E32 front end noises and their causes, 'clink', 'knock', etc

[shogun]

BMW E34 - E32 - E24 - E28 FRONT END NOISES

A lot of parts in the E34 can produce "clunk", "clink" and other "clank" noises. The trick is to check the cheapest parts first.
Check list from the more probable to the less.


Loose strut housing nut
If you changed your shocks, you may have a loose strut nut. Take a monkey wrench a tighten it. You don't need to remove the shock assembly, just jack up the side.


Sway bar links
Place you car on ramps or stands then shake the link and check for "clink" noise and play. You can also remove it and drive slowly over bump to see if the noise is still here.


Steering links
Shake the link for play. Check the ball joint.


How to check ball joints for play and noises
Did you check for play with the car on the jack stands? If yes, the joints may be still bad. You need to check with a large channel lock type pliers and the car at ride height, on ramps for example. If you can squeeze the joints top-to-bottom when they are in their normal position, they are finished. Time to replace the arm or ball joint.


Thrust arms (upper control arms)
Cause the infamous shimmy (50-60 Mph) and severely enhanced brake shimmy. If the bushings had not been tighten under load, they will be damaged. Check the bushings for cracks, jack up the front with the wheel on and shake the wheel to locate the noise.
Use a pray bar under the arm to check ball joint play (they "clunk" when worn).


Control arms (lower control arms)
Check the bushings for cracks, jack up the front with the wheel on and shake the wheel to locate the noise. If the bushings had not been tighten under load, they will be damaged. Use a pray bar under the arm to check ball joint play (they "clunk" when worn).


Strut bearings / shock mounts
BMW mecanics say that the front ones last for a long time. Lift the front of the car, shake the shock absorber for play.


Steering box mounting bolts
I had a vicious clunk in my front end during slow turns, mostly backing in and out of parking spaces. I tightened the large gland nut at the top of the strut insert, and replaced the sway bar links, but it made no difference. Finally I took it back to the guys who did the shocks and thrust arm bushings. They tightened the steering box mounting bolts, and the bolts that hold on the front subframe and it totally fixed the problem. (Information from J. Calhoun)

You can easily locate noises by placing a screw driver with the handle against your ear and the tip against the part to be checked.

If any of the ball joint boots are damaged, it is just a matter of time before the ball joint goes bad, change the part.


(copied from Bruno's site, link on my website below)

[SergeBMW]

Is it possible to tighten the steering box mounting bolts without removing the center tie rod? I have a clunking noise that I cannot find. The entire front end suspension was replaced by my good mechanic (I gave up on suspension work on my 735i) and he had rechecked everything for tightness and it all checked out fine. Im trying to find good images of the layout of those bolts, Johan and Seans page has some good info, but its hard to tell if it was before or after center tie rod removal.
At this point im thinking possibly loose steering box bolts or loose strut nut. It makes a considerable clunk when on half lock and applying brakes, such as when parking. You can hear it when coming to a straight stop as well, but not as hard. I feel it in the floor.

[shogun]

I had the same problem, under certain road conditions I could hear a clunk, tried a lot of things, then I I tested with a wrenching buddy, I turned the steering wheel and he watched the steering box and he could see it moving slightly. Re-tightened the steering box and that solved the problem. Is already some years back, do not remember well, but I did not remove a lot to re-tighten. The vertical one is accessible thru the hole in the front axle support from bottom. Here the pics from the page of Johan and Sean http://bmwe32.masscom.net/johan/stee...placement.html
Tightening torques for the steering box are here, 80 Nm and 110 Nm http://www.e32-schrauber.de/bmw/date...nkgetriebe.jpg
Other tightening torques front axles http://www.e32-schrauber.de/bmw/s-vorderachse.htm

[SergeBMW]

I checked the steering box and tightened the main bolt through the subframe, wasn't loose but it was not fully tightened either. I also tightened up the subframe bolts and anything related. Again nothing was noticably loose but after taking it out for a drive, no more clunking! Very strange. I am still getting a noticable squeak but much quieter. Squeek is heard when turning the wheel when the car is not level. I'm wondering if this may be strut bearing/bushing related. The car did sit for years

[shogun]

Difficult to find, How are the strut mounts? Tight and looking o.k.?

[SergeBMW]

Hard to say, they visually look ok but very different from the mounts ive seen online. The rubber portion seems to be pushing out like in this photo. Not sure if this is normal. I forgot to pop off the dust cap and push the car up and down while looking at it.

inv_013378_01.jpg