What is this Noise? (Youtube Video)

[alexfife]

Hi Guys,

I'm hoping you can help me here. I have a 2001 X5, 119K.

There is a loud pitched groan-squeal when turning left, and when beginning to accelerate and over bumps. The noise just started a couple of days ago as intermittent and now it's pretty constant (and loud)

From what I've been able to research is it looks like it may be the sway bar or lower control arm or perhaps the bushings, but I'm hoping you can help me diagnose.

Video posted here, kind of hard to hear with the background noise but maybe one of the experts here will know. 2001 BMW X5 Squeaking Noise Front Drivers Side - YouTube

Thanks in advance for any help!

Alex in Atlanta.

[pezho405]

Its either your ball joint or brakes.. thats what it sounds on this one guys x5 that came to the shop. Try to step on the brake all the way and then turn wheel?


Also its REALLY BAD TO turn the wheel to lock and hear the pump work

[alexfife]

I don't think it's the breaks but I could be wrong. I recently replaced the front pads about 2 months ago. (And used the DIY on here! Thx XOutpost!)

I tried turning it with my foot on the brakes and it still made the noise. So I guess it's the ball joint.

Any other feedback would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[diorodriguez]

IMO it sounds like a P/S fluid resevoir is very low. check fliud level,leak, P/S hoses and add if needed and see if noise will go away.from what i can see in the video look like u have evidence of leak on the ground. Ball joint doesnt make that kind of noise neither your sway bar links.

[diorodriguez]

it could be your rack & pinion is going out. whats the mileage on the vihicle? i hope this will help u a bit. also brakes doesnt not make that type of noise especially when the vehicle is not moving.

[alexfife]

Dio, Thanks for the reply. That was my first thought, I topped off the PS fluid this AM, it was a little low. Still was making the noise after the top off. I will check the hoses as well.

[alexfife]

Mileage is 119K.

[davintosh]

I had a squeak like that on my e28 528e; it was the cheap sway bar links that the PO had put on a year earlier. The boots on the ball joints had deteriorated and allowed the ball joints to go bad. Same thing could be happening here. To see if that's the problem, it's best to raise the front end and put a hand on each of the joints while a helper turns the steering wheel. You'll feel the vibration making the squeak.

See #7 in the diagram below.



Pretty easy to replace, just make sure you get a quality component. (Autohaus AZ has Lemfoerders for about $26 each)

[alexfife]

Good stuff. Thanks Davintosh. That would be friggin awesome if it's indeed the sway bar making the noise. It can't hurt to replace that anyway.

[pezho405]

Thanks guys i also never thought about the sway bar link cause mine is making some noise as well, ill take a look at mine