Creak/Squeak from rear suspension

[JBF]

I'm hoping someone can help me. Here's a link to an audio file:

LINKY

This soundbyte is in three parts. The first part is me driving along in a very flat multistory carpark with my iphone hanging out of the window (you can hear the wind). The second bit is with the phone sitting on top of the drivers side rear tyre (RHD car) while I stood on the running board, held the roof rail and rocked the car. The last part is with the iphone sitting on the passenger side rear tyre with me rocking the car in the same way.

This sound started as a slight creak/squeak when I went over bumps slowly, like the small stubby rubber speed bumps you get in car parks. When it was in the dealers for a service I asked them to track it down but they claimed not to be able to reproduce (yes they are totally useless). Over the last month or two it's gotten much worse so that now it creaks constantly with every little bump/lump in the road. It can't be heard inside the car with the windows up but is very easy to hear with a window open slightly - this is becoming quite embarrassing as it's quite loud and people look when I drive by!

It's definitely much louder on the passenger side. Sounds like whatever it is resonates through the wheel/disc although I very much doubt they are the source. I suspect the air spring, shock or a bush but hope with the number of X5 owners on this site - somebody will recognise it and be able to point me at the right component. I can't imagine this is uncommon as I'm only at 64k miles and the car is well looked after.

[diyanich]

It sounds like a squeaky spring in the bed

[sweetbabu1]

Mine is doing the same thing and sounds ditto to yours. coming from same spot. mine is LHD.

[Dking05]

Like the others... same here, annoying as hellllll. LOL and yes it does sound like a matress. My suspicion is the air susp, as i could i hear it creek when the car adjust itself, but can go away if i sway the car a bit. It creeks on ANY bump, especially when pulling into a drive way.

LHD Rear air susp. No code though ideas?

[JBF]

Now I hadn't mentioned this as I wanted some feedback without my interference first, but when it was in the local garage for a CV boot change (front) I had them put the car over the pit and rock it a bit while I poked around to try and track the noise down. It did sound like the noise was coming from the passenger side (LH) air spring. I asked if it's something they could change but they said it's too specialist for them.

Anyone changed one of these? I'm guessing it's not an easy job but I don't want to pay the stealers labour rates for it particularly as they were loo lazy to track the problem down for me. Guess it would also be worth changing both at the same time as the other is bound to go soon too.

[davewlee]

I had this on my E38 . It took a long time to figure it out. It was the Rear Ball Joint. Try bouncing up and down on the rear end of the car and the sound may appear. A temp fix may be to inject some grease into the rubber boot of the ball joint. The replacement procedure of the rear ball joint can be found on e38.org BMW 7-series information and links .

[indianapolisX5]

Originally Posted by JBF

this is becoming quite embarrassing as it's quite loud and people look when I drive by!

Agreed. Had this issue a couple years ago. Told my service advisor that the X had taken on the sound of a medieval ox cart when going over even the slightest bump.

A new right rear trailing arm and $650 later, the squeak was gone.

[mark scheurer]

Upper control arm. Have it looked at by a good indy. The part is cheap. I had both done for about 300 bucks, and cured the excessive camber problem at the same time.

[JBF]

I gave the ball joint a good squirt with lithium grease - no difference in sound at all so I'm not sure it's that.

Rear trailing arm or upper control arm (rear?) - any realoem references?

[EDIT]

Number 11?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...29&hg=33&fg=30

[mark scheurer]

On Pelican it is much cheaper: Pelican Parts - Product Information: 33-32-6-770-860-M36

Buy Bilstein, same or better quality as the BMW part --