What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[Fifty150hs]

Replaced the transmission mount bushing. 267,000 miles on it It was about tiime.
Cobbled together a tool for removing it and installing new. Saved myself $129 for a tool I'd never use again.

[zener]

Put in a new VDO maf for X5, for 100km test drive all seemed fine now. No lean code's so far.


Also worked with F10. Washed it and retrofitted heated steering wheel.

[SamW]

Have been experiencing a stiff steering when turning left and a creaking noise from the front. Noticed that there was play in both of the front wheels, especially in the passenger side. When rocking the wheel side to side, the tie rod was visibly moving back and forth. After two broken ball joint remover tools, I managed to change both of the tie rods and the stiffness and the noise seems to be gone. While there, I also noticed that the driver side outer CV boot was a bit torn and oily.

There is still some kind of a clicking noise coming from the steering at one point which I initially thought was coming from the tie rods but apparently it's not. After a quick research one typical cause for that could be the universal joint in the steering column assembly. Have to look into that this week. Could a bad CV joint cause similar issues too? Obviously the CV boot or the whole axle must be replaced anyway at some point.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

Replaced the transmission mount bushing. 267,000 miles on it It was about tiime.
Cobbled together a tool for removing it and installing new. Saved myself $129 for a tool I'd never use again.

What prompted you to change them? Did you feel any difference after the change? Mine are original too.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by SamW

Have been experiencing a stiff steering when turning left and a creaking noise from the front. Noticed that there was play in both of the front wheels, especially in the passenger side. When rocking the wheel side to side, the tie rod was visibly moving back and forth. After two broken ball joint remover tools, I managed to change both of the tie rods and the stiffness and the noise seems to be gone. While there, I also noticed that the driver side outer CV boot was a bit torn and oily.

There is still some kind of a clicking noise coming from the steering at one point which I initially thought was coming from the tie rods but apparently it's not. After a quick research one typical cause for that could be the universal joint in the steering column assembly. Have to look into that this week. Could a bad CV joint cause similar issues too? Obviously the CV boot or the whole axle must be replaced anyway at some point.

I've got similar symptoms in my steering. Although old, my tie rods seemed in good shape when I did my motor swap so I elected not to replace them at that time. I do have a very regular clunk that I feel and hear when I turn my steering wheel. It happens every 45 degrees, or so, going into a turn, but not when you unwind the wheel. It feels to me like it is in the steering column, up closer to the wheel, however I'm sure that it could simply be being transmitted up the column.

The steering wheel nut has been checked and is secure. I read the double joint can wear, and at 20 years old I wouldn't be surprised. Mine feels secure, and I retorqued the bolts holding the lower column in along with some loctite. There are several plastic bushings that are on the upper column and I'm sure would be a PITA to change, but I suspect one or both are failing. I wonder too if it could be struts? Mine need to be replaced and I have my eye on some L322 Range Rover spring conversion struts that I think would work well with my lift as I suspect they are about 2" taller than the E53 struts, but look to be identical in other respects. .

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I've got similar symptoms in my steering. Although old, my tie rods seemed in good shape when I did my motor swap so I elected not to replace them at that time. I do have a very regular clunk that I feel and hear when I turn my steering wheel. It happens every 45 degrees, or so, going into a turn, but not when you unwind the wheel. It feels to me like it is in the steering column, up closer to the wheel, however I'm sure that it could simply be being transmitted up the column.

The steering wheel nut has been checked and is secure. I read the double joint can wear, and at 20 years old I wouldn't be surprised. Mine feels secure, and I retorqued the bolts holding the lower column in along with some loctite. There are several plastic bushings that are on the upper column and I'm sure would be a PITA to change, but I suspect one or both are failing. I wonder too if it could be struts? Mine need to be replaced and I have my eye on some L322 Range Rover spring conversion struts that I think would work well with my lift.

It's probably the steering joint.

[andrewwynn]

+1

[Happy]

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

+1

Well, in some ways I'll be happy if it is, since that part is probably the easiest to replace. Unfortunately its not cheap.

Does the "lower joint assembly" part number 32306756962 ever go bad? I'm assuming this is the piece that attaches to the top of the double joint and goes thorough the firewall. The two bushings look like they help the thing turn smoothly at the fire wall perhaps. It doesn't look like it has moving parts, like the double joint, but there does appear to be a guibo type peice, and some bolts holding it in that could perhaps wear out. Its not cheap either.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Well, in some ways I'll be happy if it is, since that part is probably the easiest to replace. Unfortunately its not cheap.

Does the "lower joint assembly" part number 32306756962 ever go bad? I'm assuming this is the piece that attaches to the top of the double joint and goes thorough the firewall. The two bushings look like they help the thing turn smoothly at the fire wall perhaps. It doesn't look like it has moving parts, like the double joint, but there does appear to be a guibo type peice, and some bolts holding it in that could perhaps wear out. Its not cheap either.

If it's clunking, this won't help, but if it's making the steering feel stiff / binding, you can anti-seize the u-joints. I've done that in the past to buy a little time and pinpoint the issue.

As for the lower joint, the giubos do wear, but they don't wear that much. I wouldn't be inclined to worry about it until and unless there are actual signs of rubber failure.