X-drive fluid change and front control arms DIY

[4.8isX5]

This weekend tackled my front control arms as the bushings were bad and drain/refilled the xdrive fluid.

Parts:

2 front arms - $82 shipped
1qt x-drive fluid - $47 dealer

X-drive fluid is real simple, get car up high on 4 jackstands so you have room, make sure its level in the air as this is to make sure you properly fill the fluid back in. Not level will cause either more or less fluid getting in then there should.

1st. Loosen fill plug first to make sure that comes off before you drain.

16mm bolt.

2. At least on 4.8is you need a flat wrench for the drain plug. Also 16mm but i couldnt find it, 5/8 is snug enough without worrying about messing the bolt up- these arent tightened to hard anyways.

Make sure you have a oil drain pan and a pump to pump fluid into the fill hole.

I recommend to change your fluids, small peice of mind for better performance of t-case and good fluid in there.

Mine is 06 at 77.5k and fluid was dark as charcoal.

Pump new fluid in till starts leaking out and tighten bolt. Done!

Says you need new copper sealing washers but you dont. I always just flip mine and you can use them 2 times easily. If im still driving it 150-160k when i do next xdrive change then i will change them, no need for it now.



Next was front control arms. Simple job but please get the tool im going to recommend to save yourself about 2 hours and make this a 25min job a wheel.

Jack car up remove wheel. Undo bottom nut of arm, 22mm socket.

Undo top bolt (where bushing is), nut side is 21mm, bolt head 22.

Now comes in the part, normally with this method i have gotten everything to slip off/come undone on all previous jobs. This sucker didnt budge.

Hammering/airhammering/torching/freeze off spray, pickle fork, etc. Nope not even a budge.


Tool you need is a ball joint seperator. $20 at harbor freight, grease the bolt threads for it to last.


Pretty obvious how to use it, will put pic of tool below. Thread nut in and put a impact gun to it. Popped off within 15 sec.

Install new arm reverse of removal. You may need to take a few small bolts off the plastic underbody and fender liners to get more room to work on the top bolt by bushing.

Theres also a adaption reset you can do with GT1. What i found here is, i drove it after changing it first and it seems to adapt itself, when you drive your own car everyday you feel the little changes, and it did for the better. I then reset it with gt1 and really no difference, it is made to adapt so i believe it adatped to the new fluid, but gt1 it if you insist.


Heres my video- difference between good and bad control arms

http://youtu.be/ojTkDPgWlgE

All this typed from my iphone so may be parts missing lol, onto some pics

Under car-

Drain bolt location-

Fill plug-

Old fluid-

New arms-

Xdrive fluid white bottle-

Lower bolt you need to slip this off-

Tool to get to get that apart-

That should cover it all, any questions just ask -- and enjoy.