BMW E60/E61 front end clunking and creaking
E60 front end clunks over potholes – where do I start?
The most common sources of clunking are the anti-roll bar links and bushings, the control arm bushings, the strut top bearings and the track rod ends. A leaking or worn-out shock absorber also clunks lightly on an uneven road.
How do I find the clunking part?
Lift both front wheels off the ground and rock the wheels and the suspension by hand from underneath. Play in the track rod ends can go unnoticed at the annual inspection, so check them separately even if the fault is not visible.
Why does the front end clunk in frost even though the links have been replaced?
The anti-roll bar rubbers shrink and harden over time and clunk especially in the cold. Another cause can be a worn thread in the aluminium strut tower and anti-roll bar link mounting.
Should the control arm bushing be tightened with the car in the air?
The bushing end bolt is always tightened with the car standing on its own weight, so that the rubber is not left under tension. The ball joint end bolt can be tightened with the car in the air.