Help Understanding Rear Suspension Bushings

[Best4x4xFAR]

So I took the X5 in for an Alignment Check. It's way out from where it was four months ago when last done, Front Right toe is now NEG .2, right rear NEG .1, camber at -1.8.

Truck hasn't hit any bad potholes, or been driven on rough roads. Kind of concerned its so far out after four months of essentially highway driving.

But the issue now is that they can't adjust the rear, saying the bushings are seized and won't move. They took me out and the tech showed me as he turned the wrench on the rear lower adjustment, the busing just flexes.

First it seems odd that they were not seized 4 months ago. There is little if any corrosion on the underside of this truck, and its been summer. And of course their parts diagrams show the entire lower arm needs to be replaced at about $750 in parts per side.

I see FCP shows replacement bushings, but the RealOEM diagram doesn't, so I guess BMW doesn't offer the bushing separate.

But as I look at the options, it looks like that bushing is pressed into the arm, so I guess they are saying the Eccentric Bolt is frozen in the inner part of the bushing?

If so, wondering if there is another way to address it, some way to replace the eccentric bolt?

She is coming up on 100K miles, and I'm sure it would be best to replace all the suspension bushings, ball joints, etc. But its not really an expense I want to take on at the moment, but I don't want to eat the tires either..

Thoughts or suggestions?

[andrewwynn]

#21 & 16 are the usual suspects for random toe changes in the rear. After that the rose bushing which you can change with a mini press is the next likely suspect. At the low mileage of you car even those are already unlikely. The bushing you marked is Powerball unlikely. If the eccentric is frozen, good old un-sticking is at hand not replace the whole part just the bolt perhaps and some patience.

[ard]

I dealt with replacing them on my E39 years ago. On the E39 it is one part- #10 is the arm plus two bushes already pressed in.


Ultimately found replacement bushes - not BMW... PITA to source as there is no part number reference.

[Best4x4xFAR]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

#21 & 16 are the usual suspects for random toe changes in the rear. After that the rose bushing which you can change with a mini press is the next likely suspect. At the low mileage of you car even those are already unlikely. The bushing you marked is Powerball unlikely. If the eccentric is frozen, good old un-sticking is at hand not replace the whole part just the bolt perhaps and some patience.

So I'm not off my rocker in thinking that the Eccentric bolts can be 'persuaded out' and replaced then?

What service life should I expect from the suspension bushings? I have to admit I have noticed recently some squeaking from the back end when going over speed bumps, but not really at any other time, and the car doesn't feel like it wanders excessively on the freeway, so maybe the bushings are fine

Originally Posted by ard

I dealt with replacing them on my E39 years ago. On the E39 it is one part- #10 is the arm plus two bushes already pressed in.

Ultimately found replacement bushes - not BMW... PITA to source as there is no part number reference.

Same appears to be true here, doesn't look like BMW offers the bushings as replacements, but FCP Euro shows replacements available from Lemforder..

[TriX5]

If the eccentric bolts are truly stuck inside the bushings, then they will need to be cut and the bushings replaced anyway. The replacement bushings are available on Ebay. FCP is also a good supplier.

Also, at 100k the upper control arms are nearing the end of the line, especially the forward ones. The ball joints (2) are definitely toast at 100k.

Since it seems you are not DIY'ing this, do yourself a favor and get it all done in one sitting. Going piecemeal will simply add to the cost. But I would recommend against doing this at a dealer, the cost will easily be double or more.

Nevertheless, the results of this job are awesome. I did all of this stuff on my E70 at 130k and that was well beyond the due date. The E70 is a heavy vehicle and roads around Maryland are hardly autobahn quality.... Once done, it transformed my car.