It is about time to rebuild the front suspension. If you are going to do the work yourself I suggest replacing all usual worn parts while you are at it. I believe Davintosh rents a ball joint tool. If you intend to keep the X5 another 100k it is my opinion you should purchase OEM parts or OEM supplier parts. You will be happier with the ride and the durability.

Noticed black fluid coming out of front right tension strut bushing (drips on garage floor). Time to replace both left and right front bushings. Going with the recommended ECS Tuning Meyle HD bushings and appropriate ball joints.

My DIY question is: how difficult will it be to remove the ball joint assembly from the wheel hub after removing the two screws that hold the ball joint to the hub assembly? Any trick to getting it off (and then back on?)? Special tools? I looked for posts on this and could not find any.

Thanks for any insight. My X5 has 135,000 mi so I guess I'm lucky to get this much mileage out of these original bushings compared to other posts on this topic.

Short answer--the ball joints could be problematic if they are original like mine, 2003. I had to completely remove the steering knuckles in order pound out the balljoints from the top with a punch and a BFH. Tried every other easier methods; none worked. What a nightmare that job was.


I completely replaced, DIY with OEM parts, the front and parts of rear suspension. The front struts and rear shocks were gone, as well as the front control arm bushings (2nd set) suspension. Replaced with Meyle HD bushings (bushings only) and Sachs shocks and struts. I was surprise to see that my rear shocks (factory original) were Bilstein (with BMW logo) not Sachs.

Drives like new again.

Much easier and takes much less time to use a ball joint tool. Cost is about $60 on eBay or you can rent it from the above member.

Much easier to use a ball joint tool. Can purchase on eBay for about $60 or rent from the member I mentioned in previous post.

Yes, consider yourself very lucky. Bushings are a 3 year occurrence for me---and I'm only at 110k mi.