front end clunks, what next?
 

so I've replaced front tension arms and control arms and while things tightened up a lot, I'm still getting big clunks over bumps.

where should I look next from your collective experience?

front sway bar links?

did you replace the ball joints on the tension arms?

replaced one of the balls joints for the tension arm, other appears fine.

front sway links look fine. I think I might try disconnecting them to see if clunks go away before I replace.

i'd do both of the ball joints if i were you arent they like 35 bucks apiece? I only ask because i just bought Febi control arms, Meyle HD thrust arms, and Febi ball joints as well.

My sway links were replaced by the PO, and I have new sway bar bushings.

I cant think of any other wear items for the front end besides CV joints but those dont really give a clunk?


What about strut mounts and bearings? Don't know if you have front air bags or not

the ball joints are cheap, but impossible to get the old ones out in most cases. I had to pay $100 labor to have a shop do mine (just one) and they said it was even a nightmare for them.

I was even thinking motor mounts possibly, I hear they are nightmare to swap also

One not yet mentioned......
Find a speed bump, go over diagonally; listen or feel for a clunk by your heels. If you can hear or feel something, your sway bar bushings are toast.

It’s worth checking the 4 sway-bar mount bolts, and while you’re at it check the remaining bolts that also mount the under-tray.
If the sway-bar mounts are loose and have been loose for a while you may need to replace the bushes.
I also had a similar clunking problem and replaced the sway bar links to discover it didn’t totally fix the problem.
After some further investigation I discovered a couple of the bolts that mount the sway-bar were loose along with a couple of the under-tray bolts. A friends X5 also had exactly the same problem recently. In both cases we didn’t need to replace the sway-bar mount bushes and tightening to bolts was sufficient to stop the clunking.

It's the sway bar end links. Check out my thread in attached link, part numbers and all. Let us know how things go! :thumbup:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ver-bumps.html

Keep in mind that these under tray bolts are one time use, (torque to yield). You might want to replace them, (nuts and bolts), if they were loose.

sway bar links are sounding possible... I think I made the amateur mistake of checking for play incorrectly. I'll go over them again later.

+1 on above posters' sway bar theories. I was amazed at how well the car transmitted worn links noise as a clunk. Try those before the associated bushings also; is easier.

My clunk was the sway bar links. Soon as I replaced them the noise went away!Attachment 56838

I had clunking over speed bumps and while quick braking. I had the front end Thrust Arm bushings replaced - clunking gone & front end is SUPER TIGHT :thumbup:

I inspected the end links again and one of them is shot while the other is mint. $17 shipped later, I have a new one on it's way from ebay.

mine is really bad right now, any big bump and it KNOCKS hard both sides. Scares the shit out of me. My links come in tomorrow, im praying thats the answer.

Anyone know the torque specs??

So they are like a dog bone with a nut on both ends, what is it that goes bad? What is the proper way to check? I have a slight clunk on the driver side and I asked the dealer to check during one of my visits and they said front end suspension is fine! I don't believe they looked thoroughly!

Just replaced the sway bar links and I am frustrated because I definitely just threw $70 down the drain.

They looked fine and they were. No difference in ride or feel.

The tension/thrust arm bushings are torn but the ball joint LOOKS fine. Car has 70k In CA weather. I believe these bushings are causing the play I feel when I jab the brakes. This I am not too worried about.

MY PROBLEM is an extremely hash clunking. The car is bottoming out, both sides(front only). Fast/sharp hard bumps. On the compression stroke(braking into a sharp bump, etc), it is a dampening problem.

Air ride is functioning fine works great, no errors. It literally feels like at a certain speed or harshness the dampening just gives way and the shock smashes into whatever is above it (for lack of better words). It sounds like the top of the strut.

I plan to order the bushing next but while I am I'm there I think I need to pull the strut and inspect.

Sounds like the strut mount is broken except I have air ride :-/

I really need help. Thanks

if you disconnect the thrust arms at the non-ball joint end you can then grab the arm and shake it around good to feel for any play in the ball joint. just be sure to torque them back up with the car on the ground when done.