"Clunking" noise coming from front end...help!

[BimmerDude]

Update! Went to dealer today, and it turned out to be my sway bar links. Replaced both and no more noise!!! At the same time, I took out my original three spoke wheel, and upgraded to the M-Spoke wheel with the tri-stitching. This wheel feels so much better then the other one. Love the thumb rests. Will take some pics soon. Sorry, just wanted to share the info with everyone.

[szyctom]

X5 2001 69000 Miles, 3.0i


Hooray!!!!!!!, noise gone, got it fixed like the link said, sway bar link problem. After changing the sway bar link, should I have my car realignment or balanced?



http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...ow+speed+clunk


Thanks for the DIY, I can overcome the noise problem:


http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/s...-link-diy.html


In addition to the DIY, here is my 2 cent:


Notice that lower end, plastic cushion collapse inward. That is the source of noise.





Normally, Plastic cushion was puff.



However, open wrench gives me headache, wrench was too fat, have to use pliers to hold the other side so that I can tight the nuts, or you can find other tools as long as you can hold it up.





Jack up the front wheels center point, otherwise, if you just jack up one side, like changing tires, the sway bar links will be too tight to take off. Because the stablizer bar will be off level, pull sway bar link tight from the strut.



You always have a backup safety as I did, in case when you are taking off the tire or tightening up the nuts, you may rock the car and loosen the jack. You do not want 2 tons metal pile up on you, unless your life insurance coverage is pretty optimistic for your beneficiary.



The woodboard is protect chasis from rubbing off rusty coat by the bricks.

[BimmerDude]

Bring this thread back again. I'm having issues when I turn the wheel to the right. Like when I'm driving about 15-20 mph and I jerk the wheel from right to left I can make something pop at all times. It's like something is popping out and going back into its place? Can someone shed some light here for me, I'm pissed because I just came back from the dealer for this reason and they said it was my thrust rods, so they replaced both under warranty but the noise is still there. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gotabyte]

Service Dept replaced steering rack and upper ball joint on passenger side when I had this problem.

[BimmerDude]

I got it fixed. It was the control are that was loose. Who ever worked on it last didn't tighten it enough. Thanks for your reply...

[Greg]

Guys beware. I changed out my sway bars. Still have the clunking. Went to my local guy today. Put it on the rack and I was able to physically shake my tire. My control arms are both bad. Worse on the drivers side. One way to check if it's your control arms is to pump your brakes when coming to a stop sign. See if you get a clunking sound. It felt like my calipers were loose, but they weren't. Control arms are under $90 ea. My local guy will replace them for $80. Doing it on Monday. Ordered the parts from partsgeek.com.

[RMak]

My X5 too has developed this clunking sound for about 2 weeks now when I hit bumps even at a slow speed. Seems to be louder on the front passenger side. Thought it could be a problem with the air suspension (no faults though and I can still raise and lower the height) and my indy states that since my X5 has under 50,000 miles, he doesn't think it's the air suspension. Just dropped it off this morning and I hope all is resolved. ::::crosses fingers::::

[Kuddel]

Had it to, checked everythink, found lose nuts and bolts
on my stabilizer bar, where bushing sit in a bracket, fastened them all with my power ratched, and guess what
clunking is gone.

kuddel