Newbee 2005 X5 Squeky rightfront paxside

[admranger]

Sway bar bushings should be checked too. I forgot about those!

[ORLOKFARMSX5]

Kirk,Bulk and all,

Hi Y'all. Finally had a chance to get under and checked all the places that was suggested to check. Every thing looks great. After doing all the checked I did the final recommendation to open the hood and checked to bounce the vehicle up and down a bit while daughter listens to see if she can isolate the exact location (or region). . With the engine off, the daughter sitting on the front bumper with a helmet on !!LOL!!! she started bouncing the vehicle... Low and behold....my hunch is right .I isolated the location.. It is coming from the right pax side strut... closer to the brake calipers and the wheel. That said . Can some one please let me know if a DIY can do this task with out special tools. Do I need to replace the whole assembly or just the assembly . I will be in the forum doing a research on how to DIY Front struts.I would like to thank everybody for all their inputs and suggestions. Love the forum and love y"all...

Willie

[ORLOKFARMSX5]

Question to the forum;Can i re-grease or replace the upper strut bearing without taking the strut out...Thank You all..

[Bulk]

So if it's close to the wheel which one is it from this diagram? - it's quite easy to replace any one or all of these struts although I recommend to replace in opposite side pairs.

Originally Posted by ORLOKFARMSX5

Question to the forum;Can i re-grease or replace the upper strut bearing without taking the strut out...Thank You all..

If you're talking about replacing the top of the strut components shown herethen you should be able to do it by remoing the strut completely.

You'll have to disconnect the brake calipers, wishbone, tension strut and Sway bar link. Then you'll need a 36mm socket and a vey long strong breaker bar to remove the axle nut so that you can remove the strut from the drive shaft Then you can undo the bolts holding the strut on from inside the pillar and drop it down to remove.

Remember that if you undo the strut and wishbone bolts and axle nut that they need to be replaced with new parts. Also remember that the wishbone bolt has to be tightened to its final torque setting with the vehicle on the ground and weight on the wheels.

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[ORLOKFARMSX5]

Bulk,

I think it is more on the top strut component..#6 I think the bearing went bad.Because when I turn the wheel to the right while on the ground it squeks. When I jack up the car and take the pressure off the front wheels and turn the wheels to the right and left it doe not squek. Now the question I have iswhen I do the bounce test bouncing the vehicle up and down it also squeks. Will that bearing squek if I do a up and down motion on the vehicle. I know it is coming from the front pax side. If I have to replace partson the Frnt axle support,wishbone/tension strut it will be item #6 and #10. What is your recomendation.
Thank You

[Bulk]

I can't guarantee that if you replace the wishbone and tension strut and their ball joints that it'll fix it however how long has it been since it was done. I suspect it would be something to do with the lower suspension, have you done a visual inspection of the ball joints? Are the boots torn?

You really have a couple of options.

1. Get in and use a mechanic's stethoscope or long screwdriver and pin point exactly what the issue is and then replace that part.

2. Replace the wishbone and tension strut and ball both ball joints and their bolts on both sides (don't just do one side) and hope that it rectifies the problem. You'll need a special tool to remove the ball joints and remember to tighten down the wishbones with the vehicles weight completely on the wheels (no jacks or stands). While you're in there consider replacing the CV boots, tie rods and sway links, a little extra work and money but if you're planning on having the car a while and you want to know your daughter is safe then you basically cover everything on the front suspension and won't have to worry about it again for a long time.

[bcredliner]

Since your daughter takes the car to school away from home, I feel sure you want it fixed right so she doesn't have any trouble. I don't know your level of DIY expertise, if you have the tools you will need or how long before it is back school time. I don't know your budget either.

That said, If I think I have a suspension noise pinpointed, because sound on metal parts travels to other areas, I often get a second opinion. Doesn't usually cost or cost that much. That procedure has saved me time and money more than once. I use a stethoscope and still have been wrong. The moving suspension parts have very similar life cycles. The sound you are hearing may be the first indication it is time to rebuild the suspension.

However, the other side of the coin is that it could also be a premature failure or something as simple as a sway bar link or a loose bolt. That's why I make sure what is wrong with a second opinion from a BMW specialist before buying parts or taking things apart.

The forum is always very helpful but as you can see there will be several different opinions as to what is wrong and what to do about it. Doesn't mean any of the opinions are wrong but since no one is there with you, even those positive what is wrong can be still be wrong.

Also, each time you replace a suspension part, more likely than not you will need to have your X re-aligned. If you replace all worn parts at once you do an alignment only once. You also save the time and $$$ to tear it down multiple times.

In short, I suggest you gather the input here and see what a second opinion verifies.

[Bulk]

Well said

[ORLOKFARMSX5]

Thank You all for all your response.I sure do appreciate every one one them. I have till thursday before she goes back to school. I am hoping after work today, I might be able to take it to an independent mechanic and ask his second opinion.
Again Thank You all for all your input.

Willie