Rear brake backing plates - easy to R&R?

[E34-520iSE]

I had a look at my rear brake backing plates recently and they don't look too good. There's plenty of rust and holes in both of them, so I guess it's about time to replace them, before they fall off by themselves. Are they a simple bolt on/off job or does the whole hub & wheelbearing need pulling out for access?

Thanks,

Shaun M

[yaofeng]

My recollection is you can't get the backing plate past the wheel hub so you probably do not want to mess with it unless you are also doing the wheel bearing.

[E34-520iSE]

Thanks Yaofeng. Sometime in the coming few months I want to replace the drive-shaft ends, fitting the ones from an E34 that has ABS fitted at some point, so I can complete my ABS retrofit. I may as well just wait until then and do the whole lot in one go.

Many thanks,

Shaun M

[ArnZ!]

You be surprised how many cars don't run brake backing plates, but with that in mind i wouldn't want water to get splashed up on my brakes when it rains.