Shot Struts gives you a dizzy feeling???

LeiZ · #1 06-23-2014, 11:17 AM

Not sure if this is related.

My 01' E53 is still on original coil & struts. Yes, you heard it right, 13 years old.

(How about telling you my battery is still on original as well.

)

This Sat I just went on for a 200 miles trip to Bronx Zoo, and when I got back, I CAN'T stand straight.

I know the struts are pretty much shot and it gives you a little bouncing feeling in the very end. But can this be related to my dizziness? (Or just my eye glass need replacing? )

Anyway, suggestion is appreciated.

X5SND · #2 06-23-2014, 11:30 AM

Lay off the wobbly pops.

LeiZ · #3 06-23-2014, 11:32 AM

Ya, time to get rid of it. The thing is, I JUST did the alignment last week!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5SND

Lay off the wobbly pops.

TiAgX5 · #4 06-23-2014, 12:41 PM

How many miles are on the OE shocks/springs?

LeiZ · #5 06-23-2014, 01:36 PM

141,695 (just went out to check the odometer).

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

How many miles are on the OE shocks/springs?

Dudewanarace · #6 06-23-2014, 02:26 PM

You know, I'm at 140K on my 01 4.4i sport and I am interested in the overall opinion on this also.

I recently took a 500 mile trip with bunch of tools in the back. The weight certainly makes for a better ride. Not that I ever get dizzy, but.. In the back of my mind I wonder what new struts would do for it.

LeiZ · #7 06-23-2014, 02:49 PM

There you go. Good to know another one in the same boat.

Report back here if you hear anything new. I just went out to test all 4 corners. Surprisingly, they're ALL pretty rigid. HOWEVER, when I push it on the side, it'll give me a shimmy rocking feeling pretty strong - the "left-right" shaking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudewanarace

You know, I'm at 140K on my 01 4.4i sport and I am interested in the overall opinion on this also.

I recently took a 500 mile trip with bunch of tools in the back. The weight certainly makes for a better ride. Not that I ever get dizzy, but.. In the back of my mind I wonder what new struts would do for it.

admranger · #8 06-24-2014, 01:01 AM

Here's the deal, shocks will help with 'porpoising', but my guess is there's more than just shocks/struts at play here.

I just replaced them on my '05 4.4i sport and I get a weird 'wiggle' feeling from the rear. In the extreme, it might make me seasick (though I'm mostly immune from that). I'm betting subframe bushings or ball joints allowing the rear end to move somewhat independently. Given no abnormal tire wear, I'm guessing subframe bushings in my case.

BTW: your shocks/struts are well and truly toast. Replacement time.

Dudewanarace · #9 06-25-2014, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by admranger

BTW: your shocks/struts are well and truly toast. Replacement time.

Well, I'm not sure I agree. A bad strut doesn't dampen the spring. I can jump up and down on the hitch in an attempt to excite a spring type of bounce. But, it just doesn't happen. One rebound and the car has stopped. I see no signs there is a lack of dampening. Now, I know what a bad strut feels like. I have replaced two full sets on my 207K+ E39.

I've done the front control arms some time ago, and it aligns well every time so I don't suspect any major suspension issues. Rear air works fine.

So, has anyone with experience and 'high miles' installed new struts and found a noticeable improvement? If so, what mileage? It would be nice if someone could compare with the sport package. Having driving both, the sport is waaaay more stiff than the non-sport X5.

Thanks

admranger · #10 06-28-2014, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudewanarace

Well, I'm not sure I agree. A bad strut doesn't dampen the spring. I can jump up and down on the hitch in an attempt to excite a spring type of bounce. But, it just doesn't happen. One rebound and the car has stopped. I see no signs there is a lack of dampening. Now, I know what a bad strut feels like. I have replaced two full sets on my 207K+ E39.

I've done the front control arms some time ago, and it aligns well every time so I don't suspect any major suspension issues. Rear air works fine.

So, has anyone with experience and 'high miles' installed new struts and found a noticeable improvement? If so, what mileage? It would be nice if someone could compare with the sport package. Having driving both, the sport is waaaay more stiff than the non-sport X5.

Thanks

The bounce test doesn't work very well until the shocks are completely gone...

The rears are better than the fronts. My rears were still 'decent' when my fronts were completely dead. 88k miles. I felt a 'noticeable improvement', but I've been a track monkey for 20 years, 10 of them racing so my butt-dyno may be more fully developed.