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Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 10:23 pm
by themoog
Our black X5 has a slight knocking coming from one of the front joints so before I take a look I thought I would put it out there for you guys to have a guess at which one it is.
To give you a clue- it knocks most notably on relatively un bumpy roads but where the car is sort of swaying side to side.
There is no prize for the winner by the way..

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 12:17 pm
by henrym3
On parts group one picture calls it a tension strut and another calls it a radius rod, but if it's knocking then the ball joint on the end. I wouldn't discount the ARB link arm. If I'm right, I get nothing, If I'm wrong, I get criticism, doesn't seem fair.

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 3:26 pm
by Alan Gunn
I was going to say drop links but changed my mind in case i am wrong  :D

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:01 am
by X5-D-Sport
I have this exact issue, with the MOT looming in 20 days.
A poke about under her revealed the bottom swivel on the track control arm..

part from ebay below

eBay item number:301734919455

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 11:24 pm
by Smeeagain
[quote="themoog"]
Our black X5 has a slight knocking coming from one of the front joints so before I take a look I thought I would put it out there for you guys to have a guess at which one it is.
To give you a clue- it knocks most notably on relatively un bumpy roads but where the car is sort of swaying side to side.
There is no prize for the winner by the way..
[/quote]

My guess is it is one of the front joints  ;)

Smee

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:38 pm
by marinaman
had this when we got ours,  so many joints, maybe all same age,  got a full kit of all joints rods etc of Ebay for both fronts from Germany £129    great price, fitted at local garage and no knocks,  ott maybe  but for that cost change em all then your done

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:46 pm
by henrym3
Smee, Is your reply what people refer to as "a broad stroke of the pen" :wave:

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 5:02 pm
by Smeeagain
[quote="henrym3"]
Smee, Is your reply what people refer to as "a broad stroke of the pen" :wave:
[/quote].

Perhaps, but nonetheless, Im fairly sure you'll find I'm right .... :)

Smee

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 7:47 pm
by themoog
I havnt checked yet but I recon it could be the anti roll bar links. The way it knocks when the car rocks side to side etc is giving it away. That's my guess anyway..
Luckily I have a pair in the garage.
To be honest the car has got to nearly 80k (2003 MY So llow mileage ) and I would think all the suspension arms are a bit worn now. On my car I replaced everything last year and it feels tight in comparison. Mine had original components on until 140k.

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:23 pm
by henrym3
Haven't you fixed it yet, can't sleep at night wondering. You need to get your finger out and sort it :noexpression:

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 6:13 am
by themoog
I know- what a slacker... It won't be needed for the next few weeks as the boss is away so ill get on it then.

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:45 pm
by themoog
Just reviving this old post..
I finally got under the car today to check the joints at the front. The culprits are the lower rear track arms. Nearside is really bad. Ordered some online.
Ill replace them next week when she wont be using the car.
Did anyone guess (specifically) the correct component?
As a side note, i noticed the wear on the outside edge of one of the front tyres had accelerated in the past few months. The wife even said the car felt 'lose' so it must have been bad..

Re: Guess the worn ball joint..

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:34 pm
by themoog
Well that was a waste of money..gone and traded it in for a Range Rover sport. I've still got my X5 tho'..