Alignmnet needed after front bushing replacement?
 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone.

I recently replaced bushings 7 and 11 in the diagram below, which took care of a few clunks I was hearing:

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Frnt axle support,wishbone/tension strut

I removed the arms that these bushings are inserted into, took them to a machine shop to have the old ones pressed out and the new ones pressed in, and put them back on the X5 (yes, I torqued the bolts with the weight of the vehicle on the tires). I don't see why an alignment would be necessary, because I didn't move anything that could shift the camber or toe, but I seem to remember hearing that an alignment is advisable after a bushing replacement. What's the consensus on this? If it's that an alignment is needed, why? Thanks in advance.

The deformation of the new bushing versus the old bushing could be enough to have an alignment. You don't know if the last alignment was done on old bushings or new bushings. By the time the tires show any type of wear pattern it would be too late to save the tires. With the cost of replacement tires it would be cheaper to do an alignment now.

Thanks for the reply. On the advice of the mechanic who did the pre-purchase inspection when we bought the X5 4-1/2 years ago, I had an alignment done after replacing the bushings back then. So, the alignment was done with new bushings, which are the same brand (Meyle) as I used on this most recent replacement. So, it seems that the alignment was done with as close to the exact same configuration as I have now as possible. Of course, things have probably shifted over the years, so an alignment probably wouldn't be a bad idea, but the tires are wearing perfectly evenly, so it probably isn't urgent.

Is it possible to adjust anything other than toe on these vehicles? I know that on our E46, toe is about all that can be adjusted. If so, it makes for a very simple alignment. And contrary to popular belief, it's toe, not camber, that impacts the inner-vs-outer wear rate on tires.

After 4 1/2 years getting an alignment done is cheap insurance. Other components can have worn / will have worn. Realigning it will bring back into spec and save tires, better gas mileage (if really out) and improve driving feel.

The place I bring my cars will usually check the alignment for either free or minimal cost. If they need to adjust then they charge me.

Agreed. However, the tires are wearing extremely evenly, so it the alignment is probably in pretty good shape. Still, it is cheap insurance, as you say.