Loud clunk in front suspension

[Maverik259]

Haha this is great. And bummshit. Back when I was doing these all the time they didn't have the bushing separate. Had to always buy new arms. Great to see they not only have separate bushings but a whole new arm or rather bushing type to go in. Either way next time this happens I'm putting in power flex. Had to swap the passenger rear lower 5k miles back.

I'm averaging just over 30k miles per side and just hit 77k miles. Luckily wife drives it now and works from home mostly so she barely drives it during the week.

[ve39]

Hey fellas, I replaced the lower control arm (wishbone) due to a clunk on the car's right front. Unfortunately, that did not resolve the issue.

Is there any other part I can try replacing that's known for going bad?

[Ianx12]

i had what i think is the same problem, that many have been trying to fix. i solved the issue by replacing the sway bar after replacing every other part in the front suspension, what an ordeal every thing looked good but I replaced them anyway only to not fix the problem. even the sway bar bushings looked great but they were the problem all along

[M302_imola]

Originally Posted by Ianx12

i had what i think is the same problem, that many have been trying to fix. i solved the issue by replacing the sway bar after replacing every other part in the front suspension, what an ordeal every thing looked good but I replaced them anyway only to not fix the problem. even the sway bar bushings looked great but they were the problem all along

Front sway bar replacement is a big job from what I hear. Did you try just replacing the sway bar end links? I'm having supsension noise which I've somewhat narrowed down to sway bar end links. Gonna replace both front and rear. Maybe go ahead and change the rear sway bar bushings since they are easily accessible.

[Shorty1608]

Hi guys,

I get a knock when I go over bumps in the road or speed humps, what should I be checking first.. control arms, anti roll bar or something else?
Thanks

[tlow98]

Shocks, control arms, loose hardware, sway bar end links, bump stops

[M302_imola]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Shocks, control arms, loose hardware, sway bar end links, bump stops

Yep, I've already done control arms. About to do both front and rear sway bar end links this weekend.

[Vdesai0326]

Hey guys 2015 x5 msport. I’ve been having suspension noise in the front end. I knew the lower control arms had slight play but not enough to cause the noise it had, also when rolling and hitting the brakes thrust arms shifting due to the bushing being worn. I found that my front struts were the issue for the noise, not leaking but the rod that compresses was “shaking” causing the noise. I decided the replace all four corners and went with air ride suspension(I know it’s not a lot of peoples choice) noise(clunk/rattle) dissipated but still had a slight noise. Knowing my front lower arms had wear, I replaced both lower arms in the front and the sway bar links. Noise practically gone, but clunk/rattle on bumps slightly there but a few weeks went by and noise has gotten more persistent. Can anyone guide me at this point, I’m wondering if the front upper control arms can be the culprit as they are the only things left to replace now.
X5 has about 85k on it
Thank you for assisting me in advance

[Vdesai0326]

Anyone??

[_ObiJon]

Originally Posted by Vdesai0326

Anyone??

When I had a clunk in my front suspension, it was indeed the upper "thrust" arm. Specifically the ball joint. Once I removed it, I noticed there was zero tension indicating that it was completely worn out. I could move it with the tip on my finger it was so loose.

[Vdesai0326]

Originally Posted by _ObiJon

When I had a clunk in my front suspension, it was indeed the upper "thrust" arm. Specifically the ball joint. Once I removed it, I noticed there was zero tension indicating that it was completely worn out. I could move it with the tip on my finger it was so loose.

When you say upper thrust arm, do you mean forward lower control arm? The one I’m talking about is the upper control arm, the picture I attached

[_ObiJon]

Originally Posted by Vdesai0326

When you say upper thrust arm, do you mean forward lower control arm? The one I’m talking about is the upper control arm, the picture I attached

Sorry, I meant the upper of the 2 lower control arms. It was the source of all my problems.

[Vdesai0326]

Got it thank you, I replaced both Lowers, wonder if the ball joint went bad already

[_ObiJon]

Originally Posted by Vdesai0326

Got it thank you, I replaced both Lowers, wonder if the ball joint went bad already

I've read that some folks have only gotten ~12k miles out of moog/delphi arms before they started making noise again. I'm at 10k with moog arms and no issues so far.

[tlow98]

I’m at 25k on new lemforders and they make noise.

[mhenry]

Mine just started the noise again. Had them done via warranty work when I initially purchased the car back in 2019, and noise was instantly gone.
51200 kms at the time(replaced left and right front control arms, and left and right tension strut)
Noise back at 92500kms so got roughly 41,000 kms/25,500 miles on them

Just found the work order, part numbers below if that helps anyone. This was on my 2015 50i M-Sport.

Control arm parts used:

1 31-12-6-864-822 WISHBONE, BOTTOM,WI
1 31-12-6-864-821 WISHBONE, BOTTOM, W
2 31-12-6-780-480 COMBINATION NUT
4 33-30-6-787-062 COMBINATION NUT
2 07-11-9-906-898 HEXAGON SCREW WITH
2 07-12-9-908-011 HEXAGON SCREW WITH

Tension strut parts that were useD:

1 31-12-6-851-692 RIGHT TENSION STRUT
1 31-12-6-851-691 LEFT TENSION STRUT
2 33-32-6-760-668 SELF-LOCKING COLLAR
2 31-12-6-780-480 COMBINATION NUT
2 07-12-9-908-068 HEXAGON SCREW WITH 1

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by mhenry

Mine just started the noise again. Had them done via warranty work when I initially purchased the car back in 2019, and noise was instantly gone.
51200 kms at the time(replaced left and right front control arms, and left and right tension strut)
Noise back at 92500kms so got roughly 41,000 kms/25,500 miles on them

Just found the work order, part numbers below if that helps anyone. This was on my 2015 50i M-Sport.

Control arm parts used:

1 31-12-6-864-822 WISHBONE, BOTTOM,WI
1 31-12-6-864-821 WISHBONE, BOTTOM, W
2 31-12-6-780-480 COMBINATION NUT
4 33-30-6-787-062 COMBINATION NUT
2 07-11-9-906-898 HEXAGON SCREW WITH
2 07-12-9-908-011 HEXAGON SCREW WITH

Tension strut parts that were useD:

1 31-12-6-851-692 RIGHT TENSION STRUT
1 31-12-6-851-691 LEFT TENSION STRUT
2 33-32-6-760-668 SELF-LOCKING COLLAR
2 31-12-6-780-480 COMBINATION NUT
2 07-12-9-908-068 HEXAGON SCREW WITH 1

Wow, basically the same milage I got out of mine. Out of curiosity, does yours make the wooden-ship noise or the click? Mine gets worse when it rains for whatever reason…

[mhenry]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Wow, basically the same milage I got out of mine. Out of curiosity, does yours make the wooden-ship noise or the click? Mine gets worse when it rains for whatever reason…

Yeah basically the exact same! Definitely the wooden-ship noise - prob the best way to describe it as it's almost a 2-step of bumps you hear. Like ornaments in rolling around in a container almost is what I thought after putting up our tree this week lol. Definitely not a click though. Very easy to replicate as it happens on any slow incline/speed bump in road/parking lot. Any slow bump in general. Will have to have it checked again for control arm play.

[Honda]

So is the clunk in front suspension a common issue on F15 ? I havne't seen this on E70 platform

[Vdesai0326]

Originally Posted by Ianx12

i had what i think is the same problem, that many have been trying to fix. i solved the issue by replacing the sway bar after replacing every other part in the front suspension, what an ordeal every thing looked good but I replaced them anyway only to not fix the problem. even the sway bar bushings looked great but they were the problem all along

Is the noise on uneven surface/bumps? As if something’s loose/rattling? I’m also thinking it’s the front sway bar at this point, I already replaced the front links noise is still there. Other option is to remove the sway bar links and drive it to see if it makes the noise anymore.
If you don’t mind, how much did you pay for the repairs?

Thanks

Ianx12

[Ianx12]

The sway bar I got from the dealer around $400 at the time the repair I did my self I own a shop so I had a lift it took about 3hrs Not to bad of a job.