Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-04-2012, 04:00 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hampshire UK
Posts: 106
white lancer is on a distinguished road
Tension Strut Play

Hi

How much play should there be in the tension strut? I can grab hold of the middle of the strut and pull it back and forwards a good quater to half inch? It looks like the rubber may be perished inside as I can see some very small cracks in it.

BMW X5 2002 E53 4.4i M62

Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 12-04-2012, 05:02 AM
goldenbird's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Lebanon
Posts: 89
goldenbird is on a distinguished road
If you hear a sound coming from the brakes when you suddenly hit the brakes at turtle speed , then the bushing need replacement. I replaced mine 2 days ago and it was slightly damaged, but enough to make that sound.
__________________
X5 3.0i SUV
2005 -113000 miles
GM-A5S 690R Tranny
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-04-2012, 07:42 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hampshire UK
Posts: 106
white lancer is on a distinguished road
What sort of sound am I listening for?

So I just crawl forwards at 5mph and hit the brakes quickly and listen for this sound?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-04-2012, 08:22 AM
goldenbird's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Lebanon
Posts: 89
goldenbird is on a distinguished road
true. press full brake suddenly to stop the car when crawling (try it in little sloppy road) you can try it again and again seconds apart just to hear the braking sound it makes. The braking sound should be smooth & damped not hard or loud. Sometimes you cannot recognize the sound difference between normal & faulty bushing. Try another car and you can sense the difference. Any mechanic will simply detect it in seconds. The black spots seen in the bushing picture, if it is a shred in the bushing material, then definitely it is faulty
__________________
X5 3.0i SUV
2005 -113000 miles
GM-A5S 690R Tranny

Last edited by goldenbird; 12-04-2012 at 08:29 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-04-2012, 08:26 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 343
sockethead is on a distinguished road
You should be able to feel it in the steering wheel too but if you have that much play, it's a pretty safe bet that they are shot.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-04-2012, 11:32 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 4,755
SlickGT1 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by sockethead View Post
You should be able to feel it in the steering wheel too but if you have that much play, it's a pretty safe bet that they are shot.
^ This. If you can move it that much by hand, a 5000lb car will move it a lot more.
__________________
2006 4.8is, Black on White. SOLD Sniff Sniff.

2017 F85 x5m, Black on Red. BEAST MODE


"The older we grow the greater becomes our wonder at how much ignorance one can contain without bursting one's clothes." - Mark Twain

Unlock OBC post 5
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-04-2012, 12:44 PM
Ricky Bobby's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 9,344
Ricky Bobby will become famous soon enough
X2 on what Slick said.


Mine had that much play if not more, trust me if the arm isnt tight due to looseness of the bushing, replace!

its a common wear item on our cars, go with OE quality replacement (I used Meyle HD, solid rubber and not filled with fluid like OE bushings) and no they are not harsh in any way!
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins 68RFE
19k miles -Bright White/Black - Big Horn Sport - Crew Cab Short Bed
2013 X5 35D (CEO's) - Born on 5/17/2013 -
82k miles - Alpine White/Cinnamon Brown/Premium Pkg, Sport Activity/Premium Pkg and Sound/20" Style 214/Running Boards

Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-04-2012, 12:57 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 194
theblue is on a distinguished road
the question is not so much "can you move it", but "how easily can you move it".

they're super easy to replace if you're doing the whole arm and definitely make a noticeable difference. Also, they don't require an alignment.
__________________
2006 Audi A3 2.0t DSG apr stage 2
2002 BMW X5 4.4
1997 BMW 328ic sport. moreagrun metallic
1989 BMW 325is with / M50b25nv swap
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-04-2012, 01:13 PM
Skyline's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 659
Skyline is on a distinguished road
Even with that fair picture, it's easy to see that those bushings are shot.

Any visible cracks in ANY rubber bushing means it's time to replace.

Mine were MUCH better than yours, and I just replaced them this past weekend. I had cracks that were almost impossible to see while on the car, but I was going through the entire suspension one step at a time untill it was solid, so I did them. Even with really minute, almost hairline cracks in mine, replacement made a big difference in how the car felt.

To describe one big symptom of a problem in the X5's front suspension, the weight of the car can cause a pivoting effect of the hub assembly under braking if everthing is not tight and perfect. Jab the brakes at low speed and they will feel like they are grabbing sudenly with a "clunk". Apply the brakes smoothly...nothing.

I would get the Meyle HD bushings...or entire Meyle arms with the HD bushings already installed.
__________________
2014 BMW 328i Xdrive
2011 BMW 335i M-Sport
2008 BMW X5 4.8i Sport
2000 BMW 528i 5sp
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-04-2012, 02:52 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hampshire UK
Posts: 106
white lancer is on a distinguished road
I just did the driving at 5mph and break test. The car made a rubber creaking sound followed by a clunk with the breaks grabbing and the car stopping rather quickly

Guess it is time to replace the bushes!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:33 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.