Front end or suspension rattle

[Peter D]

I've developed a strange rattle in the front end of my '04 X5 with 66000 miles.
The suspension feels fine but it sounds like a bad strut or ball joint when hitting small bumps in the pavement at low speed. Everything that I've looked at appears to be OK and tight except that when i reach under the hood and grab the steering shaft where it comes out of the column through the firewall, I can shake it up an down. there is no play in the universal prior to its heading down to the steering rack, just this 1/8" of play where the shaft enters the firewall.

Twisting the steering wheel back and forth will produce a noise due to the stearing shaft play but it doesnt seem like the rattle i here on pavement joints at low speed.

Any ideas ...??

Peter D

[sarnomel99]

I had a similiar noise going on in the front passengers side, I noticed it most when I was going slow like turning into my driveway which was a little bumpy which caused the noise to intensify, and if I was going over a speed bump and would hear it for sure. It ended up being the cv joint. I don't know much about mechanics, I'm always on here asking questions about mine, however, your prob. just sounded similiar to mine so I thought i would throw it out there. Good Luck..

[primetime]

Sway bar link...It can't be detected by being up on the lift and looking..its a common issue on the E53...

[juppalgae]

yup yup... sway bar and/or ball joints... pain in the ass procedure

[ashrafkh]

ya i hear the same sound like TAK and it make me feel nervus!!!!!! i couldnt understand what is the problem and what is the solution for that, could you Plz explain for a bigginer

[msammy]

Originally Posted by Peter D

I've developed a strange rattle in the front end of my '04 X5 with 66000 miles.
The suspension feels fine but it sounds like a bad strut or ball joint when hitting small bumps in the pavement at low speed. Everything that I've looked at appears to be OK and tight except that when i reach under the hood and grab the steering shaft where it comes out of the column through the firewall, I can shake it up an down. there is no play in the universal prior to its heading down to the steering rack, just this 1/8" of play where the shaft enters the firewall.

Twisting the steering wheel back and forth will produce a noise due to the stearing shaft play but it doesnt seem like the rattle i here on pavement joints at low speed.

Any ideas ...??

Peter D

Sounds like the sway bar end links need to be replaced. Several experts on this forum helped diagnose & correct my problem - you can find the thread at:

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...=sway+bar+link

I hope this helps and let us know how things work out for your!

[Peter D]

Put in the new sway bar links........ I did and the noise was GONE

I tested the old ones on a bench once i had them off and couldnt find anything wrong with them, no slop, no play no anything so i'm at first thinking i wasted my money. Took off the new links and put back the old onesback on, back came the noise.

Put new links back on to stay, noise gone... put old links in the TRASH

Good luck Peter D

[ashrafkh]

what would happen if i didnt change it? is there any expected damage?

[ashrafkh]

ok, found that this is a common known problem on X5 and new 7 seriese, the problem is on the arm bushing rubber of the front tension strut part# 31126769715 and can be replaced easily then the "TICK" noise will disappear, most cases u just need to replace it and rarely u will need to replace the whole tension strut that already includes the rubber part# 31126769717/ 31126769718 left and right.....
hope its a good info if not already known :-)