where you say "don't remove that bung Matt as it's pressuri....... too late" ..

 

[Kenhayes247]

It's fine, generally they contain some sort of fluid that maybe prevents or slows down rotting from the inside out. The hissing maybe a good thing as there are no holes in the arm other than where you have just removed the plug from.

 

[Matt Barnes]

It's fine, generally they contain some sort of fluid that maybe prevents or slows down rotting from the inside out. The hissing maybe a good thing in there are no holes in the arm other than where you have just removed the plug from.

@Kenhayes247 ..I've literally just found out when it dripped all over my workmate... ..yeah the arm is very solid I must say...most of the rust is now off, just need to get that snapped bolt out!...cheers!