Front thrust arm removal

[Hawkdriver75]

I know exactly what you are describing - Did both of my thrust arm bushings this last weekend. The plastic box is in the way on the driver's side. It is an airbox with some temp sensor (I think) at the front behind the grille, and looks like it vents upward along the side of the engine.

To get the driver side bolt out I took the two screws out to be able to move the wheel-well plastic lining. After you get access to it you can see to bolts above the airbox. Remove these and you may have enough room to get the bolt out.

I had to unsnap the sides of the airbox and collapse it into itself to get enough room. Luckily passenger side doesn't have this.

[theimage]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure yet how to be careful of the residual pressure from the strut. But I'll probably figure that out as I go.

And for replacing the bushings, I plan to drill into the rubber then use a hacksaw blade from inside the hole to cut to the outer bushing metal ring. Then I can compress the outer ring and push it out. I can hammer and/or press the new bushing in. This is how I did it on my E36.

[meltdown325]

Originally Posted by theimage

I plan to drill into the rubber then use a hacksaw blade from inside the hole to cut to the outer bushing metal ring. Then I can compress the outer ring and push it out. I can hammer and/or press the new bushing in. This is how I did it on my E36.

I tried that method, since I had done a similar thing with my old E30. Just a word of caution, the X5 thrust arm bushings are stout. Some people may be successful, but I don't see how they remove/insert those bushings into the arms without a press. I broke many tools trying to get the bushings out of the arms without a press. So I went out and bought a 12ton shop press.

I had to use tons of force, literally, to remove and insert the bushings into the arms. My 12ton shop press was working pretty damn hard to get those suckers replaced.

Good luck.

[omodos]

did the OEM bushings appear damaged or from what i have read here leak fluid? i have been told mine need replacing but want to be sure before i go ahead