Have Braking vibration, Brake shop says lower bushings???

Schrei-x5 · #1 02-23-2010, 06:19 PM

Ok I have a 2003 X5 119,000 mi I had the front brakes done about 3 months ago well all was fine, but in the last few weeks the steering wheel started to vibrate when I press on the brakes. So I took it back thinking it was the brake job warped rotor or jammed caliper etc....

They brake tech told me to come out and he was slowly back and forwarding the car with light braking and the wheels were shimming a little bit. He said it is the most likely the lower bushings (I think he means the lower control arm bushings) He also said this is common.

Is this true??? And what is the average cost of replacing this? And do you guys think this is a logical diagnosis?

Please help!!!

fulltilt · #2 02-23-2010, 06:30 PM

My rotors were replaced by the previous owner at the dealer 10K miles ago and I had the same problem. Dealer also said bushings. I replaced them and it fixed about 75% of the problem. I think the last 25% is still warped rotors. I plan to pull them off some weekend and have them turned. It shouldn't take much though.

Schrei-x5 · #3 02-23-2010, 06:34 PM

Well I really dont think its the rotors.... Like I said I just got a complete front brake job 3 months ago.. Plus when he was moving the rig back and forth I could see the wheels shimming each time he pressed the brakes so it has to be something with the suspension I would say.

How much did the dealer rape you on the bushing job? Was it the lower control arm bushings?

Thanks

fulltilt · #4 02-23-2010, 06:46 PM

He's probably right, though looks can be deceiving. The E46 3-series has massive fore-aft wheel movement in the wheel well under braking. A friend pointed it out one day and I had him drive slowly and brake so I could see it. It blew my mind. And I had new bushings on it. But these are Germans, if there is one thing I trust them with it's suspension design.

I did the bushings myself. I have a press. I was able to protect the dust boots on the ball joints so I didn't replace those. Bushings were $140 for two fromk the dealer. Let me know how much you have to pay. I think the dealer quoted me $500 or something after the alignment, which I didn't do.

Roadkill · #5 02-24-2010, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fulltilt

My rotors were replaced by the previous owner at the dealer 10K miles ago and I had the same problem. Dealer also said bushings. I replaced them and it fixed about 75% of the problem. I think the last 25% is still warped rotors. I plan to pull them off some weekend and have them turned. It shouldn't take much though.

did your mechanic replace both upper and lower bushings? if not, then most likely it will need the upper bushings replaced to take care off the remaining 25%.

fulltilt · #6 02-24-2010, 09:36 AM

Good point. I'm surprised the dealer didn't recommend that, they just said the lowers needed replacement. If there's one thing I count on them for it's to find opportunities to take the customer's money. I'll look there next.

Shamus · #7 03-02-2010, 06:55 PM

I've been reading up on this as I too have the steering wheel shimmy on my '02 4.4 and a buddy of mine watched me hit the brakes a couple of times and noticed the wheel assembly shudder and move back so I know it's the bushings, now just have to figure out whether to replace the whole bunch or just the control arms to start with.

Here's a great video ( YouTube - BMW Control Arm Bushing Failure ) on the E46 which has the same issue, that movement is NOT normal and not the design of the car. The STRENGTH of the suspension isn't necessarily a strong point for BMW. They've had issues throughout their history of under-engineered components as it relates to longevity. Just ask an E46 or Z3 owner about their rear-subframe!

Don't get me wrong, they know how to hard-wire a car to the driver's brain and that's why I've owned so many BMW's and will continue to do so!

fulltilt · #8 03-02-2010, 10:24 PM

Interesting, I don't have the car anymore, but I thought it did it even after I put bushings on it. I also have noticed that on the new Audi commercial where the kid says "I have been told to dream about red Italian sportscars", at the end of the commercial an R8 comes down a hill outside of the kid's window, and when it comes to a stop, there is a lot of fore/aft wheel movement on that car as well. I will have to watch this more closely.

As for the vibration, I finally took a closer look at mine only to find that the X doesn't have upper control arms! I had the rotors turned for $20, and the vibration is gone.

slush281 · #9 03-02-2010, 11:50 PM

Had the same issue, replaced front Control arms on both sides. Pretty easy job, shop wanted $1000, bought parts for $150, took about 2.5 hrs. Worth doing it yourself.

fulltilt · #10 03-03-2010, 11:55 AM

My $70 Harbor Freight 12 Ton press was probably one of the biggest cost saving tools I have ever bought. I pressed in front wheel bearings and ball joints on my RSX this last weekend.