Front Suspension rebuild

[RFaber]

Well, here are the pics (some) of my total redo of my X5's front suspension. I have to thank some of you here for the tooling ideas. I took an cv axle nut and ground it down to make a puller to pull the axle back into the hub, worked flawlessly!!
first pic is shot of the tools i used to "fabricate" my axle puller. i know i missed all the removal stuff, but i think that the removal parts have been covered by other posters a fair bit, so i was just adding the "new" stuff.
second pic is my puller in action, i used a small bar of 5/8 square stock to act as a bridge to pull against. i fabed up some pliers to act as an industrial snap ring pliers and to fit the grooves in the axle nut that i made up.
third one is my method of removing the front wheel bearing, using a large socket that fit the back of the bearing, (ironically it was an impact socket) the hub came out in a similar fashion.
I pounded it out quite easily, the first side came out cleanly, the hub only the bearing remained intact. the second the bearing split apart about half way off) hence pic number four, the method i used to pull off the bearing off the hub,
the fifth pic is my ball joint box, wondering what this means!! lol, so i put on my overalls, turned my hat sideways and grabbed a really large wrench. didnt feel any different so i carried on!
i took a vice off my bench, put in two ball joint sleeves, and managed to push out the tension strut bushing in a couple herculean twists of the handle! (an 8 foot bar allowed me to feel like a greek superhero for a moment!!) i used a buddies shop press to push in the new bushings. (dont forget to align the arrows with the marks on the tension rods!!! and yes, that is ice on the ground!!)
pressed in the wheel bearings in the press too. and all was good!

this was my epic weekend with my X5 now she drives like a dream

[audiophool]

Nice work. I had lots of fun doing a full R&R of our '04's front end.

And I know you're kidding about the box, but they're trying to say for pro use only I suppose.

[RFaber]

Guess I'm a pro now eh ma!!!
The ball joint was the easiest part to re and re!! Hate to look on the bottom of a box and see I need 4dudes in overalls and wrenches!! Lol

[audiophool]

Yup. Trial by X5 suspension.

I'm not looking forward to the adventure of doing the back. One of the upper arms has about a half inch of play...

[Ricky Bobby]

The wishbone arm? Those should be easy to replace on the rear, but the lower ball joint can be a pain, UNLESS you use the special tool to R&R it.

[RFaber]

I am looking into doing the rear suspension as well, I suspect i should be able to tackle the re and re of the ball joints with my C Clamp press and various sized press tubes. Its those pesky Sub frame bushings that i am concerned about!!! any one have a line on the specialty extractor tool thats required to pull the old ones out and press the new ones in without removing the entire rear subframe??
I was thinking of fabricating my own, but if i can find one to "rent" or borrow for a week, then i may just go that route instead! I noticed that my rear camber is out a bit so I think its time to change the rear susp too!
The X5 has about 200,000 KM on it already, but still looks new and runs like a top! well maintained for the most part! just wearing out the usual suspension parts for a 10 yr old vehicle!!

[Ricky Bobby]

for the subframe bushing tool, contact www.bimmertoolrental.com they rent it for a week at a time for 75 bucks I think. you need the special tool for the subframe bushings, no question about it.

the Rear ball joints can be tricky without the special tool (it costs about 100 bucks to buy it), but no harm no foul if you want to try the tools you have first.

here is the rear ball joint tool for purchase if you want to buy it, if you do, and you use it, I would definitely consider splitting the cost and buying off you when done, as I will be doing mine in the next year

BMW Rear Ball Joint Bushing Tool E38 E39 E52 E53 E60 E61 E63 E64 E65 E66 E67 E70 | eBay


If your rear camber is out, guaranteed replacing the lower ball joint and the upper control arm (wishbone) will solve your issues. Usually the integral links aren't worn too bad, but they are cheap to replace while the ball joints are being done. And the guide links (toe adjustment, upper straight control arm) are usually good too but those are about 50 bucks a pop so if doing everything else yourself, just change them. Probably the easiest piece to change out.

hope that helps man

[Riggodeaux]

RFaber, you are one manly canuck! That is one full weekend of work for a shadetree mechanic, with ice on the ground and everything .... you have earned your 'pro' icon, for sure!

[X5SND]

Lol @ that box. Guess its trying to remind you you should wear a hat and coveralls so you don't get your clothes dirty, right?!

I wouldn't fear the rear subframe bushes too much....in my case they were the easiest part of my rear rebuild! That lower ball joint on was a different story... Having puller for those on hand will save you from throwing around a hefty amount of 'choice' words!