Need advice and help

[Mflara420]

Here's the print out

[Lubehead]

I would take it to a front end shop. I can't understand how the numbers on the page can translate to replace the struts. Did a tech get under the car and inspect the front end components?

Seems to me that the free "alignment check" provided at the dealer check in is a revenue raising machine. A cursory view of the hardware used appeared to me to leave something to be desired in the manner with which it attaches to the wheel leaving questions, in my mind at least, as to the level of accuracy and repeatability.

[ZetaTre]

A strut is made from 2 components the spring that is the suspension mechanism (i.e. it supports the car) and the shock absorber.

I would assume that the sloppy technician meant the shock absorber has degraded.

Could you post a picture of your tires?

The shock absorber is normally not considered a part of the suspension and as such does not affect the STATIC alignment you get from an alignment rig. At least that's what I've always knew, but that may not apply to the geometry of the X5. In other words, it's tough to diagnose a bad shock from an alignment...

Have you inspected the various bushings and ball joints in the suspension?

For example I've recently replaced the bushing #6 in this diagram: it is filled with an hydraulic fluid so it's pretty easy to spot when it's damaged. Another person had them replaced and they are fairly common failure point:



Incidentally the suspension arm #5 is called "tension strut"... Perhaps the tech was not sloppy, but used the correct term and you mis-interpreted struts