Time: 20 Minutes
Skill level: Beginner
Special Tools: None!
My 2008 5 recently came off warranty and of course developed the dreaded squeaky squeaky rear suspension. Since there is a TSB on it and it basically shows you how to fix it, I decided to tackle it.
This is really a very easy fix. You can literally have it done in less time than it takes to drive it to the Stealership.
What you need:
1. 14mm Socket
2. Some grease (TSB calls for lithium grease, but I used M1 Synthetic Grease)
If you're skinny, you probably can do this without jacking up the rear end. I'm not skinny, so I put the rear end up on ramps.
The first thing to to do is to locate the the rear sway bar bushings. There are two of them - one on each side. You'll want to do one side at a time to keep things pretty much lined up for re-installation.
Start by loosening the two bolts that hold the bushing in place. This is the hardest part of the entire job. They're on there pretty good.
Once you have removed the two bolts, pull the bushing bracket off. You might need a screwdriver to pop it off, but mine came off by hand.
You will now be able to pull the rubber bushing off. It's split on the back side, so it's just a matter of rotating it and slipping it off of the swaybar.
Now, you'll want to clean off any debris that may be on the sway bar and certainly the inside of the bushing. Then put a coat of grease on the inside of the bushing.
Now reinstall the bushing. When re-installing the bushing bracket, make sure the arrow points up.
Re-install the bolts. BTW, I put a little anti-sieze on the bolts just in case I have to do this job again in a couple of years. Tighten the bolts to 30-40 ftlbs. It should look something like this.
Now repeat on the other side. Total job should take about 20 min or less. The best part is having a quiet rear suspension again!
Hope this helps some of you.
Skill level: Beginner
Special Tools: None!
My 2008 5 recently came off warranty and of course developed the dreaded squeaky squeaky rear suspension. Since there is a TSB on it and it basically shows you how to fix it, I decided to tackle it.
This is really a very easy fix. You can literally have it done in less time than it takes to drive it to the Stealership.
What you need:
1. 14mm Socket
2. Some grease (TSB calls for lithium grease, but I used M1 Synthetic Grease)
If you're skinny, you probably can do this without jacking up the rear end. I'm not skinny, so I put the rear end up on ramps.
The first thing to to do is to locate the the rear sway bar bushings. There are two of them - one on each side. You'll want to do one side at a time to keep things pretty much lined up for re-installation.
Start by loosening the two bolts that hold the bushing in place. This is the hardest part of the entire job. They're on there pretty good.
Once you have removed the two bolts, pull the bushing bracket off. You might need a screwdriver to pop it off, but mine came off by hand.
You will now be able to pull the rubber bushing off. It's split on the back side, so it's just a matter of rotating it and slipping it off of the swaybar.
Now, you'll want to clean off any debris that may be on the sway bar and certainly the inside of the bushing. Then put a coat of grease on the inside of the bushing.
Now reinstall the bushing. When re-installing the bushing bracket, make sure the arrow points up.
Re-install the bolts. BTW, I put a little anti-sieze on the bolts just in case I have to do this job again in a couple of years. Tighten the bolts to 30-40 ftlbs. It should look something like this.
Now repeat on the other side. Total job should take about 20 min or less. The best part is having a quiet rear suspension again!
Hope this helps some of you.
