BMW X5 E53 Rear Control Arms and Rear Alignment Angles
X5 E53 tyres wear at the rear - can the rear control arms be the cause?
Yes. Loose upper control arms let the hub move in toe angle, which wears the tyre. The play does not always show when the wheel hangs in the air; the control arms must be loaded correctly for the play under driving conditions to show.
Which parts are replaced to get the rear angles within adjustment?
Replace both upper control arms, the squeaky joint, the integral link and the inner bushings of the lower control arm. After this the rear angles were brought into adjustment with a single four-wheel alignment. The eccentric bolt can be removed at the same time, since an alignment is done anyway.
What is done on an air-suspended X5 before replacing the rear control arms?
The air is let out before the work. Remove the air suspension fuse at the compressor, release the pressures and disconnect the air hose on both sides; the air bag does not need to be removed. Also disconnect the battery terminal so that the compressor does not start to fill the bags in the middle of the work.
What else should be checked while the rear suspension is open?
The handbrake shoes, because their surfaces can be loose or broken. Removing the squeaky joint requires a puller and press tool, a sledgehammer is not enough, and the bolts of the parts can be very tight.