Shakes so Bad when Braking - Giving up

[andrewwynn]

many of.us have.

It was a bitch to press in the thrust arm standard rubber bushing wo the proper tool but swapping the control arms is 4/10 difficulty.

10/10 difficulty breaking the 20 yo imner tie rod loose to get the wheels aligned after though! Took so much force even with heat I bent the outer tie rod. Once loose was 1/10 difficulty to get the toe perfectly withing 1/20th of a degree of spec 0.15 ± 0.05°.

[franccesco30]

Indeed the shaking nightmare has been put to rest, at least for now.

This time I lowered the car to the ground before tighten the bushing bolts.

Next step getting my stagger wheels painted in Black and then will probably list it for sale during the summer.

I've been debating to sell or not sell my long time friend. I'm the second owner of the 2001 5 speed 3.0 with 160k miles. I've taken care of it since 2008 always garaged kept and in extreme cleaning and shape condition, many upgrades to list.

Hard to say good bye to an old friend but priorities have changed, don't have the time to drive it as much as I would like to, so generally it seats in the garage with occasional weekend drives. I have of course the winter and the summer tires set. Check it out, an older picture with the old cross bars, upgraded since!

[crystalworks]

Those wheels are some of the nicest available on the e53. Fairly rare too. Would be a shame to paint those black. Beautiful looking truck.

[Purplecty]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Those wheels are some of the nicest available on the e53. Fairly rare too. Would be a shame to paint those black. Beautiful looking truck.

I agree!

[franccesco30]

Yes I really like the wheels and are also hard to find or see them on E53s. I just thought black color would give it a more modern look. But maybe you're right about painting them black!

I really like the glossy silver metallic look, so I'll have to think about that.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Control arms not thrust arms.

Still heed the warning about tighten the bolt on the bushing side when weight on the wheel. If you tighten with the wheel hanging the rubber will be twisted (doesn't apply if you used poly bushings that rotate).

BMW list it as a Tension Strut. I refer to it as the Thrust Arm, not control arm.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0521

[upallnight]

Otto of Bavarian Autosport calls it a Thrust Arm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_An0EkkwI6U&t=69s

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

Anyone installed these yet on their E53?
Turner Spherical Monoball Thrust Arm Bearing Set - E39 540i, M5, E38...
Turner Motorsport - Corporate Logo
T#:397170
Part#: 022012TMS01
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/BMW...bmw-suspension
or the entire arm
Turner Motorsport Front Control Arm Monoball Upgrade - E53 X5
Turner Motorsport
T#: 402457 | Part#: 022012TMS16
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-4...nstalled-arms/

Too expensive. I went with Powerflex poly bushings. They work great, easy to install (removing the old rubber bushing, not s much) and they have a lifetime warranty.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by upallnight

BMW list it as a Tension Strut. I refer to it as the Thrust Arm, not control arm.



https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0521

Most people call it thrust arm vs tension strut. My point is that wasn't the part that was the problem it was the rear/inward vs the forward/front component that failed/replaced to fix the problem.

I've had tension strut bushing so bad the wheel would move close to 3/4" whem hitting the brakes but still no shake from braking at speed. Speed shake from loose suspension always has been the rear/inward control arm in my experience.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Most people call it thrust arm vs tension strut. My point is that wasn't the part that was the problem it was the rear/inward vs the forward/front component that failed/replaced to fix the problem.

I've had tension strut bushing so bad the wheel would move close to 3/4" whem hitting the brakes but still no shake from braking at speed. Speed shake from loose suspension always has been the rear/inward control arm in my experience.

I offered to sell him my "Old Thrust Arms" and install polyurethane bushing in them, but he stated that he already "Bought" the Thrust arm. So base on this I'm assuming he just replaces the Thrust arms. I could be wrong but I was right on the Thrust arm being the problem and not the Rotor that a shop who actually looked at the car told him.