[HeartbreakerF80]

I installed Koni Special Active Shocks, Eibach lowering springs, and F80 bump stops on my F31.

Car drove like a dream for maybe 100 miles and then I started getting a very loud “clicking” sounds from the front of the car.

I took it to one shop and after they had the car for 2 days, they diagnosed it as a broken front-right steering knuckle and wheel bearing. They wanted $2500 so I wanted a second opinion.

Called another local BMW shop and told them the diagnosis. They said they can do the job for less than half price. I sent them the part numbers from the estimate from the other shop, they ordered parts, and they took the car.

Now shop #2 is saying there’s nothing wrong with either knuckle or wheel bearing whatsoever. They were able to fix the clicking on one side by removing and reinstalling the sway bar completely.

Now there is the same awful sound coming from the left side…

I’m assuming it’s only a matter of time before it comes back and is blaring from both sides.

Before I take it to a 3rd shop and pay for diagnosis AGAIN, I’m praying someone on the forums has experienced this before.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[B58 parts]

Without hearing the noise it's hard. Clicking is usually CV axles. Is your car all-wheel drive or not. We know you have a wagon with a nice front bumper.

Did you torque everything correctly. Loading the suspension etc. It could be the shock rod nuts in the shock mount bearings. My strut mount bearings went bad rather quickly after lowering for some reason and we're clunking. It could also be the sway bar end links since you lowered the car. There are adjustable sway bar end links you can get for this purpose.

Is there any play in the wheels if you shake them?

[alohasurftoad]

when you changed the konis, did you change the strut mounts(aka top hats)?

if you did not, it could be the bearing with in the strutmount.

[HeartbreakerF80]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

when you changed the konis, did you change the strut mounts(aka top hats)?

if you did not, it could be the bearing with in the strutmount.

I did yeah. Replaced top hats, gaskets, bump stops, even the hardware for the top hats.

[HeartbreakerF80]

Originally Posted by B58 parts

Without hearing the noise it's hard. Clicking is usually CV axles. Is your car all-wheel drive or not. We know you have a wagon with a nice front bumper.

Did you torque everything correctly. Loading the suspension etc. It could be the shock rod nuts in the shock mount bearings. My strut mount bearings went bad rather quickly after lowering for some reason and we're clunking. It could also be the sway bar end links since you lowered the car. There are adjustable sway bar end links you can get for this purpose.

Is there any play in the wheels if you shake them?

Yes xDrive. I don’t get the front bumper thing you’ll have to explain…

Yes I torqued everything to spec I THINK.

I will check the sway bar links. That’s a great idea. I lowered the car with the Eibachs because they are pretty moderate. Maybe I do need shorter sway bar links.

[mbanks21]

Sounds like sway bar endlinks. You may need to get shorter (or longer I forget which)

[Jacobuk1]

I changed my shocks, all torqued to spec. 3 weeks later get a knocking noise from the front end, ended up being the nyloc nut on top of strut had somehow backed off a bit.

[B58 parts]

Originally Posted by HeartbreakerF80

Yes xDrive. I don’t get the front bumper thing you’ll have to explain…

Yes I torqued everything to spec I THINK.

I will check the sway bar links. That’s a great idea. I lowered the car with the Eibachs because they are pretty moderate. Maybe I do need shorter sway bar links.

Your profile says e31 msport. Wagon with the nice front end. Knowing what driveline you have would help.

Clicking could be the front axles. More noticeable if you turn either direction. Lowering shouldn't hurt them. Using the f80 front control arms does as it changes the geometry and stresses them out. I've been lowered 50 some thousand miles just with coilovers and sway bar end links and the axles are fine

Also betting on the strut mount bearings shock nut. That's what happened to me I don't really know why. Then I used an impact to get it off and actually messed up the shock. I changed the top hats and also the shocks again and it's been fine ever since. It was a clunking noise though not a clicking. It could also be that anti-rattle clip on the brake caliper.

[HeartbreakerF80]

Thank you to everyone that posted on here. Sway bar links were the culprits.

I love all of you

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by HeartbreakerF80

Thank you to everyone that posted on here. Sway bar links were the culprits.

I love all of you

Nice to see the problem resolved. What was the actual solution?

[HeartbreakerF80]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Nice to see the problem resolved. What was the actual solution?

Honestly I could have probably gotten away with just tightening the sway bar link hardware but I read elsewhere that the nuts don’t last long in general.
So since the parts are really cheap I actually just replaced the links entirely and used fresh hardware.

[B58 parts]

It's pretty hard to do with the wheel on the ground of a lowered f30. I was barely able to reach in and I'm 6 ft. Someone 5'5 or so I don't think could reach around the wheel. Would need ramps. But it's a very satisfying feeling in the fingers when you find the point in the middle where the preload goes away.