How to Change Rear Shock Absorbers on BMW X5 E53
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for replacing the rear shock absorbers on a BMW X5 E53 (4.4 i) model. Always follow safety precautions and consult your vehicle's manual if unsure.
Applicable Models: BMW X5 (E53) 4.4 i
Note: The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.
Video Tutorial Available: ▶️ VIDEO TUTORIAL
Tools Required
- Wire brush
- WD-40 spray
- Brake cleaner
- Copper grease
- Combination spanner #19
- Combination spanner #21
- Drive socket #10
- Drive socket #21
- Wheel impact socket #17
- Ratchet wrench
- Flat Screwdriver
- Adjustable wrench
- Crow bar
- Hydraulic transmission jack
- Wheel chock
AUTODOC Recommendations
- Both shock absorbers of the rear suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
- The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock absorbers.
- All work should be done with the engine stopped.
- When lowering the transmission jack, do so smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
- After applying spray (e.g., WD-40), wait a few minutes.
Replacement Procedure
Step 1: Secure the Wheels
Secure the wheels with chocks. ?
Image Description: A car wheel is shown secured with chocks.
Step 2: Loosen Wheel Bolts
Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Image Description: A hand is shown using a wheel impact socket to loosen wheel bolts.
Step 3: Raise and Support the Car
Raise the rear of the car and secure it on sturdy supports.
Image Description: The rear of a car is shown raised and supported.
Step 4: Remove Wheel Bolts
Unscrew the wheel bolts.
Image Description: A hand is shown using an impact wrench to unscrew wheel bolts.
Step 5: Remove the Wheel
Remove the wheel.
Image Description: A hand is shown removing a car wheel.
Tip: To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 6: Clean Shock Absorber Fasteners
Clean the shock absorber fasteners using a wire brush and WD-40 spray.
Image Description: A wire brush and WD-40 spray are used to clean shock absorber fasteners.
Step 7: Unscrew Lower Fastener
Unscrew the lower fastener of the shock absorber. Use a combination spanner #21, a drive socket #21, and a ratchet wrench.
Image Description: A combination spanner, drive socket, and ratchet wrench are used to unscrew the lower shock absorber fastener.
Step 8: Remove Fastening Bolt
Remove the fastening bolt.
Image Description: A fastening bolt is shown being removed.
Step 9: Support Stub Axle
Support the stub axle using a hydraulic transmission jack. ⚙️
Image Description: A hydraulic transmission jack is shown supporting the stub axle.
Step 10: Detach Lower Shock Absorber Part
Detach the lower part of the shock absorber using a crowbar.
Image Description: A crowbar is used to detach the lower part of the shock absorber.
Step 11: Remove Support
Remove the support from under the stub axle.
Image Description: A support is shown being removed from under the stub axle.
Step 12: Lower the Car
Lower the car.
Image Description: The car is shown being lowered.
Step 13: Open Boot Lid
Open the boot lid.
Image Description: A hand is shown opening the car's boot lid.
Step 14: Remove Boot Lining
Remove the boot front lower lining.
Image Description: A hand is shown removing the boot front lower lining.
Step 15: Unscrew Protective Cover Bolts
Unscrew the fixing bolts of the protective cover. Use a drive socket #10 and a ratchet wrench.
Image Description: A drive socket and ratchet wrench are used to unscrew bolts on a protective cover.
Step 16: Remove Boot Side Lining Cover
Remove the cover of the boot side lining.
Image Description: A hand is shown removing a boot side lining cover.
Step 17: Fold Down Rear Seats
Fold down the backrests of the rear seats.
Image Description: Hands are shown folding down rear seat backrests.
Step 18: Remove Protective Cover
Remove the protective cover.
Image Description: A hand is shown removing a protective cover.
Step 19: Remove Clips
Remove the clips using a flat screwdriver.
Image Description: A flat screwdriver is used to remove clips.
Step 20: Remove Another Protective Cover
Remove the protective cover.
Image Description: A hand is shown removing a protective cover.
Step 21: Remove Shock Absorber Mount Cap
Remove the protective cap of the shock absorber mount using a flat screwdriver.
Image Description: A flat screwdriver is used to remove the protective cap of the shock absorber mount.
Step 22: Clean Shock Absorber Rod Fastener
Clean the shock absorber rod fastener using a wire brush and WD-40 spray.
Image Description: A wire brush and WD-40 spray are used to clean the shock absorber rod fastener.
Step 23: Remove Piston Rod Fastening
Remove the shock absorber piston rod fastening. Use a combination spanner #19 and an adjustable wrench.
Image Description: A combination spanner and adjustable wrench are used to remove the shock absorber piston rod fastening.
Tip from AUTODOC experts: To avoid injuries, hold the shock absorber when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 24: Remove Shock Absorber
Remove the shock absorber.
Image Description: A hand is shown removing the shock absorber.
Step 25: Remove Dust Cap and Bump Stop
Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop using a flat screwdriver.
Image Description: A flat screwdriver is used to remove the shock absorber dust cap and bump stop.
Professionals recommend:
- Examine the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
- Before installing a new shock absorber, pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 26: Install Dust Sleeve and Bump Stop
Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Image Description: Hands are shown installing a dust sleeve and bump stop onto a new shock absorber.
Step 27: Clean Mounting Seats
Clean the shock absorber mounting seats using a wire brush and WD-40 spray.
Image Description: A wire brush and WD-40 spray are used to clean shock absorber mounting seats.
Step 28: Install and Secure Shock Absorber
Place the shock absorber in the wheel arch and secure it.
Image Description: A shock absorber is shown being placed and secured in the wheel arch.
AUTODOC experts recommend: To avoid injury, hold the shock absorber cautiously tight when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 29: Tighten Shock Absorber Rod Nut
Tighten the shock absorber rod nut. Use a combination spanner #19, an adjustable wrench, and a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Image Description: A combination spanner, adjustable wrench, and torque wrench are used to tighten the shock absorber rod nut.
Step 30: Treat Fasteners
Treat the shock absorber fasteners with copper grease.
Image Description: Copper grease is applied to shock absorber fasteners.
Step 31: Install Mounting Cap
Install the protective shock absorber mounting cap.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing a protective shock absorber mounting cap.
Step 32: Install Protective Cover
Install the protective cover.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing a protective cover.
Step 33: Reinstall Clips
Reinstall the pop clips of the protective cover.
Image Description: Hands are shown reinstalling pop clips on a protective cover.
Step 34: Return Seat
Return the seat to its original position.
Image Description: A hand is shown returning a seat to its original position.
Step 35: Install Protective Cover
Install the protective cover.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing a protective cover.
Step 36: Tighten Protective Cover Bolts
Tighten fixing bolts of the protective cover. Use a drive socket #10 and a ratchet wrench.
Image Description: A drive socket and ratchet wrench are used to tighten bolts on a protective cover.
Step 37: Install Boot Side Lining Cover
Install the cover of the boot side lining.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing a boot side lining cover.
Step 38: Install Boot Front Lower Lining
Install the boot front lower lining.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing the boot front lower lining.
Step 39: Close Luggage Compartment
Close the lid of the luggage compartment.
Image Description: A hand is shown closing the luggage compartment lid.
Step 40: Raise and Support Rear (Repeat for other side or final check)
Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.
Image Description: The rear of a car is shown raised and supported.
Step 41: Support Stub Axle
Support the stub axle using a hydraulic transmission jack. ⚙️
Image Description: A hydraulic transmission jack is shown supporting the stub axle.
Step 42: Attach Lower Shock Absorber Part
Attach the lower part of the shock absorber.
Image Description: A hand is shown attaching the lower part of the shock absorber.
Step 43: Install Fastening Bolt
Install the fastening bolt.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing a fastening bolt.
Step 44: Tighten Lower Fastener
Tighten the lower fastener of the shock absorber. Use a combination spanner #21, a drive socket #21, and a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.
Image Description: A combination spanner, drive socket, and torque wrench are used to tighten the lower shock absorber fastener.
Step 45: Treat Fasteners
Treat the shock absorber fasteners with copper grease.
Image Description: Copper grease is applied to shock absorber fasteners.
Step 46: Remove Support
Remove the support from under the stub axle.
Image Description: A support is shown being removed from under the stub axle.
Step 47: Treat Brake Disc Contact Surface
Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim with copper grease.
Image Description: Copper grease is applied to the brake disc contact surface.
Step 48: Clean Brake Disc Surface
Clean the brake disk surface using a brake cleaner.
Image Description: Brake cleaner is used to clean the brake disk surface.
Step 49: Install Wheel
Install the wheel.
Image Description: A hand is shown installing a car wheel.
Tip from AUTODOC: To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 50: Screw in Wheel Bolts
Screw in the wheel bolts using wheel impact socket #17.
Image Description: A hand is shown using a wheel impact socket to screw in wheel bolts.
Step 51: Lower Car and Tighten Bolts
Lower the car and, working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17 and a torque wrench. Tighten to 120 Nm torque.
Image Description: A car is shown being lowered, and hands are tightening wheel bolts with a torque wrench.
Step 52: Remove Jacks and Chocks
Remove the jacks and chocks.
Image Description: Jacks and chocks are shown being removed from under the car.
Disclaimer
The document contains only general recommendations that may be useful for you when you perform repair or replacement work. AUTODOC shall not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage of property occurring in the repair or replacement process due to incorrect use or misinterpretation of the provided information.
AUTODOC shall not be liable for any possible mistakes and uncertainties in this guide. The information provided is for information purposes only and cannot replace advice from specialists.
AUTODOC shall not be liable for incorrect or hazardous usage of equipment, tools, and car parts. AUTODOC strongly recommends being careful and observing safety rules when performing repair or replacement works. Remember: usage of low-quality auto parts does not guarantee you the appropriate level of road safety.
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