Suspension - Front Control Arms

[Peter]

I have looked through the threads and not seen anything about the replacement of control arms.

Apparently they wear out and need to be replaced and Land Rover not wanting to make things too difficult for their technicians, replace the whole unit at $400 a side plus fitting and alignment.

Alas it was time to replace mine so I had a chat to Shane at SBL Automotive at Acacia Ridge. He organized a reconditioned set through Fulcrum. They replaced the rubber with neoprene and renewed the ball joint.

The unit cost was only slightly less but the service life will be many times the OEM component.

Hope this gives another option to a few needing this component renewed.

Cheers PK

[~Rich~]

I hope they didn't use neoprene but instead fitted nolathane bushes as neoprene is the material wetsuits are made from!
Are you happy with the ride and will the car happily go into off road mode?

[bbyer]

Below is the link to a recent discussion on replacement of the lower A arms.

It is really a cost judgement, but with the new design Land Rover A arms installed, then one has the revised lower ball joint upgrade.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101399-lower-ball-joint-issues.html

[Peter]

Thanks and Yes poly not neo.

I have since taken the vehicle for a drive up duck creek road which while not an extreme 4WD track does (at the moment) have enough deep ruts on hair pin bends to suggest the wheel travel is still unaffected.

Highway driving seems fine with no discernible difference in ride comfort.

So the knocking is gone, wheels are aligned and the fix is more robust so no downside at this point in time.

I did discuss the new control arms from the D4 and there was a suggestion that supply was an issue so opted for the polyurethane option.

All good.

[ADMIRAL]

The Fulcrum ( Superpro ) and Nolathane product is Urethane.

[Owl]

Thanks and Yes poly not neo.

I have since taken the vehicle for a drive up duck creek road which while not an extreme 4WD track does (at the moment) have enough deep ruts on hair pin bends to suggest the wheel travel is still unaffected.

Highway driving seems fine with no discernible difference in ride comfort.

So the knocking is gone, wheels are aligned and the fix is more robust so no downside at this point in time.

I did discuss the new control arms from the D4 and there was a suggestion that supply was an issue so opted for the polyurethane option.

All good.

Ahhhhh.....
Duck Creek Road and hire cars..............

[Mack73]

I did discuss the new control arms from the D4 and there was a suggestion that supply was an issue so opted for the polyurethane option.

All good.

Does anyone know what specifically was changed on the D4 vs D3. And is a D4 a direct swap?

[bbyer]

This link relates to the lower A arm design change on the D3. As to if the revised arm design on the D3 is the same as the D4 arm, I do not know.

Lower down in the link is a post outlining the dimensions changes re the two arms.

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Ball Joints (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic23906.html)

[Graeme]

The D4 was promoted as having lower front and rear roll centres (1" front and 1/2" rear IIRC) but I don't know what was changed.

[vbrab]

Does anybody know if D4 lower arms will fit a D3?
planning to get front lower bushes done on D3, and have had one service place say they will change them with new complete arms off D4, which are supposed to be more robust and "fixed the problems" of D3 bushes/ball joints wearing out quickly.
Others say that last revision of D3 lower arm (2009) which supercedes all previous D3 arms, is what to fit.
Have looked at links on ball joint changes etc, but still not clear about whether D3/D4 are interchangeable.
Has anybody got any recent reliable info on replacing D3 lower arms ? Vbrab

[Presto]

Hi all,

I have to replace my control arms soon, as I've noticed the knocking noise is getting louder, and was warned of a big bill in the next service if I choose to replace them. I was also told that the new design is bullet proof, but don't know if they are simply the D4 arms, or a later D3 model??

It seems these bushes/arms usually wear out around 80k depending on how much off-road work they have done!?

[vbrab]

It seems that what we need to know for certain is whether D4 arms will go on to D3's. I understand they are different part numbers, but are they interchangeable? This is what I cannot get a definite answer on.
If the D4 arm will fit and it is superior to the latest upgrade in a D3 arm, then I'm happy to have that; but if I'm being charged D4 rates for what is a D3 arm (IE not actually a D4 arm)....I'm not so keen. Vbrab

[vbrab]

You can buy complete Genuine LR front lower arms (with "new' revised ball joint) ex Britsish Parts UK for about 120 UK pounds each, which even with freight should work out pretty cheap by comparision with some local dealer prices for same part. Perhaps make the freight worth your while and get some service parts as well in same order.
vbrab