Front End Bushings - Are They Worn?

[billdo]

How do you tell if your front end bushes are worn. The last time I had my X5 in with the mech he told me they needed to be replaced. It sounded reasonable to me since the car had 90k miles on it. However after ordering $550 in parts and dealing with a major PITA DIY, see this thread too:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...nt-change.html

I wonder if they needed changing at all.

So how do you tell if they are worn. The ones I took out looked just like the new ones. I could not see any wear on them. Is this right? Is there another way to tell that they are worn out? Or was my mech just trying to drum up some business?

Pics to follow tomorrow.

Thanks

[Bulk]

Is your front end lose? (of the vehicle that is) or do you get shimmy whilst braking or at speed? if so then it could be. If its not major then you can live with it for a while but its never a good idea to let things get too out of hand otherwise you start causing issues with other parts which would otherwise not be an issue

[cossie69]

well i think if your bushing looked fine with no tears splits and ball joints wernt sloppy then he was getting abit of money out of you pal i changed mine but they were knackered ball joint on lower arm had play upper arms where split you could see the splits while it situ, i would go else where in future pal,

[SlickGT1]

Are you sure you changed the ones he was talking about. The thrust arm bushings always fail on our cars. So have you changed those?

[Ricky Bobby]

go under your car and take the thrust arms (the U shaped control arm, not the straight arm) and try to wiggle it. If it's anything less than tight, you'll be able to move it quite easily and see flex and cracks on the worn bushing on the frame.

If its moved easily by hand, imagine what road forces can do? I just replaced mine at 66k along with my wishbones, and ball joints that attach to the thrust arms. Night and day difference, beforehand I could move the thrust arms like 2", now they are tight, no more shakes while braking and much more stable on the road.


do you trust your mechanic to be honest? I have no questions about my indy, if he suggested something, I have faith in him that its truly needing to be replaced. My indy would never try to "drum up more business" from me.

[electricalserv x5]

Ricky Bob is right,if Your X5 has that many miles it most likely they are worn, another way to check is to have someone out side the car , just move forward a few feet and hit the brakes,if the front tire moves and jumps a bit then the thrust bushing are worn, but You should replace the busuhing and ball joint on that arm.

[billdo]

It was a new mech. My old Mech who I trusted, is slowing retiring and recommended I go to this place. They have a good reputation, so I hope they weren't screwing with me. They knew I wasn't a mechanical idiot too.

[billdo]

I cannot figure out how to upload pic to the post so check out my album here:

http://www.xoutpost.com/members/billdo-albums.html

[cossie69]

just looked at your pics m8, and if you look at them you will see splits in them they are ready for the bin pal your mechanic is spot on

[bigbabyE53]

Easiest way is to jab the brake pedal going parking lot speeds. If your steering wheel feels loose or pulls quickly while feeling a "bump" in the steering on either side than they are worn. You can feel the bump in the steering wheel if they are bad. trust me, you want to get them changed before they go bad. You will go through brakes quicker than you think is possible and when the bushings do fail and the rubber seperates, it'll barely be drivable