D3 Control arm bushings liquid filled?

[V2Evo96]

Here is a good one for you in the know to possibly have a chuckle with.

Took the (new to me) 2009 D3 to have an extended warranty inspection done in order for the warranty to be transferred to me from the previous owner.

The manager of the shop (not a LR dealer workshop) informed me that the right lower control arm bushing had been leaking fluid and was on the way out at 67,000k's. ;) I had a look after I got home from work and it looks OK to me - no liquid weeping at all that I could see and the condition looked the same as the left one....

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I have never heard of a liquid filled control arm bushing of any make.

Before I spring for the replacement could someone please substantiate if this is correct or was I on the way to being done over?

Thanks for any replies in advance.

PS I did use the search function tagged several different ways but no luck.

[Redback]

Yep found that out myself just recently also, apparently they are called a Hydro-bush;)

Mine went at 80,000ks:(

Baz.

[V2Evo96]

Yep found that out myself just recently also, apparently they are called a Hydro-bush;)

Mine went at 80,000ks:(

Baz.


Thanks Redback - did you have your replaced and if so can you provide a ballpark number that I can compare with?

I should get the quote via email tomorrow....

[Epic pooh]

I've done mine at about 80000 and recently at 140000. They are pretty much a consumable like brakes ... Except my brakes last longer haha ! Usual practice is to replace entire suspension arm. As for cost, you can get the arms for between $250 and $500 (aftermarket, oem, genuine) and factor about 90mins per side + a wheel alignment. Hth

[V2Evo96]

Thanks Epic much appreciated, will look into that and for interest provide quote estimate for the lowers only (when I get it that is).

~~~~~Sigh~~~~~

[101RRS]

Hi guys - what symptoms do you get when they have gone?

Thanks

Garry

[brumby]

Mine rattled on corrugations and over speed bumps. Only symptoms I noticed.

Paul

[Drizzle]

Mine have lasted 70,000km.

Has anyone tried polyurethane bushes? SuperPro Solution for Land Rover Discovery Series 3 (http://www.superpro.com.au/whats-new/blog/item/80-superpro-solution-for-land-rover-discovery-series-3)

Some info here about the lower control arms: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101399-lower-ball-joint-issues.html

[V2Evo96]

Mine have lasted 70,000km.

Has anyone tried polyurethane bushes? SuperPro Solution for Land Rover Discovery Series 3 (http://www.superpro.com.au/whats-new/blog/item/80-superpro-solution-for-land-rover-discovery-series-3)

Some info here about the lower control arms: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101399-lower-ball-joint-issues.html

From what I've read on the UK forum some like them and some don't... consensus there indicates that generally the OEM's still give the best "factory ride", but less longevity.

[AnD3rew]

Yep, mine went at around 60,000ks, rattling over bumps and corrugations. Were around $400- $500 each fitted from memory for the full control arm, the bushes are cheaper than the arms, but it involves a lot more labour to replace the bushes so it makes more sense to just replace the whole arm.

[Epic pooh]

Gary my symptoms have been rattling (a little), uneven tyre wear (a little) and dodgy handling. The bush that goes is the rear lower bush as it cushions pretty much all impacts. Easy to test if you are inclined - jack the wheel up and shove a crowbar in and see how much fore - aft movement the arm has. A good arm will have none and worn bushes will let the arm move in and out (ie lower rear will move up to 1cm and and out from the body).

The state of my most recent ones is very sad (considering they've only done 50000km). I have the arms laying around at the moment and could take some pics of the amount of movement in the bushes if anyone is interested.

Poly bushes are a mixed bag but my advice from several sources was to stay away for comfort reasons and because they require lubrication and are not well suited to off road use.

[Redback]

A good way to check if they are shot, drive along and brake then release, a few times, you should get a clunk every time you brake.

My whole arm were replaced, my mechanic said they do this because there are worries they could bend the arm pressing the bushes out and don't want to risk it, it's the top knuckle that is the problem, not the 2 lower bushes.

I have my old arms at home and I'm going to test this theory and get some bushes pressed in, if it works I have some spares for next time, if not, I still have spare bushes;)



Has anyone tried polyurethane bushes? SuperPro Solution for (http://www.superpro.com.au/whats-new/blog/item/80-superpro-solution-for-land-rover-discovery-series-3)
Land Rover Discovery Series 3
(http://www.superpro.com.au/whats-new/blog/item/80-superpro-solution-for-land-rover-discovery-series-3)

Some info here about the lower
control arms: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...nt-issues.html (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101399-lower-ball-joint-issues.html)

Looking at their warranty of 60,000ks, that's not all that good, considering my OEM bushes started to go at about 70,000ks.

EDIT; The D3 and D4 arms are different also, there is a slight change in the design, when I had mine done, there was another pair going on a D3, my mechanic showed us the slight diference.

Baz.

[miller.rhys]

Mine have lasted 70,000km.

Has anyone tried polyurethane bushes? SuperPro Solution for Land Rover Discovery Series 3 (http://www.superpro.com.au/whats-new/blog/item/80-superpro-solution-for-land-rover-discovery-series-3)

Some info here about the lower control arms: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/101399-lower-ball-joint-issues.html





I had the superpro bush installed (at 55,000k's) definitely significantly quitter than with the old knackered bushes.


In terms of ride they seem similar during most driving but possibly a little harsher on very rough roads.


The reason I decided to try the superpro bushes was that I didn't want to have to repeat the process in another 50,000k's. It was similar cost to either replace the whole control arms or pay for the extra labour to remove the old bushes. One of my bushes ended up getting stuck while being pressed out and had to be cut out.


I now have had 10,000ks on the new bushes and I don't feel they are significantly different. Would be interesting to compare with a Disco with the original bushes.

[lpj]

I have just started to notice a clunk when I go over speed humps. Mine is MY12 with 42k's.

Is this a warranty claim?

Luke

[Redback]

I have just started to notice a clunk when I go over speed humps. Mine is MY12 with 42k's.

Is this a warranty claim?

Luke

Can't hurt to ask;) besides mine started to go at around 70,000ks and I have a bullbar, rear bar, sliders, Long Range Tank, drawers, roof rack, I also do a lot of offroad and towing, so I'd say yes

Baz.

[lpj]

Can't hurt to ask;)

Baz.

I'll see how I go and report back. This weekend will be the first chance we have had to get off road- going to VHC.

Apart from that, its had a very easy life!

[Redback]

I'll see how I go and report back. This weekend will be the first chance we have had to get off road- going to VHC.

Apart from that, its had a very easy life!

If that's the case then I'd say yes definately, should last longer than 40,000ks with only on road work, off road and sand is the biggest killer of these bushes.

Baz.

[captcam68]

Mine went at 67,000km, and priced up bushes v whole arms,
Whole arms won out taking into account extra labour to press out / in
New bushes. Done a fair bit of off-roading so wasn't devo'd
When they came round. Don't have to worry about fatigue with the new arms either, piece of mind.

[jonesy63]

Just had my two lower control arms replaced yesterday, at... 80,000km. That includes hydrobush (at chassis end) and ball joints (at wheel end of arm). I've been told they replace the whole arm as it is cheaper - as labour to replace all ball joints and bushes is expensive. Replacement and wheel alignment after was covered by warranty.

With all the recent posts about battery charging and dead batteries, there must also be some LR empathy going on! My cranking battery seems to be on last legs! Tried to start it this morning at it turned over at about half normal speed and sounded like it was injecting every other cycle, followed by hazaard lights flashing on dash, as well as low range being lit up. It is now on charge - with aux battery disconnected - but not holding much hope.

Cheers,
Rob

[jonesy63]

Oh - and for the record, as well as the metallic clunk when hitting the brakes (from the worn hydrobush), I was also getting a different clunk when going into driveways (from worn ball joints). There was also a slight vagueness to the steering and ride was a little harsher than normal.

[101RRS]

Thanks for the comments re symptoms - my car has done 85,000km and as yet I don't have any of the conditions mentioned so all is good for the moment.

Garry

[Epic pooh]

Heres two photos for amusement - the first is my 4 year old daughter pulling the bush around with a not very long bolt (she's pretty strong but ...seriously ... !) and the second is from the opposite side. This can be reproduced on car with a long screwdriver or crowbar. The front bushes are a-ok !

[Redback]

Heres two photos for amusement - the first is my 4 year old daughter pulling the bush around with a not very long bolt (she's pretty strong but ...seriously ... !) and the second is from the opposite side. This can be reproduced on car with a long screwdriver or crowbar. The front bushes are a-ok !

Mine were not that bad, in fact bloody brand new compared too those, they must have been making a racket:eek:

My control arm ball joint and steering arm was what went on mine and it was put down the big impact with a hole in the road.

Baz.

[Epic pooh]

Surprisingly they were not particularly noisy - only made significant noise with suspension raised articulating across big rocks and suchlike (and mostly a groaning). The bulk of my banging noises came from the lower steering column shaft uni-joint and to a lesser extent the lhs rack end ball cup. I think the fact that the front bushes were pretty good (basically cannot move them by hand) may have helped keep the noise down. It felt 'soft and squishy' in corners and wobbled around (which it still does but to a much lesser amount - it's almost back to normal and now I am chasing the "10%"). I''ll admit I was pretty shocked at how soft they were when they came out.

BTW these are genuine arms that have only lasted ~50,000km or thereabouts. I've replaced them with much cheaper britpart OEM arms (which claim to be identical ... we will see).

I've kept the old arms and an assortment of other bits off the car (long list haha) and intend to weld them together and make a bird bath stand / yard art entitled "ode to Land Rover ownership" :p

[V2Evo96]

Thanks Epic much appreciated, will look into that and for interest provide quote estimate for the lowers only (when I get it that is).

~~~~~Sigh~~~~~


Well well well - the quote never showed up from the non LR workshop. I even emailed the bloke to ensure all he had to do was reply.

Further when I got home from work I crawled under and checked for a 'leak' - nothing there and when I wiped between the joint with my finger it came out dry. I put a piece of cardboard under the bush and strangely enough this morning it was dry...

I didn't mention till now that the shop who is the agent for the extended warranty company is also the local Pedders agent who showed me some of their bushes for replacement of the OEM bushes.
I declined and asked him to quote with the OEM bushes--hmmm strange no quote has turned up.
The bad juju is that without a repair the vehicle is not roadworthy and I can't get the extended warranty transferred from the previous owner into my name.

Also strange that the servicing LR dealer workshop report in Sydney (Graeme Cooper) didn't mention any sign of a bush wearing as they do for pads, rotor, tyres etc..... on its 'B' service 1000k's before I bought it.

I have a plan that I will execute and post the outcome here after. I have a need to get to the bottom of this.

More next week for those interested..

[jonesy63]

With all the recent posts about battery charging and dead batteries, there must also be some LR empathy going on! My cranking battery seems to be on last legs! Tried to start it this morning at it turned over at about half normal speed and sounded like it was injecting every other cycle, followed by hazaard lights flashing on dash, as well as low range being lit up. It is now on charge - with aux battery disconnected - but not holding much hope.

Cheers,
Rob

Charged battery for about 10 hours yesterday - was at 13.4V when connected to charger at the end. Disconnected and checked this morning - and it was at 10.6V. Looks like it is the season for dead batteries!

[V2Evo96]

Charged battery for about 10 hours yesterday - was at 13.4V when connected to charger at the end. Disconnected and checked this morning - and it was at 10.6V. Looks like it is the season for dead batteries!


Yeah but how are the bushings holding up??? OEM or Aftermarket....?

[jonesy63]

Yeah but how are the bushings holding up??? OEM or Aftermarket....?

LCAs were replaced at a LR deaker under warranty - so I hope they're OEM! :D

Ride and steering are back to how they should be.

At about 1 hour ago, had new Exide AGM battery installed at local dealer, under warranty. :cool: Alliance (LR roadside assistance) arrived and confirmed the original one had a dead cell.

So - happy with LR support at this moment! :D
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/921.jpg

[V2Evo96]

Well well well - the quote never showed up from the non LR workshop. I even emailed the bloke to ensure all he had to do was reply.

Further when I got home from work I crawled under and checked for a 'leak' - nothing there and when I wiped between the joint with my finger it came out dry. I put a piece of cardboard under the bush and strangely enough this morning it was dry...

I didn't mention till now that the shop who is the agent for the extended warranty company is also the local Pedders agent who showed me some of their bushes for replacement of the OEM bushes.
I declined and asked him to quote with the OEM bushes--hmmm strange no quote has turned up.
The bad juju is that without a repair the vehicle is not roadworthy and I can't get the extended warranty transferred from the previous owner into my name.

Also strange that the servicing LR dealer workshop report in Sydney (Graeme Cooper) didn't mention any sign of a bush wearing as they do for pads, rotor, tyres etc..... on its 'B' service 1000k's before I bought it.

I have a plan that I will execute and post the outcome here after. I have a need to get to the bottom of this.

More next week for those interested..

OK here is the abbreviated follow on story.

Had the D3 Roadworthy inspected by a LR dealer and they found no issues with the vehicle including the control arm bushes. Was told the D3 was in excellent condition and had been extremely well maintained.

Then after 2 days of being stuffed around by the extended warranty agent's shop owner not wanting to speak to me, and me going to his shop every day and with many phone calls to his business, he finally agreed to see me personally.
I took my roadworthy back to the shop yesterday afternoon and he called the extended warranty company while I was there and informed them that the vehicle had been re-inspected and passed.

This means that the remaining time on the extended warranty (which was at no cost to me) could be finally transferred into my name.
I needed the Vic roadworthy anyway to transfer the rego so no loss there.

Did I mention the warranty company inspection agent is also the local Pedders dealer?
I won this time.....

[crawal]

i need to replace the LCA and local service guys has done both full replacement and poly bushes , just wondering how the poly bushes are holding up ?