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

[Matt Barnes]

It's definitely fighting you to the end. Of course once you get the nut off the next fight will be getting the hub and drive shaft apart
But on a positive note, you're doing a great job and I'm following your progress

I have metal drilling dremel bits...each one broke off..it's like that nut is made od kryptonite..

 

[Jack Ratt]

Invest in some cobalt drill bits. They'll drill into hardened steel but they do break easier than normal HSS drill bits so you'll need to be careful.

 

[Matt Barnes]

Invest in some cobalt drill bits. They'll drill into hardened steel but they do break easier than normal HSS drill bits so you'll need to be careful.

funnily enough I looked at those on Amazon about half hour ago...cheers mate..will order some

 

[Matt Barnes]

as well as the cobalt bits, I have a new theory...as I've been hammering the life out of that nut, it's clearly no longer 30mm A/F...so I'm wondering if I managed to hammer on a 27mm twist lock socket.....well I've bought them now so we'll see!

 

[PhilH67]

Get some heat on it, can’t offer any resistance if it’s liquid

 

[Matt Barnes]

Get some heat on it, can’t offer any resistance if it’s liquid

I've tried mate...but as it's recessed it just snuffs the flame out

 

[Matt Barnes]

so another afternoon in Z3 paradise.... managed to find a blow torch with a longer neck...this allowed the oxygen to flow a bit better without snuffing out

but again no joy... that thing is well and truly welded on those threads

so my thoughts turned to just dismantling the rest of the suspension.... i was suffering from a little NSFS ( Nugga Shear Factor Syndrome) so I decided to do everything handraulic

you won't see a garage like this on YouTube !!

decided to brave the right hand hub with the nugga..... this time with the RIGHT SODDING SOCKET !!... a 30mm......... aaaaand....this one....came off like a dream

and out with the driveshaft !

then it was off with the trailing arms and out with the diff !!

my working environment !

Ceremonial Diff Head shot !!

my crusty rear end.....though most of that will clean up nicely

not really sure what to do about my "problem child"...... I might need to sacrifice the driveshaft and try hammering it out from the other side ?... reckon a new driveshaft is cheaper than a new hub ?

 

[DrWong]

Great photos mate, keep em coming - I feel very invested in your progress now haha. Plus, I haven't done the back-end refresh so this is really useful learning for when I do it in due course.

Somewhat annoying the other nut came straight off lol. Do you think the problem nut would've done the same (i.e. if the right socket had been used)?

 

[Jam03]

You’re one of the brave ones! You’re doing well-keep going, it’s going to be worth it!

 

[Matt Barnes]

Great photos mate, keep em coming - I feel very invested in your progress now haha. Plus, I haven't done the back-end refresh so this is really useful learning for when I do it in due course.

Somewhat annoying the other nut came straight off lol. Do you think the problem nut would've done the same (i.e. if the right socket had been used)?

Great photos mate, keep em coming - I feel very invested in your progress now haha. Plus, I haven't done the back-end refresh so this is really useful learning for when I do it in due course.

Somewhat annoying the other nut came straight off lol. Do you think the problem nut would've done the same (i.e. if the right socket had been used)?

@DrWong ..definitely...the other side did put up a fight..the socket was stationary for a while as the impact was smacking it, then slowly started turning then started to whizz. what I failed to appreciate is that nut is a top hat nut and not a normal nut, so all my banging and drilling was only going halfway down to the washer and not through the whole nut...I'd actually go as far as to say don't use an impact on the hub nut, as even with the right size, it still rounded it off..

 

[Matt Barnes]

You’re one of the brave ones! You’re doing well-keep going, it’s going to be worth it!

cheers !! first time I've done something to this extent...even the first time I've taken an exhaust off ..let alone the rest of it

 

[Mazza]

Matt…. If you need a drive shaft I have one you can have…. With Compliments of the
Bognor Motoren Werke.

 

[Matt Barnes]

Matt…. If you need a drive shaft I have one you can have…. With Compliments of the
Bognor Motoren Werke.

haha.. cheers @Mazza .. I will try and get that bloody nut off this weekend....it won't defeat me....until it does...

 

[Andyboy]

You need to remove the steel locking ring first.

Older Z3's are less prone to the rot that destroys the rear nut on later cars. I just dismantled a 1997 car and the driveshaft nuts virtually fell off. The 2002 car in January was a disaster and and I had to chop the rear hub flange off in sections.

 

[Matt Barnes]

You need to remove the steel locking ring first.

Older Z3's are less prone to the rot that destroys the rear nut on later cars. I just dismantled a 1997 car and the driveshaft nuts virtually fell off. The 2002 car in January was a disaster and and I had to chop the rear hub flange off in sections.

cheers Andy.. I managed to get the other one of no problem and the locking ring came off with it! ... this one is completely rust welded on... I'll try and get the locking ring off somehow and see if I do any better! cheers

 

[Matt Barnes]

well as @Andyboy has indicated I had been a prize plumb and forgot about the locking ring !.. I'm using the excuse it was so covered in rust I didn't see it
however, I spent a number of hours chiselling out every remnant I could muster... this is what I chiselled and hammered out compared to the other side

So I'd gotten to the point after several hours.. that I could see the shoulder of the nut all the way round but it wasn't budging

so next course of action was to let it cook on a Gas Mark 6..... while I went to get a Gin....

more hammering.... but no bueno...... I'm now thinking I might have to sacrifice the drive shaft in order to hammer it out from the back

 

[Matt Barnes]

only slightly more positive news... the Diff looks very decent... all this was a soaking in Gunk degreaser... no scrubbing or anything...think it'll come up a treat

 

[PhilH67]

well as @Andyboy has indicated I had been a prize plumb and forgot about the locking ring !.. I'm using the excuse it was so covered in rust I didn't see it
however, I spent a number of hours chiselling out every remnant I could muster... this is what I chiselled and hammered out compared to the other side
View attachment 271617

So I'd gotten to the point after several hours.. that I could see the shoulder of the nut all the way round but it wasn't budging

View attachment 271619

so next course of action was to let it cook on a Gas Mark 6..... while I went to get a Gin....


View attachment 271621

more hammering.... but no bueno...... I'm now thinking I might have to sacrifice the drive shaft in order to hammer it out from the back

im almost sure @Mazza made you an offer, perhaps it’s time to step back from the brink of insanity and take him up on that

 

[Matt Barnes]

im almost sure @Mazza made you an offer, perhaps it’s time to step back from the brink of insanity and take him up on that

He did .....and a very kind offer as well ... guess it's a pride thing of getting that bloody thing off.... the threads on the driveshaft must be shot to pieces by now..

 

[Mazza]

Its there, if and when you need it…

If its any consolation I had the same problem recently…. And had to destroy the locking ring…my saving grace was that I had Lee , Gaz and Trev looking over my shoulder and helping me with it.