Rose bush(ing) aka ball joint, rear axle removal

[omodos]

Hello all, ok so my tires are in a bad state so before replacing them I want to eliminate cause of wear (outer wear on passenger rear and front is issue), last work I had done up front that called for an alignment showed the below needed replacing before it could be done correctly.Is it something that means the mechanic will need to fiddle with the air suspension and bleed it to be able to remove and replace them? Or is it less painful?



02 Ball joint
2

33326767748 $63.35


only in conjunction with

-- Snap ring
2

33321091687 $1.25

[wpoll]

Your mechanic won't need to touch the air suspension to change the rear ball joints. Access is pretty easy once the wheel is off and the lower shock mount is undone.

What the mechanic WILL need is the special BMW ball joint removal/installation tool (or an aftermarket copy tool). Generic tools don't work on this particular joint due to clearance issues... Check they have one of these tools before they commence working on your car.

[omodos]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Your mechanic won't need to touch the air suspension to change the rear ball joints. Access is pretty easy once the wheel is off and the lower shock mount is undone.

What the mechanic WILL need is the special BMW ball joint removal/installation tool (or an aftermarket copy tool). Generic tools don't work on this particular joint due to clearance issues... Check they have one of these tools before they commence working on your car.

Hey Wpoll the X5 continues to swallow the $$$$$ BUT i guess ignoring smallish issues they soon pile up, anyway via mechanic I trust all went well!, he didn't have to remove any air from air suspension, he did something via the computer he said to lower pressure? and also changed out the upper guide (control arm) links in rear...they had play in em, he showed me buggered ones...
bushings were some 45 gbp for the pair (got em from the uk)
tie rods 57 euros each
labour 160 euros
alignment 60 euros
(plus 300 for starter +install back in dec)
I spend more on the car than on myself....hahahah

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by omodos

Hey Wpoll the X5 continues to swallow the $$$$$ BUT i guess ignoring smallish issues they soon pile up, anyway via mechanic I trust all went well!, he didn't have to remove any air from air suspension, he did something via the computer he said to lower pressure? and also changed out the upper guide (control arm) links in rear...they had play in em, he showed me buggered ones...
bushings were some 45 gbp for the pair (got em from the uk)
tie rods 57 euros each
labour 160 euros
alignment 60 euros
(plus 300 for starter +install back in dec)
I spend more on the car than on myself....hahahah

Glad it's now sorted, omodos.

Yes, these old girls certainly have a healthy appetite for parts! Mine's currently waiting on a new engine viscous fan clutch and she's nearing another oil service.

I told my family that any birthday and Christmas presents for me would have to be E53 parts.... and my wife took me seriously, so guess what I'm getting for my birthday....

[omodos]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Glad it's now sorted, omodos.

Yes, these old girls certainly have a healthy appetite for parts! Mine's currently waiting on a new engine viscous fan clutch and she's nearing another oil service.

I told my family that any birthday and Christmas presents for me would have to be E53 parts.... and my wife took me seriously, so guess what I'm getting for my birthday....

Scary, exactly what I say to my wife when she asks what present(s) i want.....

[omodos]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Glad it's now sorted, omodos.

Yes, these old girls certainly have a healthy appetite for parts! Mine's currently waiting on a new engine viscous fan clutch and she's nearing another oil service.

I told my family that any birthday and Christmas presents for me would have to be E53 parts.... and my wife took me seriously, so guess what I'm getting for my birthday....

Wpoll hi, unrelated but what grade so you use in your 3.0d? 0/40w or 5/30w or 5/40w?

[andrewwynn]

I bought mine for about $80 from Amazon. It's the through the middle with a bolt design not the giant C type.


I think you might be wrong about the airbag though I am not sure there is no pressure on the lower link that holds the ball joint.

It's quite simple to bleed the air though.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I bought mine for about $80 from Amazon. It's the through the middle with a bolt design not the giant C type.


I think you might be wrong about the airbag though I am not sure there is no pressure on the lower link that holds the ball joint.

It's quite simple to bleed the air though.

I can't say I have any experience changing this joint (but one day...) but I see people change them with the steel spring in place, so why would an airbag be any different?

[deepblonde]

Originally Posted by wpoll

I can't say I have any experience changing this joint (but one day...) but I see people change them with the steel spring in place, so why would an airbag be any different?

I'm faced with having to do this job, and control arms etc ,
and it seems to me that the spring is pushing down,

and so I wish I had air suspension so I could release the air and make it easy to move every thing around,
so I'm not looking forward to it...

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by deepblonde

I'm faced with having to do this job, and control arms etc ,
and it seems to me that the spring is pushing down,
...

Yeah, if you are going in deeper than just the rear ball joint, dropping out the spring will make it a lot easier (or possible even). In fact, if I ever do another rear wheel bearing, I'd drop the spring out - it was a pain fighting the damn spring pressure when working on the ark and knuckle etc.