control arm bushings?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by BigBlack48is

I am at 10k miles on purple FCAB install and couldn't be happier! no more clunk or looseness in the front end

next is going to be the purple sway bar bushings once it get's warmer out!

You might want to consider going to a bigger sway bar while you are in there. Eibach sway bars were a huge improvement on mine.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

For people who have never done this before, the most important thing to remember is that the final tightening of the nut at the bushing is with the weight of the car on the ground. Premature wear of the bushing will occur if the nut and bolt are tightened with the wheels off the ground.

Any idea how many miles are in premature failure.?

[racingbmwm3]

much less than a mature failure? it will drastically vary depending on way too many variables. avg temp + temp range, road conditions (bumpy/smooth), driving style, which bushing material. maybe a few thousand miles? maybe 20k?

[BigBlack48is]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

You might want to consider going to a bigger sway bar while you are in there. Eibach sway bars were a huge improvement on mine.

The 4.8is already had bigger sway bars on it

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by BigBlack48is

The 4.8is already had bigger sway bars on it

The 4.4 in 2002, the 4.6 in 2002 and the 4.8 in 2006 all came with the same sway bar on the front. The 2002 4.4 had a different rear sway bar. The 2002 4.6 and 2006 4.8 had the same rear sway bar.

[racingbmwm3]

I suspect that most of what's felt when changing to a different bar is because you're getting rid of the slop in the old worn out bushings. I remember watching Motor Trend's comparison test of the 4.6is/ML55/M5/E55 and in the slalom the 4.6 was lifting the inside tires. If the sway bars weren't stiff enough, it couldn't do that.
I'd just put the poly bushings on.

[BigBlack48is]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

I suspect that most of what's felt when changing to a different bar is because you're getting rid of the slop in the old worn out bushings. I remember watching Motor Trend's comparison test of the 4.6is/ML55/M5/E55 and in the slalom the 4.6 was lifting the inside tires. If the sway bars weren't stiff enough, it couldn't do that.
I'd just put the poly bushings on.

+10000000

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

I suspect that most of what's felt when changing to a different bar is because you're getting rid of the slop in the old worn out bushings. I remember watching Motor Trend's comparison test of the 4.6is/ML55/M5/E55 and in the slalom the 4.6 was lifting the inside tires. If the sway bars weren't stiff enough, it couldn't do that.
I'd just put the poly bushings on.

I disagree.

Certainly, if the mounting bushings or links are worn out, replacement would be beneficial but I am offering input to achieve a significant handling improvement to consider over new, stock suspension performance.

The poly bushings are a pretty color but based on how little the maximum movement of the bar is with stock bushings I think that about 98% of what poly bushings deliver is feel good. I've even tried performance bushings in the past and they were always--oh well, it was worth a try. They ended laying around somewhere with the old sway bar.

My goal was quicker and flatter turn-in which I gained well beyond my expectations with the Eibach bars. It is possible to have too much sway bar for what you are doing but lifting an inside wheel or wheels is not an indication the sway bar is stiff enough.

While I have had no problem with the sway bar links, if I knew of upgraded adjustable links to get the most out of the stiffer bars I would add them.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by BigBlack48is

I am at 10k miles on purple FCAB install and couldn't be happier! no more clunk or looseness in the front end

next is going to be the purple sway bar bushings once it get's warmer out!

Any change in noise/vibration/harshenss? My X5 serves three primary purposes: 1) long distance hauler, 2) grocery getter/costco run, 3) airport runs. Therefore, ultimate performance can be sacrificed for smooth runnings, mon. (we need a rastafarian emoticon). I have M3's for performance runs.

As to premature failure of the bushing if it is tightened when the X5 is in the air, wheels dangling; think of the twist that will be put into the bushing when the wheels return to their resting state. Now compress the suspension over bumps and no good can come of it. Failure could be as soon as the first really good bump.

[racingbmwm3]

wait, why are we trying to get //M3 handling in an X5?
Yes, a larger ARB does make for flat turn-ins.
The problem with a larger roll bar is you are making your car's suspension more and more similar to a live axle style where each side is no longer acting independently. If better handling is the goal, the springs/struts should be changed first, THEN the roll bar.
This keeps the independent characteristics of suspension intact.
The ideal setup is the dynamic roll-bars BMW introduced in the E65 and which the E70 received. Insanely awesome comfortable smooth ride and perfectly flat cornering.
Plus, putting the system through the self-test makes it look like you're at a lowrider hydraulics demonstration