2002 4.6is suspension issue?
 

Hi, my 02 4.6is has a suspension issue. Whenever I first get to the car in the mornings and barely touch the steering wheel, there is a loud pop coming from underneath the car. This also happens when I pull into the driveway or parking lot when the car "flexes" as entering. I checked all of the suspension components and everything seems just fine. no play or noise when I move the wheel back and fourth when its up on the lift. What could it be??? :dunno:

Thanks!!

If you could have someone take a video outside of the car while you are getting it, may help pinpoint it.

Does it sound like metal hitting/popping type? It can be a loose sway bar link bolt. Itll cause that especially anytime it flexes over speed bumps, uneven driveway entry etc.

How many miles on the current suspension?

I checked all of the end links ect. and everything looked perfect and had no play whatsoever. The suspension has 135,000 miles on it.

At 135,000 miles on the existing suspension the problem could be any one of the bushings, ball joints, struts etc. in the front suspension. Somewhere around 100,000 miles is time to consider rebuilding the suspension due to wear. On the other hand, I don't recall ever hearing of a loud pop from suspension from just sitting down in the seat. As per 4.8isX5, a video of the sound as you get in your X5, should help.

It turned out to be the skid plate wasn't torqued to full spec.

That certainly helps the pocketbook!

Let's collaborate....

Personal Preference? or a Highly Recommended Preventive Maintenance?
And is it applicable to all E53's only or this spans to the rest (E53's, E70's and so on).

#1 Scenario of taking into consideration what is your vehicle worth and the current state (how does the vehicle perform). Likely, we will just tackle the failed item(s) as it goes. Repair to keep the vehicle on the road.

#2 If the person have the time and money, why not right?
A very expensive project (various bushings, link rod, tie rod, control arms, ball joints and etc..)

It's no more than a personal preference. It has been my experience that when one suspension component needs replacing other parts are well worn. While they were not critical to replace at the time they become the weakest link so I bite the bullet. When another part goes bad, quite often in just a few months, I have to do much the same teardown to replace those parts. The process is not all that difficult but it is time consuming, fairly heavy work and more time my X is out of service.

Plus, most suspension work means the vehicle will need to be re-aligned.

If your suspension is not clanging or banging and your vehicle will hold an in spec alignment you should be good replacing parts as they fail.

I didn't mean to imply the only safe, logical or highly recommended route is to do everything at once, it is not.

Life Cycles on E53s and E70s are about the same. I don't think they are much different with today's offerings. That said, lots of time parts defy the norm and are fine well beyond the 'normal' life. Other parts may be fine for another 100,000 miles--you never know.

Certainly, if you plan on selling the vehicle in a year or so, only replacing failed parts is very sensible and even if you do plan on driving it another 100,00 miles replacing parts as they fail is just fine.