SOLVED......Weird Shaking Issue .....Please Help

[SLX5]

I have a 2002 X5 with about a 128K on it. This just developed last week. When I am doing about 40mph, the steering wheel moves back and forth (left/right) really bad when driving on the road without any braking or anything. This doesn't happen all the time but about 20% of the time. When doing 80mph or so, when I brake its starts shaking really bad as well. At lower speeds I feel this at times but not all the time. I checked my sway bar links, they were shot and I replaced them a couple of days ago but the symptoms persit. I am completely baffled. I put new rotors and brakes (non oem) about 10K miles ago. I am open to any form of advice please. I would like to work on it this weekend.



I would like to thank all the people for their help. I hope this helps people with the shaking issue. After giving it some thought, ruled out the calipers based on the symptoms. However, I thought it was the bushings, ball joints, trust arm.....I ordered all these parts thinking its a suspension issue. Well $300 some dollars in parts that I don't really need but will install since I have then and my vechicle has 128K on it. I found out it was my dam brakes.

Just a word of advice. If you experience symptoms as stated above, there is a $20 check that you can do. Try eliminating the small things first and then move onto the bigger things. Go to harbor freight and buy a Laser Thermometer. After drivig for about 20mins, measure the temperature of the calipers and rotors on each of the four sides. I tried to keep my arm close to the wheels to feel a difference, but couldn't. If you have a stuck caliper you may NOT hear a squeeling sound at all. This little test could save you a lot of money down the road. Also it may not be a bad idea to check the temperature of the rotors every 3 months or so to ensure your vechicle is operating the way it should.

By the way, I tried rebuilding the caliper, could't get the dust boot on. Ended up getting a new caliper. Pinched the brake line with a "c" clamp with the reservoir full. Installed the new caliper and attahced the brake line. opened the reservoir, unclamped the brake line, opened the nipple, gravity bleed.....................systems a go

[WMG/BMW]

Stock Rims...??? (centric rings) --- Struts.... I had the same prob and it was my struts that was shot, do you hear clanking sounds when you take a bump. I have 186K on my 4.4 and heard and had it all.

[jst2878]

you need to swap out your front control arm tension bushings and maybe balljoints(there are four) and the rear control arm bushings in the front. its about that time......and check your tie rods. just lift the vehicle and start shimmying things around. you must preload the vehicle before you tighten the tension bushing bolt otherwise it will fail immediately. the dealership will have the parts in stock. enjoy your weekend

[SLX5]

Originally Posted by WMG/BMW

Stock Rims...??? (centric rings) --- Struts.... I had the same prob and it was my struts that was shot, do you hear clanking sounds when you take a bump. I have 186K on my 4.4 and heard and had it all.

I dont hear a cluncking sound at all. The shock seems like they are in great shape

[SLX5]

Originally Posted by jst2878

you need to swap out your front control arm tension bushings and maybe balljoints(there are four) and the rear control arm bushings in the front. its about that time......and check your tie rods. just lift the vehicle and start shimmying things around. you must preload the vehicle before you tighten the tension bushing bolt otherwise it will fail immediately. the dealership will have the parts in stock. enjoy your weekend

I agree with all the mentioned above, but would any of them failing would create the situation I am talking about. Is it possible the the rotors are warped?

[diyanich]

How about an alignment?

Originally Posted by SLX5

I have a 2002 X5 with about a 128K on it. This just developed last week. When I am doing about 40mph, the steering wheel moves back and forth (left/right) really bad when driving on the road without any braking or anything. This doesn't happen all the time but about 20% of the time. When doing 80mph or so, when I brake its starts shaking really bad as well. At lower speeds I feel this at times but not all the time. I checked my sway bar links, they were shot and I replaced them a couple of days ago but the symptoms persit. I am completely baffled. I put new rotors and brakes (non oem) about 10K miles ago. I am open to any form of advice please. I would like to work on it this weekend.

[dpgx5]

I agree either alignment and or re balance, otherwise maybe your rotors ( i know u changed them ) after that what jst2878 said prob your bushing or ball joints.

Start with the easiet and proceed. I had a similar problem and was worried only to find out my rims were outta spec (balance wise). Goodluck and Update us.

[SLX5]

I will go get the wheels rebalaced today and start from there. It seems to be the easiest thing to do. What really throughing me off is that the symtoms occour intermittently and not all the time

[SLX5]

Well I went and got the the tires balanced and its tsill there. One thing I did notice hoever is that it is shaking more often now and if I hit the break, it goes away and then it comes back. Completely baffelled. it looks like I have to replace the following parts 6, 7, 10, 11, 15 along with the rotors.

RealOEM.com BMW E53 X5 4.4i Frnt axle support,wishbone/tension strut



I gues this is aprt of regular maintenance, is there anything else I should replace on the front end?????? Damn that a lot fo money

[dpgx5]

before that recheck your brakes and your calipers... i remember someone had a problem and it was cause the caliper was stuck.