DIY: Lower Control Arm/Wishbone Replacement

[9mmkungfu]

Have any of you thought about using the F85 control arms? Wondering if it's anything like the M3 control arm upgrade for the non M cars.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by 9mmkungfu

Have any of you thought about using the F85 control arms? Wondering if it's anything like the M3 control arm upgrade for the non M cars.

Ya it's been discussed. And based on the price difference I would say they are different but so far no proof or experience.

[BimmerTy]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

Front end specialist said everything looked good. They torqued everything down correctly but front suspension is still creaking while driving. Doesn't seem to be related with going over bumps. This wasn't happening before I had the control arms replaced. Actually had no noises at all - just replaced these due to dealer recommendation after my last service. Bringing it to dealer for a free diagnostic tomorrow and will bring my SA a bottle of wine.

BMW tech did an alignment and put it on a lift to check out the control arm work. He said it all looked good - besides an axle boot that is split and throwing grease on the suspension. Said it likely happened when Indy shop was working on the control arms.

Dealer wanted $700-$750 just to replace the boot and that's with employee pricing my SA was able to work out (bottle of wine helped out). The boot itself is cheap but it's labor intensive to take everything apart. My Indy is gonna look into replacing just the boot or replacing the entire right front axle. -would alignment be required again?

Good news is the the clunk/creaking noises are gone!

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

BMW tech did an alignment and put it on a lift to check out the control arm work. He said it all looked good - besides an axle boot that is split and throwing grease on the suspension. Said it likely happened when Indy shop was working on the control arms.

Dealer wanted $700-$750 just to replace the boot and that's with employee pricing my SA was able to work out (bottle of wine helped out). The boot itself is cheap but it's labor intensive to take everything apart. My Indy is gonna look into replacing just the boot or replacing the entire right front axle. -would alignment be required again?

Good news is the the clunk/creaking noises are gone!

Yes an alignment is technically required after any work to suspension components. With that said. I had an alignment done after I did my lower wish bones and new lower springs and it was all still in alignment.

[Doberman16]

Great write up! I'll be doing this soon...

Maverik259 what did the dealer charge you for the alignment?

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Doberman16

Great write up! I'll be doing this soon...

Maverik259 what did the dealer charge you for the alignment?

$150 or $250. Can't recall. I have the active steering so it's more for me.

[Gtz1wickedest]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

BMW tech did an alignment and put it on a lift to check out the control arm work. He said it all looked good - besides an axle boot that is split and throwing grease on the suspension. Said it likely happened when Indy shop was working on the control arms.

Dealer wanted $700-$750 just to replace the boot and that's with employee pricing my SA was able to work out (bottle of wine helped out). The boot itself is cheap but it's labor intensive to take everything apart. My Indy is gonna look into replacing just the boot or replacing the entire right front axle. -would alignment be required again?

Good news is the the clunk/creaking noises are gone!

What did you change for the creak and clunk noise to stop? my right side is creaking and clunking at the moment I ordered the control arm with the bushing and stabilizer bar is there anything else that can be clunking?

[BimmerTy]

Originally Posted by Gtz1wickedest

What did you change for the creak and clunk noise to stop? my right side is creaking and clunking at the moment I ordered the control arm with the bushing and stabilizer bar is there anything else that can be clunking?

Bad news - I noticed the creaking is back and intermittent. I have no idea what causes it. It's almost every other time I get in to drive it and it starts to creak/clunk until it warms up. Even then it still can happen. It's been in the shop for two days as my Indy replaced the front right axle. Getting it back later today.. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Gtz1wickedest]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

Bad news - I noticed the creaking is back and intermittent. I have no idea what causes it. It's almost every other time I get in to drive it and it starts to creak/clunk until it warms up. Even then it still can happen. It's been in the shop for two days as my Indy replaced the front right axle. Getting it back later today.. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Oh damn that sucks keep us posted!

[Gtz1wickedest]

I replaced the control arm today and upon inspection the ball joint was shot as well not sure how it went but so far no more creaking and knocking as of right now.

[Xstar]

Originally Posted by bmwx1sq

Do you still have the old lower control arm? If so can you measure the size of the bushings? I m trying to see if we can use polyurethane ones.

Powerflex now makes F15 front control arm bushings.

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/pr...s-bushing-3967
https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/pr...s-bushing-3968

If replacing control arms, I don't know why you wouldn't use Powerflex bushings since they help improve handling without adverse affects to ride qualty and have a lifetime warranty.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Xstar

Powerflex now makes F15 front control arm bushings.

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/pr...s-bushing-3967
https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/pr...s-bushing-3968

If replacing control arms, I don't know why you wouldn't use Powerflex bushings since they help improve handling without adverse affects to ride qualty and have a lifetime warranty.

Now we just need a diy or someone pulling the arms and swapping the bushings!

[BimmerTy]

Originally Posted by Gtz1wickedest

What did you change for the creak and clunk noise to stop? my right side is creaking and clunking at the moment I ordered the control arm with the bushing and stabilizer bar is there anything else that can be clunking?

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

Bad news - I noticed the creaking is back and intermittent. I have no idea what causes it. It's almost every other time I get in to drive it and it starts to creak/clunk until it warms up. Even then it still can happen. It's been in the shop for two days as my Indy replaced the front right axle. Getting it back later today.. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Oh damn that sucks keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Gtz1wickedest

Oh damn that sucks keep us posted!

Front right axle replaced - shop charged me nothing - good for them as they have now kept my future business.

Still have the creaking/clunking on the front left. It sounds like something is loose - even though BMW AND the Indy shop said everything looked good. I even had my wife coast down our street while I walked alongside it to try to pinpoint the noise. Almost sounds as if it's coming from the wheel.. At this point I have no idea but it's killing me every time time I hop behind the wheel.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

Front right axle replaced - shop charged me nothing - good for them as they have now kept my future business.

Still have the creaking/clunking on the front left. It sounds like something is loose - even though BMW AND the Indy shop said everything looked good. I even had my wife coast down our street while I walked alongside it to try to pinpoint the noise. Almost sounds as if it's coming from the wheel.. At this point I have no idea but it's killing me every time time I hop behind the wheel.

Dang they replaced the whole axle?! Have you changed the wishbone in the left? Weird the dealer says there's nothing wrong. Do they hear the noise when you took it to them?

[BimmerTy]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Dang they replaced the whole axle?! Have you changed the wishbone in the left? Weird the dealer says there's nothing wrong. Do they hear the noise when you took it to them?

Whole axle is right. Labor to take everything apart to get to the boot was ridiculous, and my Indy shop is a man down - so I guess they value their time more right now than writing off a replacement part.
When I brought it to the dealer they couldn't recreate it.. which I don't know how they couldn't. I really should've rode along with my SA and/or technician. Anyways - I'm afraid to bring it back at this point and have to shell close to another $1k. I would DIY, but I just don't have the space. No garage..

I guess I'm hoping that it may go away at some point. Will see what happens after a few weeks of driving. Still confused as to how this started happening only after upper control arms were replaced.

[HydroStream6]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

Front right axle replaced - shop charged me nothing - good for them as they have now kept my future business.

Still have the creaking/clunking on the front left. It sounds like something is loose - even though BMW AND the Indy shop said everything looked good. I even had my wife coast down our street while I walked alongside it to try to pinpoint the noise. Almost sounds as if it's coming from the wheel.. At this point I have no idea but it's killing me every time time I hop behind the wheel.

I have the same noise. Seems to do it over speed bumps but also it changes when I put it in forward and reverse. Just sitting idle but changing from forward to reverse changes the noise. So definitely something suspension or engine mount related. It's getting really annoying.

[BimmerTy]

-STATUS UPDATE-


X5 was at BMW for 2 days. I did a ride along with the shop foreman who has been working on nailing down the creaking noise on the driver's side. He loosed everything and then torqued it back down. He put the "ears" on different parts to try to identify where it is coming from. He has an idea but not totally sure, so suggested a few ways we can approach this. One of the replacement control arms seems to have more movement than the passenger side, possibly a defective bushing? I'm trying to source a replacement, which will hopefully be covered under warranty and he said he wouldn't charge me labor on replacing it.

I want to say this- he has been awesome and genuinely cares. I went to pick up the X5 yesterday at 5:50PM and he says: "Do you have a few minutes? I can put on the lift and show you what I've been trying to nail down." Spent about a half hour showing me his thoughts, where he put the mic's, etc. He also loves the muffler delete - says it sounds very similar to an F85.

Taking a look while it's on the lift, my Indy MUTILATED some of the suspension parts. Reused self locking nuts. Took a steel hammer to the aluminum knuckle (big No No), Looks like they removed the driver's size axle for some reason? Anyways - I mentioned the SIB on the lower control arms. I'm 19K miles out of warranty but only 2 months over so my thought is to see if BMWNA might be willing to cover some of the cost since the quote I received is $1,400 just to replace them. He also recommended replacing the wishbone. I'm wondering if we should start with the SIB control arms or the wishbone?

Does anyone have experience or recommendations on writing to BMWNA? Does the dealer take care of this? I'm not really sure where to start.

Almost forgot: Driving home last night - NO creaking! WTF? Went out to dinner with the wife and on the way home I noticed the creaking starting to return. It's nowhere as prominent as before I brought it in on Wednesday. Driving into work this morning was also not too bad, but it was there - I am afraid it is going to get worse though. Is it possible that something could be loosening up while driving?

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

-STATUS UPDATE-


X5 was at BMW for 2 days. I did a ride along with the shop foreman who has been working on nailing down the creaking noise on the driver's side. He loosed everything and then torqued it back down. He put the "ears" on different parts to try to identify where it is coming from. He has an idea but not totally sure, so suggested a few ways we can approach this. One of the replacement control arms seems to have more movement than the passenger side, possibly a defective bushing? I'm trying to source a replacement, which will hopefully be covered under warranty and he said he wouldn't charge me labor on replacing it.

I want to say this- he has been awesome and genuinely cares. I went to pick up the X5 yesterday at 5:50PM and he says: "Do you have a few minutes? I can put on the lift and show you what I've been trying to nail down." Spent about a half hour showing me his thoughts, where he put the mic's, etc. He also loves the muffler delete - says it sounds very similar to an F85.

Taking a look while it's on the lift, my Indy MUTILATED some of the suspension parts. Reused self locking nuts. Took a steel hammer to the aluminum knuckle (big No No), Looks like they removed the driver's size axle for some reason? Anyways - I mentioned the SIB on the lower control arms. I'm 19K miles out of warranty but only 2 months over so my thought is to see if BMWNA might be willing to cover some of the cost since the quote I received is $1,400 just to replace them. He also recommended replacing the wishbone. I'm wondering if we should start with the SIB control arms or the wishbone?

Does anyone have experience or recommendations on writing to BMWNA? Does the dealer take care of this? I'm not really sure where to start.

Almost forgot: Driving home last night - NO creaking! WTF? Went out to dinner with the wife and on the way home I noticed the creaking starting to return. It's nowhere as prominent as before I brought it in on Wednesday. Driving into work this morning was also not too bad, but it was there - I am afraid it is going to get worse though. Is it possible that something could be loosening up while driving?

If you're gonna start with something I would start with the lower rear control arm. They're notorious for failing. Hence the sib. The upper wishbone isn't under a lot of stress so doubt that's your problem but if bmw tech recommends it then up to you.

[BimmerTy]

Driver side lower control arm and thrust arm replaced and creaking is gone! Shout to to Jeremy at Richmond BMW!

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by BimmerTy

Driver side lower control arm and thrust arm replaced and creaking is gone! Shout to to Jeremy at Richmond BMW!

Is thrust arm just another word for control arm?

[JWK170]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Is thrust arm just another word for control arm?

Does anyone have their paperwork that notes the SIB for the lower control arms.

I have been to my dealer 3 times for the clunking noise.

First time they said they tightened everything down and found no issues.

I went in again a week or two later and this time they replaced the upper control bushings.

I took it in again today and they said nothing is wrong. They can't get the car to make the noise.

Luckily I have videos that record the noise, but since they can't replicate it while at the dealer, they won't do anything. They continue to tell me there is no SIB on the lowers. I shared the number I found in some other posts on here and they said it was not a valid SIB #.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by JWK170

Does anyone have their paperwork that notes the SIB for the lower control arms.

I have been to my dealer 3 times for the clunking noise.

First time they said they tightened everything down and found no issues.

I went in again a week or two later and this time they replaced the upper control bushings.

I took it in again today and they said nothing is wrong. They can't get the car to make the noise.

Luckily I have videos that record the noise, but since they can't replicate it while at the dealer, they won't do anything. They continue to tell me there is no SIB on the lowers. I shared the number I found in some other posts on here and they said it was not a valid SIB #.

Any help would be appreciated.

Are you test driving it with them? You should be. Find a place near the dealer where you can get the noise to occur and then specifically take the tech there on the test drive.