Clunk in front suspension - Page 3

RuppX5 · #1 10-06-2005, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROMEO

so guys in one sentence what is it? sway bar links, or control arms?

I need to know so i can replace mine.. thanks

Like I've mentioned earlier, it was pretty easy to tell that my control arm was bad. Just jack up the front wheel and try to shake from side to side. If there is play in the wheel, watch the ball joint on the control arm as you shake it. There was considerable play in the ball joint. Once I replaced it, it was tight as can be.

That being said, I have another hollow sounding clunk to deal with. Like another poster mentioned, if the car has 50K+ miles on it, it might not be a bad idea to replace the sway bar links anyways.

stwjazz7 · #2 10-06-2005, 07:44 PM

Picked up my links today . $33.00ea at the dealer. Will probably crawl under this weekend. As I said earlier, my CA's were changed 2yrs ago. I've got 56K on my X now and hoping I don't have to change them again so soon.

stwjazz7 · #3 10-10-2005, 10:49 AM

Changed the links this mourning. The thumping sound is gone. One issue down, one to go. I sure do miss my garage and power tools.

vinuneuro · #4 10-06-2005, 06:36 PM

We had the clunk too. Turned out to be loose sway bar links. Replaced under warranty. From looking at the DIY article, it looks like a cheap and easy fix.

ROMEO · #5 10-10-2005, 01:42 PM

hey stwjazz7 ..were they hard to change? i need to replace mine too.. and what kind of tools do i need?

JV · #6 10-10-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROMEO

hey stwjazz7 ..were they hard to change? i need to replace mine too.. and what kind of tools do i need?

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles.php?...icle&artid=222

ROMEO · #7 10-10-2005, 03:06 PM

JVZ104 thanks for the link. Did this fix the shimmy steering wheel as well?

JV · #8 10-10-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROMEO

JVZ104 thanks for the link. Did this fix the shimmy steering wheel as well?

I did not experience a shimmy, that is likely rotors or a wheel bearing. Uneven torque on lug nuts can warp the rotors (BMW spec. torque is 103ft.lbs per lug). I use what's called a 'whip stick' to put my lugs back on with an air wrench, and so far, so good. Vonchor posted a test flight for the wheel bearing problem:

http://www.xoutpost.com/showthread.php?p=22333#post22333

Try that out if you haven't already.

JV

stwjazz7 · #9 10-11-2005, 07:19 AM

It's apiece of cake. Aside from the lugnuts, 4 nuts. That's it. I must stress the need for the thin 8mm open end wrench to keep the link studs from rotating when tightening the nuts. Also. After removing the old links, I still found no indication of wear on them, but the thumping is gone.

lionkang · #10 12-21-2005, 12:59 AM

I've got the same symptoms, how do you tell if you need to replace the sway bar links when it's on the lift?