Hi all,

In the midst of a clutch replacement on my 08 Clubman non-S. While I have the trans out I thought I'd replace the axle shaft seals. It took some doing to get the seals out, but they're finally out. But when I try to rotate the bearings just inside where the seal seats, I'm unable to rotate either one. Shouldn't they spin easily? I'm worried I seized them up somehow when I was removing the old seals. I didn't think I was doing anything that would press the seals up against the bearings, but it's possible.

Please let me know if the bearings are normally supposed to spin freely. Logic tells me they should, but I thought I'd check here first in case there's something different about them.

Thanks,
Nick

 

I didn't think there were bearings holding the shaft. I only know the diff is what holds them and the axle shaft inserts and "locks" there. if this is the case, then it is not that easy to spin it because you're potentially trying to spin the transmission. also, if you have limited slip, it becomes even harder to spin one side, i assume.

 

Thanks - I get what you're saying, but just behind the axle shaft seals there are definitely bearings. Seems to me like those should spin freely.

 

MiniToBe - I just watched a disassembly video, and you're right - the differential spins along with the bearing, so trying to rotate that bearing would be like trying to spin the whole trans. Sorry to have doubted you. I thought the axles locked into a piece that spun them, and the bearings were just there to rotate along with the axle.

Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.

Nick