Update D3 Ball Joint Replacement

[Tinman]

Hi Guys, Just had my lower ball joints replaced on my D3 due to knocking in the front end, this was not all the problem, the main problem seems to be the Hydro bushes, because they are oil filled to give you a smoother ride tend to blow out between 80- 100k klms. The ball joints were not too bad but had them replaced anyway.The LHS inner tie rod was also shot so both sides were replaced. I used after market ball joints to keep the lower wishbone standard as if you have Land Rover replace the lower ball joints with the larger ball joints to give you longevity they mechine the wishbone out to accommodate the larger joints so you have to use the large Ball joints that are only available through Land Rover at the present time.. So if you get stuck somewhere in the future and need to replace the lower ball joint you have only one option. If you opt for the larger joint, the Hydo bushes are going to fail around 80-100k anyway so while you have the wishbone out you would replace the ball joints anyway so nothing really achieved by using the larger Ball joints. I have used all after market parts so as to see how they will stand up to the genuine parts. The cost per part was only $10 different so I suspect that they are proberly made by the same manufacturer. After you have these joints replaced you need a wheel alignment, you must take your Vehicle to Land Rover for job as they have to place it on their computer and put in into alignment mode to do this job. This lowers your vehicle even lower than access height, the vehicle can only be driven 8kph in this mode. Once aligned yor car in then placed back on the computer to raise it back to standard. I have spoken to one tyre mob they said that they place it into access height to do theirs, only time will tell. In the early days Land Rover didnt tell their service departments of this lowering hence they had to replace over 400 tyres under warrenty.
Cheers Tinman:)

[CaverD3]

There is a LR part number for the whole lower control arm with the new ball joint.

[ozscott]

Mate - thanks for posting that up. Apart from the knock were there other symptoms such as slop in the front end? Did it not feel quite right? How much for the job all up?


On a parallel topic did LR move to rack in the D3. How do the racks last?

Cheers

[Tinman]

The whole job up and done by Land Rover Dealer $776.60. I have travelled 108k klms, I have done a fair bit of towing and 4x4 . My Girl is a D3 TDV6 SE complete with ediff lockers sat nav plus more. manufacture july 04 Au rego comp 05. Has rack and pinion still working fine. If it wasnt for the clunk when going up the gutter you wouldnt suspect that anything was wrong. Would steer fine no free play at the wheel or wandering etc, its only noticable when the weight is taken off the front when jacked up. I Have done all the serviceing up to date,When I put the vehicle in for this job they tell me that their is about 6hrs of up dates for my car, but said that if its going ok not to worry about the updates or if I wanted they would do it for me, chose not to worry about them as it is performing excellent to date.
Cheers Tinman:D

[ozscott]

Thanks Tinman. Good stuff. Its comforting (for someone who over the next couple of years has to make a decision about keeping my D2 or going D3) to hear this stuff. As for towing have you changed to a steel pan to enable easy changing of transmission oil? What do you tow with it? Did you tow the same weight with another vehicle before and if so what are the differences in tow ability. The TDV6 seems like a nice tow machine - the 2.7 would do be fine I reckon towing 2 tonns (boat).

Cheers

[Tinman]

I have towed with various vehicles over time as well as most recent to my LR a 80 series Land Cruiser diesel 4.2L non turbo and found the D3 TDV6 to be in a class of it's own for towing and 4x4. I have found it to be the best performer in fuel economy and performance it is the most capable vehicle I have owned to date. I regularly tow my Quintrex 5m boat up and down the coast as well as My old Franklin caravan around 1500kg on various trips throughout Australia. The most recent to the Eyre peninsular and Gawler Ranges. I have the original cover on the box, On one trip coming back from Eden NSW towing my caravan the outside temperature sat between 39 and 43 degrees for about 4hrs, towed around 100kph without any heating problems. With climate control on 21degrees we were oblivious to the heat outside except if you touched the glass windows. So taking this into account I will leave the cover standard. I can honestly say that with all the 4x4 and towing that I have done with this vehicle overheating has never been a problem. Towing my caravan or boat is a breeze, most of the time you forget that you are towing. You will have No problems with a 2 ton boat.
Cheers Tinman:D

[ozscott]

Thanks mate! That is very good to hear.

Cheers

[Duck's Guts]

Thanks for the interesting update & towing experiences Tinman.