A Very Satisfied PowerFlex Bushing Customer!!

[romeokc10]

Back in July I purchased a set of PowerFlex thrust arm bushings for my 2002 4.6is. My X suffered from the clunking noise when going over speed bumps or pressing the brake pedal suddenly that has been discussed many times here. Let me say that I am more than happy with them, I've bought polyurethane bushings for other vehicles that I've owned so they're not new to me.
I started to do the job myself but after trying for a day to press the old bushings out with loaner tools from Auto Zone, I gave up and took it to local shop that did the job for $100, money well spent.
Now about the ride, no it's not stiff, no noise at all, to be honest I don't notice any difference except when driving over speed bumps or suddenly slamming on the brakes. The suspension and steering on my X has always been tight and stiff (a good stiff), no wandering or steering wheel shake at high speeds at all. That clunking noise was driving me crazy though, glad it's gone.
Now here's a side benefit that was totally unexpected, we all know about the dreaded tranny lurch, well mine is barely noticeable after the PowerFlex bushing install! My X's lurch was never really bad to begin with, but I noticed the last month or so it was getting worse to the point it would make the thrust bushings make the clunking noise.
The only way I can explain it, is that now that the front end has little to no play, it's as if the front end is pushing back as the lurch is pushing forward, therefore cancelling it out, almost. If you want some good info on these bushings I highly recommend you the thread by X5Girl, link below. As for me, I'll definitely be looking at installing some of the other bushings in the PowerFlex X5 line.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tempt-2-a.html