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Front drop links......

Discuss the problems with your X5 (E53).
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Gegs88
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Front drop links......

Post by Gegs88 » Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:23 pm

Heres a head scratcher for you all...
Picked the car up friday from the garage, took it on a 60 mile journey to our static in yorkshire.
On the way up it developed a bad knock on the front end. Stopped and crawled underneath and found both front drop link ball joints had popped out of their sockets.
I have never had this happen before but i suppose its lucky that it has as the drop links are 2 different makes. I've ordered a heavy duty pair but just wondering if any one else has had both fail at once?
E53 4.4i sport x5

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X5Sport
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by X5Sport » Wed Aug 03, 2016 6:38 pm

Very bad maintenance or someone not correctly fitting replacements!
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Gegs88
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by Gegs88 » Wed Aug 03, 2016 6:44 pm

Not correctly fitted was my first thought as the position they are in makes them look they have been twisted to make the bottom balls pop out. The links look offset about 30° which looks like its putting a hell of a strain on them. Ill get a couple of pics when i fit the new ones ;)
E53 4.4i sport x5

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ianst0028
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by ianst0028 » Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:12 pm

I've seen this when fitted with an impact gun with the suspension in the air
puts too much stress on the balljoint and eventually gives in
not covered by warranty by the manufactures
X5 e53 3.0 2002 with LPG

Gegs88
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by Gegs88 » Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:08 pm

New ones arrived today so ill get them slung on tomorrow while it's supposed to be nice. Ill see how these look when fitted.
E53 4.4i sport x5

Gegs88
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by Gegs88 » Sat Aug 06, 2016 4:13 pm

So mystery solved........ some right bellend has managed to fit the drop links wrong handed, god knows how they didn't notice as i tried fitting one wrong and its near impossible.

Cars a lot quieter and a lot more planted on the road now :))
E53 4.4i sport x5

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X5Sport
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by X5Sport » Sat Aug 06, 2016 4:33 pm

Doh! 
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ianst0028
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by ianst0028 » Sat Aug 06, 2016 5:09 pm

wow that takes a special kinda stupid
X5 e53 3.0 2002 with LPG

Gegs88
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Re: Front drop links......

Post by Gegs88 » Sat Aug 06, 2016 7:00 pm

Your telling me........
Jobs over the next week include a full underside check to see what else has been "repaired" :-[
E53 4.4i sport x5

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