Xdrive suspension question

Marlinman · 09-30-2018, 08:26 PM

Did anyone else experience the front axle coming "out of the diff" when you had to lower the steering knuckle to remove the strut assembly? There was a report of one guy saying his popped out and he turned it until he felt the splines re aline inside the diff.

Wanted to poll the group if this is a common occurence when changing shocks/springs on an F30 Xdrive. Thanks all.

strobe89 · 10-01-2018, 11:13 AM

Mine came out on the drivers side. I wouldn't pop back in during re-assembly until I rotated it a bit then all was fine. Passenger side didn't pop out for me, guess I got lucky. I read about it before I installed my springs and wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, when it happened it seemed self explanatory. Basically I just couldn't shove the shock over and back up into position until I rotated the axle a bit.

Marlinman · 10-01-2018, 07:09 PM

Yea the service manual goes through removing all the damn control arms and axle for the xdrive, although through my readings your situation is the only one I've come across that the axle seemed to pop out. Thanks

tpliquid · 10-02-2018, 12:23 AM

My never came out when I installed.

strobe89 · 10-03-2018, 09:47 AM

The driver side my axle popped out on was the one where I unbolted the top bolts then kicked it all down and swung the whole assembly out before removing the shock from the knuckle. My guess is I had to pull it down further than the other side to get the bolts to clear the fender when swinging out.

On the passenger side I left the shock bolted in up top, but loosened up the knuckle and slid it off with the shock in place. Then I unbolted the shock and took it out. I believe it didn't have to swing down as far that way, hence why the axle didn't pop out on that side.

It's really no big deal either way. Took less than a minute of figuring out why it wouldn't swing back together and just rotated the axle a bit until it popped in. It's really obvious when it's not seated properly because you can't even get close to things going back together. I spent more time trying to make sure I didn't nick the fender with the top of the shock body.

09-30-2018, 08:26 PM	#1
Marlinman First Lieutenant 101 Rep 316 Posts Drives: 2013 335i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Xdrive suspension question Did anyone else experience the front axle coming "out of the diff" when you had to lower the steering knuckle to remove the strut assembly? There was a report of one guy saying his popped out and he turned it until he felt the splines re aline inside the diff. Wanted to poll the group if this is a common occurence when changing shocks/springs on an F30 Xdrive. Thanks all.
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10-01-2018, 11:13 AM	#2
strobe89 Private 13 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 + 2015 335i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Springboro, OH iTrader: (0)	Mine came out on the drivers side. I wouldn't pop back in during re-assembly until I rotated it a bit then all was fine. Passenger side didn't pop out for me, guess I got lucky. I read about it before I installed my springs and wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, when it happened it seemed self explanatory. Basically I just couldn't shove the shock over and back up into position until I rotated the axle a bit.
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10-01-2018, 07:09 PM	#3
Marlinman First Lieutenant 101 Rep 316 Posts Drives: 2013 335i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Yea the service manual goes through removing all the damn control arms and axle for the xdrive, although through my readings your situation is the only one I've come across that the axle seemed to pop out. Thanks
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10-02-2018, 12:23 AM	#4
tpliquid Second Lieutenant 95 Rep 228 Posts Drives: f31 330i wagon Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: anaheim iTrader: (1)	My never came out when I installed.
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10-03-2018, 09:47 AM	#5
strobe89 Private 13 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 + 2015 335i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Springboro, OH iTrader: (0)	The driver side my axle popped out on was the one where I unbolted the top bolts then kicked it all down and swung the whole assembly out before removing the shock from the knuckle. My guess is I had to pull it down further than the other side to get the bolts to clear the fender when swinging out. On the passenger side I left the shock bolted in up top, but loosened up the knuckle and slid it off with the shock in place. Then I unbolted the shock and took it out. I believe it didn't have to swing down as far that way, hence why the axle didn't pop out on that side. It's really no big deal either way. Took less than a minute of figuring out why it wouldn't swing back together and just rotated the axle a bit until it popped in. It's really obvious when it's not seated properly because you can't even get close to things going back together. I spent more time trying to make sure I didn't nick the fender with the top of the shock body.
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