front end feels loose and woobly when driving

NYCSterling · #1 07-20-2016, 12:40 PM

So i recently did a 10 piece suspension kit for my front end ( BMW 10-Piece Control Arm Kit Front (E53 X5) - E53CAKIT10PIECEL from FCPEuro) and got an alignment and for a few days after it was fine - felt firm and planted.
About a month after i feel it loose and shaky when going over bumps and dust when driving.
Its not the thrust arm bushing.
Its a weird clunky looseness at the wheels... well it feel like its at the wheels...
like the wheels are loose or something.
I just did my rotors and new brake pads and all is tight down there... but the damn looseness is still there and its making the experience really bad to drive this X.

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OptimusPriM5 · #2 07-20-2016, 12:52 PM

Silly question but you torqued all lug nuts as required? Checked springs and such are seated correctly?

upallnight · #3 07-20-2016, 01:02 PM

Hopefully you tightened all the suspension pieces with the wheels on the ground or at least the weight of the truck on the wheels. Tightening up some of the bushings with the wheel in the air will just tear the bushing apart in no time.

OptimusPriM5 · #4 07-20-2016, 01:03 PM

thats the other thing I forgot...was the suspension loaded when you torqued everything

NYCSterling · #5 07-20-2016, 02:28 PM

i was at the shop when they were doing it and I saw he used a pole jack to compress the suspension while the X was on the lift.
I had that feeling when i saw him do that since i have been reading about tightening the bolts when the vehicle is on the ground.

Maybe that's it? or can the parts be bad? - which i highly doubt.

upallnight · #6 07-20-2016, 04:11 PM

Take it back to the installer and let him see what the problem can be. Perhaps he forgot to tighten something up to spec. Could be something else like the rack is worn.

4.8iS Le Mans_NZ · #7 07-20-2016, 10:26 PM

Also recommend you check the stablizer/swaybar links - symptoms you describe are typical of worn-out or loose links.

NYCSterling · #8 07-21-2016, 12:31 PM

I believe those were also part of the 10 piece kit. I will check then out this weekend.

4.8iS Le Mans_NZ · #9 08-02-2016, 08:57 PM

What did you find, in the end?

NYCSterling · #10 08-03-2016, 11:26 AM

So I just replaced my struts (Bilsteins touring), shocks and also went with H&R sport springs (blue one) with the lowering links for the rear.

While changing, i discovered that one of my strut mount was busted... and this was the reason why it was 'loose/woobly' when going over the bumps in Queens.. lol. The other one was also very close to being ripped also.. I had to change them and... wait for it... ........ ..... the damn X handles freaking awesome now!
I also did an alignment (Hunter machine) and road force balancing ( was getting a shimmy at 60- 70 mph ) and my steering wheel was also straightened...

So - in conclusion, I am back to loving on the E53 again. lol

X handles like new... planted... accelerates better, stops better, turns better.

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