creaky rear suspension airbags?

[jevansio]

I'm after a bit of help . My x5 has developed a very loud creak at the rear. I've had it up on a ramp and it totally sounds like it is coming from the airbag when I use a jack to raise the suspension. I released the pressure from the airbag and disconnected it from the suspension and the noise has gone. I know that rear ball joint is the most common source of creaking at the rear but my diagnosis is telling me it's the airbag. Before I go and order 2 can anyone whose been in the same predicament assure me that failing airbags can make that sound or am I on a red herring and it is the ball joint or another bush?

Any other advice on the issue is appreciated. Best jay

[jevansio]

Been trawling the internet and not found 1 occurance of an air spring making a creaking sound.  Is it possible that the only reason I hear the sound is the fully inflated air spring putting pressure on the ball joint, and once deflated the pressure on the joint is gone?  There didn't seem to be any noticable pay in the ball joint.

Also after a quick search I've found it's going to cost circa £300 to replace the air springs, and £30 to replace the ball joints.  Whatever is making the noise, I think the ball joints makes a more sensible choice?

Would any members who've bought the ball joint tool be willing to hire it 

Thanks

Jay

[davesavage257]

Hi Jay
I've read elsewhere on the forum that the only way to check the balljoint is to disconnect the air pipes from the air springs, as otherwise the pressure exerted masks the wear in the balljoints.
I think the balljoint will be your source of creaking.
Dave

Sent from my D5503 using Tapatalk

[jevansio]

Many thanks Dave, I'm defo doing the ball joint first and will report back if it fixes it

[Raj]

Hi Jay.

I personally think it might be the ball joints causing the creaking but worth standing in the side step and rocking it and have someone else listen underneath to try and pin point.

[jevansio]

Hey Raj, many thanks for the tool,

Yeah we've done allsorts to pinpoint the noise with both me rocking it, and then up on a ramp with the wheel off and a crowbar leavering various things, but the noise always seems to eminate from the air spring, or even move around depending on whether you listen from underneath/ontop/side etc. 

Also tried putting a bar on each suspension component with the other end on my ear to see if I could use the vibrations to locate it, but it always seemed as if it was coming from the lower half of the air spring.  Now that lower part of the spring is attached to the lower arm that the ball joint is in, so it is possible it's the ball joint emitting the noise and it's just travelling around. 

For £30 though I think I'd be mad to try replacing the springs first, when every man and his dog seems to think it's the ball joint?

[Nat]

Been there , seen that , got the t-shirt. Gteed it WONT be the airbag.

B A L L J O I N T ..............

You can poke all you like, you wint be able to replicate 2.2 tons leaning on the balljoint as tou go round a corner or over a bump with a crowbar and the suspension fully extended , which is not its normal position when it creaks.

Comon problem , had it on both my 4.4 and 4.8.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=33&fg=30

Tends to be parts number 6 or 11 , but could be 4 as well.

I replaced the lot every time, about £750.00 at the time ( was a few years ago )

Regards

Nat.

[jevansio]

Thanks Nat. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Best jay

[jevansio]

I've just checked that link Nat, I've bought a pair of rose joints (part no 2 on he diagram), would this be a common cause also or not?

[b20wht]

I had this problem and I to thought it sounded like the air spring so I to took the spring out and the creek went. But after a lot of messing around it turned out to be creaking from somewhere on bolt 21 (on the above diagram) I took that bolt out and greased between all the joints there and it stopped it and hasn't come back

[Steamyrotter]

The airspring actually loads the rose joints on the rear suspension.
this masks the play in the suspension components and is why you need to deflate the bags to properly check them.  Search on my posts as i liked to a youtube video about that.

Ref squeeky airbags..
It can happen.
I had it on my E39 touring.
There was some build up of gunk in the folds of the bag, where it turns over the bottom mounting block.  it creaked a bit and was very annoying.
had to keep cleaning it out as would return after a while.
the best cure I found for it was to sell the car...

[jevansio]

many thanks for the replies guys,

i'm now pretty convinced it's not the air spring from what you're all saying.  The creak seem soooo heavy, like a heavily loaded metal on metal.

I've started with buying a pair of rose joints and hired the tool off Raj to replace them.  I will gease the bolt and all other parts as I remove them, we'll take it from there after that

Jay

[Raj]

You should get the tool today or tomorrow latest. Hopefully it should be plain sailing and all sorted soon enough.

[jevansio]

Cheers Raj

Well guys the job is done and the creak is gone, massive thanks to Raj and everyone who commented on the thread.

The old ball joints were slack as ****, we were pretty sure as we were taking the out it was gonna solve it.  It's so nice to drive the x5 again without the creak, it's back to being like a new car again, after driving my Navara the x5 feels like riding on a cloud lol