Expert: Don Berlan - 7/6/2007

Question
My 1995 E38 with 61k has a noise in the front suspension whenever the car is heat soaked. this seems to be the lower control arm bushings by the exhaust manifold. It shows up after I drive the car and then park briefly and then drive again. It sounds like a junk truck driving slowly down the road. Ever hear of this? not sure which bushing it is really. I bet its a common problem since it started on the left side a couple years ago ands the right followed a couple months later. Noise is totally absent in winter.

Answer
Check your front sway bar links.The ball and sockets are plastic and wear out.In the winter the temperatures are colder and the plastic moves less.If you think its the bushings,put it on a lift rack and loosen and retighten the mounting bolts.They need to be done loaded and not with the wheels hanging.