Question for my Experts here

[ralphy4321]

HI

So my car has been making some clunking side on the driver side front or rear, I took it to a shop and said i need the following. Now I am no mechanic, but how hard is this to do? I saw a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d50fRU8Pcj8 and the guy made it look easy. ECSTuning sells the part cheaper. Is this as easy as the guy in youtube made it seem? any help to save me some cash would be appreciated. I have a 2009 x5 4.8 with 102K Miles. I was thinking of trading in but a. dont think I would get much for it and b. would probably spend more on a new car than getting this one fixed. Also the car when I hit reverse I see a lot of white smoke, someone said it could be the valve stem gasket.


SWAY BAR LINKS REAR
Labor 001 Work Requested - DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE - Customer
notes clunking from left side of vehicle while driving
over bumps. Please inspect and advise.
0.00
Labor 001 Work Requested - STABILIZER LINK - Replace - Rear
Suspension
136.50
Part 33 55 6 857 626 Sway Bar Link-Rear 2.00 69.13 138.26
test
Job Total: 274.76
CONTROL ARMS ALIGNMENT
Labor 001 Work Requested - CONTROL ARM - Replace - Front
Suspension - Lower, Rear Control Arm - Both Sides -
Does Not Include: Wheel Alignment.
254.10
Part 31 12 6 771 893 Control Arm-Front Left Lower Front - Lower/Left 1.00 385.51 385.51
Part 31 12 6 771 894 Control Arm-Front Right Lower Front - Lower/Right 1.00 385.51 385.51
Misc ALIGNMENT Work Requested - PERFORM FOUR WHEEL
ALIGNMENT
1.00 125.00 125.00
test
Job Total: 1,150.12

[ard]

Im not sure I understand the question....


are you asking about doing it yourself?

or are you complaining about the expense of auto repairs in NYC???


sway bar links and lower control arm bushings are PRECISELY the most common wear parts on a front suspension.




Id buy the parts at fcpeuro, Lemforder most likely. $320 for parts (just a wag), shipped. 2 hr job if youve done it before.


Then drop by a tire shop for a $99 alignment. To ard specs.

[ralphy4321]

Hi. Sorry I was asking if you think a newbie with the tools can do it themselves. Like how hard is this from a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being the hardest.

[Thecastle]

Having done exactly this repair, I'd say. ITs probably a 5 for a newbie, and maybe a 2 for a pro.....

Yes your valve steam seals sound bad, get some AT-205 and see if that stops the smoking, I had great luck with mine. https://www.amazon.com/d/Automotive-...eywords=at-205

The issue is removing the ball joint, use a sledge hammer....

The other issue is you need a lot of upper body strength as the frame bolts are over 100/lbft and unless you have a lift you can only use short wrenchs to loose the bolts, and they are hard to break.

After doing it 1x on my 2008, I would say; buy the arms yourself. Have an independant or any suspension shop really (its not a skilled repair) do the front lower control arms and do the sways yourself. The sways are pretty easy.

[ralphy4321]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Having done exactly this repair, I'd say. ITs probably a 5 for a newbie, and maybe a 2 for a pro.....

Yes your valve steam seals sound bad, get some AT-205 and see if that stops the smoking, I had great luck with mine. https://www.amazon.com/d/Automotive-...eywords=at-205

The issue is removing the ball joint, use a sledge hammer....

The other issue is you need a lot of upper body strength as the frame bolts are over 100/lbft and unless you have a lift you can only use short wrenchs to loose the bolts, and they are hard to break.

After doing it 1x on my 2008, I would say; buy the arms yourself. Have an independant or any suspension shop really (its not a skilled repair) do the front lower control arms and do the sways yourself. The sways are pretty easy.

Thanks, I order the AT 205. I will look at ordering the control arms and doing it myself as well.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Having done exactly this repair, I'd say. ITs probably a 5 for a newbie, and maybe a 2 for a pro.....

Yeah, Id agree. for the sway bar ends and LCAs. (not valve stem seals, thats a 13-14 on the newbie 1-10 scale)


Ive done a ton of that stuff on the floor, prior to having a lift. No big deal IMO. Although I am in CA, so rust isnt allowed here...

[ralphy4321]

Thank You ARD for all the help

Originally Posted by ard

Yeah, Id agree. for the sway bar ends and LCAs. (not valve stem seals, thats a 13-14 on the newbie 1-10 scale)


Ive done a ton of that stuff on the floor, prior to having a lift. No big deal IMO. Although I am in CA, so rust isnt allowed here...

[ralphy4321]

Thanks TheCASTLE

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Having done exactly this repair, I'd say. ITs probably a 5 for a newbie, and maybe a 2 for a pro.....

Yes your valve steam seals sound bad, get some AT-205 and see if that stops the smoking, I had great luck with mine. https://www.amazon.com/d/Automotive-...eywords=at-205

The issue is removing the ball joint, use a sledge hammer....

The other issue is you need a lot of upper body strength as the frame bolts are over 100/lbft and unless you have a lift you can only use short wrenchs to loose the bolts, and they are hard to break.

After doing it 1x on my 2008, I would say; buy the arms yourself. Have an independant or any suspension shop really (its not a skilled repair) do the front lower control arms and do the sways yourself. The sways are pretty easy.

[ralphy4321]

HI, Is there a difference in control ARMS between the OEM for over $300 each and any other brand from under $200?

[ralphy4321]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Having done exactly this repair, I'd say. ITs probably a 5 for a newbie, and maybe a 2 for a pro.....

Yes your valve steam seals sound bad, get some AT-205 and see if that stops the smoking, I had great luck with mine. https://www.amazon.com/d/Automotive-...eywords=at-205

The issue is removing the ball joint, use a sledge hammer....

The other issue is you need a lot of upper body strength as the frame bolts are over 100/lbft and unless you have a lift you can only use short wrenchs to loose the bolts, and they are hard to break.

After doing it 1x on my 2008, I would say; buy the arms yourself. Have an independant or any suspension shop really (its not a skilled repair) do the front lower control arms and do the sways yourself. The sways are pretty easy.

HI, You said to use the At-205. How much do I put in there? this is for a 4.8 2009 Car. And do I put it in the same place I would put the 5w Castrol Oil?. Thanks