Strut Clunk!!

[Kalevera]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the sway bar links weren't retorqued and they're jostling around whenever you go over a bump.

That, or the bushings are shot.

Gotta read BMWe34.net -- it would've probably solved this issue completely.

best, whit

[prasad]

Lowell ..I saw your PDF posting on strut removal ....Good stuff..... Where did you find the box wench (22mm) that you used to hold the top nut while holding the shaft with a hex set ?

Thx,
Prasad

[stu1]

There's a very good chance this is a knackered upper control arm bush which is allowing the control arm to hit the steering rod leading to light knocking sounds (esp under braking). On mine I can see where the steering rod has been hitting the upper control arm.

Stu.

[632 Regal]

There's a very good chance this is a knackered upper control arm bush which is allowing the control arm to hit the steering rod leading to light knocking sounds (esp under braking). On mine I can see where the steering rod has been hitting the upper control arm.

Stu.

.

[prasad]

Cant feel it in steering wheel....

.

[Kalevera]

Hey Prasad.

I picked up a $5 chinese made 1' long box wrench at a local discount place. If you have a wal*mart around (and who doesn't?), I'm sure you can find one there as well. Box wrench = pipe wrench...same deal...same great tool.

I'm still thinking it's a loose sway bar link...I could be wrong, but I had the clunk-over-bumps for about two days after SLIGHTLY loosening one of the sway bar links prior to doing my sachs install.

I was SURE that I'd gone through a thrust arm bushing or something...but I got under the car and just started shaking things until I found the loose component...then felt really really stupid for forgetting to tighten it up the last time I was messing with it.

again, if you're getting a clunk, you should be able to reproduce it by putting the car up on jack stands and checking for play in the various components.

Good luck mate.

best, whit

[emw525E34]

Whit,

Thanks for the reminder on getting under the car and shaking drive compoents until you find the offending part. I must do that. That steering clunk when just pulling off is annoying. I dont get clunks going over bumps. Just the one when I pulled off the driveway or off a car park.

The PO used to have lowering springs which was restored to stock when I bought the car, so the springs were re-done. Thats where I should check first.

[prasad]

Thanks all....
I finally got a electric Kobalt impact wrench..Tightened the three nuts holding the strut housing at the bottom....Noice went away for some time but reappeared after some off road testing....Finally found that the nut on top of the bearing was loose by couple of threads....
No noise....but car runs stiff....May be I will change sway bar links some time soon....Any recommendations for the rear shocks ?
-Prasad

[Kalevera]

Prasad - depends on what you want -- performance or ride quality? I love my sachs kit, which has the boge turbo gases on the rear. Everybody and their moms like the koni's, although you have to do a lot of work to adjust them on the rears once they're in the car. Also, it seems like people use the bilstein sports on the rear with few complaints.

EMW - If you've got a clunk in the turns, best thing I can think of is to first check the steering box mounting bolts (from below...in the subframe). If they come loose, you'll get a clunk in low speed turns (check bmwe34.net for details)

best, whit

[Mobius]

EMW - If you've got a clunk in the turns, best thing I can think of is to first check the steering box mounting bolts (from below...in the subframe). If they come loose, you'll get a clunk in low speed turns (check bmwe34.net for details)

Steering box AND front subframe bolts. Tightening my subframe bolts just the tiniest bit cured my steering creak at low speeds.