So I have been driving my X5 for about a month now and allways had a "thud" from back end. Looking under the car I found a broken sway bar link. I installed 2 new links and still have a "thud". I jacked up the car and found movement with the control arms. Not to sure how to check the ball joints, I found a youtube video of a shop using a jack stand with a cross bar on top. He placed the jack under the spring perch to relieve spring pressure. I took my small bottle jack and welded a 3" bar across the top. With the car on blocks I used my modified jack under the spring perch and wow my ball joint move all over the place. I can move the top and bottom of the wheel more than 2". BTW I have standard suspension, no air bags. I have new ball joints and control arms on order.

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2009 CLS550
2005 X5
2004 ML350
2002 X5
1998 323ic (sold)
1996 S320 (sold)
1991 190 (sold)
1989 300SE (sold)
1984 SD (sold)
1984 300D (sold)