Installed new control arm bushings. Powerflex polyurethane

[turboawd]

120k miles on my x5 and my old bushings still looked ok, but there was just too much movement. Always had been. You could kick the front tire and visually see it move back and forth. Felt like the front flexed too much when braking. And how does that affect steering geometry when braking? I had outer edge tire wear. See pic of old bushing and how little connecting rubber there is with outer shell. A garbage design if you ask me. Mine weren't even torn and still moved a lot. I tore it when pressing it out.
So I took the old arms and installed powerflex bushings.

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/ca...5-x5-2013-1943

Removal of the arms was fairly easy. Remove the plastic underbody panels. 18mm and 21mm bolts to remove on arms. You don't need to remove the tierod or axle shaft. Definitely should use a impact to remove and re-tightening the ball joint nuts (27mm 12pt socket) otherwise they'll spin on you. Use the arm bolt nut to protect threads on ball joint when you pound them out. Few hits with a small sledge hammer.

You need a press to install the bushings on the curved arms. I have a cheap harbor freight press. The straight arm ones can be put in by hand after removing the old one. You can press out the old bushings or drill the rubber out and get center pin out. Then use a Sawzall or hack saw to cut outer shell to collapse it. then knock out. Pressing in the outer sleeves was easy, but pressing in the polyurethane bushing was very difficult. Bushing kept slipping and turning. I grinded the bushing edge a bit to give it more an angle to get in. Took a while and many attempts but got them in.

Oh and get a grease needle and squirt some grease in the ball joints while you have them out. Real easy to do. There's a gap between boot and tapered shaft. Even with all those miles my ball joints had no play.
Front end feels more firm. Tire don't move now when I kick it.

[devlinsky]

Years and years ago I installed Powerflex bushings on my Subaru Outback and the results were great. What might be important - as far as I remembers, those bushings required some grease as they tend to produce an unpleasant noise on uneven surfaces.
I wonder how those bushings affect the ride quality on F15 with air suspension, it's a very tempting mod, to be honest.

What's your ride quality impressions, especially regarding the handling and comfort? And new noises, especially from the cabin?

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by devlinsky

Years and years ago I installed Powerflex bushings on my Subaru Outback and the results were great. What might be important - as far as I remembers, those bushings required some grease as they tend to produce an unpleasant noise on uneven surfaces.
I wonder how those bushings affect the ride quality on F15 with air suspension, it's a very tempting mod, to be honest.

What's your ride quality impressions, especially regarding the handling and comfort? And new noises, especially from the cabin?

The bushings come with grease to lube them.
I just installed them today and went for one ride, so don't have a lot of feedback. But feels more firm. No rocking back and forth when coming to a fast stop. Front wheels don't feel as bouncy hitting bumps. But you do feel the bumps slightly more. Nothing drastic.

[devlinsky]

Firm feeling is expected, bouncy is not wanted Your bushing were already shot, right? What's your mileage and do you drive a lot on rough roads?
Regarding the grease - you need to lube them periodically otherwise they will become noisy.

[CatalinP]

Have you read the first line?

[devlinsky]

Oooops, my bad.

[fromkrypton]

Wow thanks for the write up. I just placed my order for the bushings that you installed.

What are your thoughts on the Rear Subframe Front Bushing Inserts and Sway Bar Mount Bushings?

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by fromkrypton

Wow thanks for the write up. I just placed my order for the bushings that you installed.

What are your thoughts on the Rear Subframe Front Bushing Inserts and Sway Bar Mount Bushings?

Polyurethane replacements aren't available for those..
Edit: they are

[fromkrypton]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Polyurethane replacements aren't available for those.

Oh ok I assumed that the the F15 used the same E70 inserts.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by fromkrypton

Oh ok I assumed that the the F15 used the same E70 inserts.

You're right. I just based my opinion reading the description on their page. But if you click on the other bushings, they do fit the f15.

[fromkrypton]

I wonder if the inserts are worth it.

[Xstar]

Originally Posted by fromkrypton

Wow thanks for the write up. I just placed my order for the bushings that you installed.

What are your thoughts on the Rear Subframe Front Bushing Inserts and Sway Bar Mount Bushings?

F15 rear subframe is same as E70. The Powerflex rear subframe inserts made a big improvement in reducing wander and improve throttle response in my 2016 xDrive M sport w/ air suspension, 19" wheels on non-runflats. The ride is actually smoother too. Took me less than 3 hours. This E39 rear subframe insert youtube video helped a lot as the suspension is very similar though a few more panels have to be loosened on the F15.

Powerflex sway bar mount bushings improve handling and as well smooths out the (air-suspension) ride comfort. The OEM front sway bar bushing were a total pain to remove as the rubber had become fully seized on the sway bar (only 40K mi). Improved steering response but there's sometimes an oversteer feel, I suppose due to the strong power-steering; not good in slippery conditions. For safety, I would not recommend Powerflex front sway bar bushings without some additional modifications, i.e. lowering (maybe okay w/ DHP). Absolutely get the rear bar bushings.

[Maverik259]

Wish they made these for the front lower rear control arms considering they are what break down every 30k miles. Cheaper than $800 every couple years on a whole new arm.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Wish they made these for the front lower rear control arms considering they are what break down every 30k miles. Cheaper than $800 every couple years on a whole new arm.

what do you mean? My posts above show poly bushings for both arms on the front.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by turboawd

what do you mean? My posts above show poly bushings for both arms on the front.

You right. Didn't see the middle joint lol.

[DenBel]

How is the ride comfort compared to stock?

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by DenBel

How is the ride comfort compared to stock?

Maybe slightly firmer feel. It's not a drastic difference honestly. But I like how these flex way less than the stock rubber, especially under braking. I should have less tire wear too.

[Jimboii]

Originally Posted by turboawd

120k miles on my x5 and my old bushings still looked ok, but there was just too much movement. Always had been. You could kick the front tire and visually see it move back and forth. Felt like the front flexed too much when braking. And how does that affect steering geometry when braking? I had outer edge tire wear. See pic of old bushing and how little connecting rubber there is with outer shell. A garbage design if you ask me. Mine weren't even torn and still moved a lot. I tore it when pressing it out.
So I took the old arms and installed powerflex bushings.

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/ca...5-x5-2013-1943

Removal of the arms was fairly easy. Remove the plastic underbody panels. 18mm and 21mm bolts to remove on arms. You don't need to remove the tierod or axle shaft. Definitely should use a impact to remove and re-tightening the ball joint nuts (27mm 12pt socket) otherwise they'll spin on you. Use the arm bolt nut to protect threads on ball joint when you pound them out. Few hits with a small sledge hammer.

You need a press to install the bushings on the curved arms. I have a cheap harbor freight press. The straight arm ones can be put in by hand after removing the old one. You can press out the old bushings or drill the rubber out and get center pin out. Then use a Sawzall or hack saw to cut outer shell to collapse it. then knock out. Pressing in the outer sleeves was easy, but pressing in the polyurethane bushing was very difficult. Bushing kept slipping and turning. I grinded the bushing edge a bit to give it more an angle to get in. Took a while and many attempts but got them in.

Oh and get a grease needle and squirt some grease in the ball joints while you have them out. Real easy to do. There's a gap between boot and tapered shaft. Even with all those miles my ball joints had no play.
Front end feels more firm. Tire don't move now when I kick it.

What arms are those on the right? I've only replaced the ones on the left but I feel like the steering isn't as tight as I like them to be. I feel like it's still a bit "loose" feeling.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by Jimboii

What arms are those on the right? I've only replaced the ones on the left but I feel like the steering isn't as tight as I like them to be. I feel like it's still a bit "loose" feeling.

Not sure what they're properly called.... Lower rear arm? But you can kinda see it mounted in the first pic. There's two lower control arms on each side. But usually the main culprit for noise and movement, is the big bushing on the forward control arm.

[M302_imola]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Not sure what they're properly called.... Lower rear arm? But you can kinda see it mounted in the first pic. There's two lower control arms on each side. But usually the main culprit for noise and movement, is the big bushing on the forward control arm.

You referring to the tensioner strut arm and bushing? I'm assuming you're not talking about the upper wishbone control arm.

[turboawd]

Originally Posted by M302_imola

You referring to the tensioner strut arm and bushing? I'm assuming you're not talking about the upper wishbone control arm.

I think so. Lol
I think the other guy was asking what the arms on the right in the picture above are.

[Silververtu]

Replace all the bushings up front with PowerFlex and the steering feel improves a little bit. These new bushings also reduce floating feel on highway speed. There is slightly more front tire noise coming into the cabin (maybe it's just my brain).

I also got the Powerflex subframe mount bushing but the shop wanted to charge 4-6 hours. After changing the front bushings, the shop actually didn't wanna do the subframe mount by calling me to pick up the car and said schedule the subframe bushing install at another time.

FYI, the car is at 79.6k miles.