DIY: X5 Suspension Refresh

[wcs531]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The X5 has a double wishbone front suspension which will be atypical for most BMW people. It's more complicated to remove.

Start with the big bolt I'm pointing to here which is in the bottom wishbone. Fully remove the bolt

Am I missing something with the bolt at the bottom of the wishbone? It will not clear the tension struts no matter what orientation I have the steering wheel in?
Also why does this bolt have to come out if the only other bolt (which attaches the wishbone to the strut) comes off as well?


Picture taken from underneath showing the bolt in question:

[SYT_Shadow]

I'm pretty sure I removed more bolts than absolutely necessary. If you don't have to, don't

[wcs531]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I'm pretty sure I removed more bolts than absolutely necessary. If you don't have to, don't

Thanks for the quick reply. I will give it a try with leaving that bolt in at the wishbone.

[StewtheBassman]

Originally Posted by wcs531

Thanks for the quick reply. I will give it a try with leaving that bolt in at the wishbone.

How did that work out?

[wcs531]

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

How did that work out?

Sorry didnt see this and never did get around to it until this past weekend- decided to wait for struts which were backordered forever. Finally got around to it this weekend.

I don't know if its possible to remove the struts while leaving the strut mount bolted to the lower control arm. It might be but would be worried about having to push down the whole carrier assembly down too much and damaging other components.

As far as that bolt I couldnt remove, it seems a tech at the dealership (where the previous owner took it) installed the bolts in the wrong direction. ISTA specifically calls for the bolts to go in a specific way (with the nut in between the control arm and tension strut). Luckily I was just doing a full tension strut and control arm refresh so I just had to make sure to do the tension struts first so I could remove that control arm/strut support bolt.

[argento]

I did remove that bolt and Strut Holder, but only b/c ISTA recommended and my bolt was in the correct orientation. It seemed much easier with Strut Holder removed. If you output shaft is correctly aligned then you can get max drop and then maybe it's not needed. If I find myself back in there I'll take a look.

FWIW I did a long winded DIY when I upgraded to lowering springs. See thread link below, pg.10, Post #220, there's a PDF link at the bottom.

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=28001474

[robnitro]

Thanks for this technique... however I had to use spring compressors in putting in my Monroe OE reflex shocks as they had approx 1.5 inch more travel than the stock sachs. Without compressing, it was impossible to get the bottom of the shock into the receiver.

[bpratticus]

Working on mine this weekend. Thanks!