Upper vs Lower Control Arm Replacement

[Bens]

Hey folks! I am needing to replace my lower control arms (front and rear) in my 2006 D3. I plan on ordering them from the UK. Can anyone advise if I should also do the upper control arms? Mine currently appear to be fine in terms of movement/condition. Any help would be much appreciated.

Have a good one. Ben

[Redback]

I recently did mine, both upper and lower, mine has 130,000ks on it, although mine has all the gear on it, front and rear bars rack, awnings, long range tank and so on, my top arms were shagged, my lower arms weren't that bad, as I had done them about 40,000ks earlier, and I probably could have left them for another 40,000ks, but I decided to do both.

How many Ks have you on the car and has the lower arms been done before??

Baz.

[Bens]

thanks for your note Baz.

my D3 has 215k kms and the lower and upper arms dont look like they have been replaced in the last 4 years (for which i have receipts).

i was trying to avoid the $ outlay but given the frequency of your replacement of the comtrol arms it seems to me i should do the upper too, would you agree?

[Disco-tastic]

Check out this thread regarding the lower bushes from the armoured d3. They should last a little longer, though they are a little stiffer than standard. It doesnt answer the upper arms question but might save you changing them frequently.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=225301

Cheers

Dan

[DiscoDB]

If doing yourself, planning to keep the D3 for some time, and you believe they have never been done before, then yes probably a good idea to do at the same time. I have read others have done the uppers on the second round of doing the lowers. My front lowers lasted 100K so my intent will be to do both uppers and lowers the next time the lowers come due again. May be a different story with the rears though, as these do not seem to fail as often.

[Redback]

thanks for your note Baz.

my D3 has 215k kms and the lower and upper arms dont look like they have been replaced in the last 4 years (for which i have receipts).

i was trying to avoid the $ outlay but given the frequency of your replacement of the comtrol arms it seems to me i should do the upper too, would you agree?

If you're getting a clunk in the front, chances are it's your lower arms, and with 215,000ks on it, sounds like it has done mostly highway miles, given my D4 seems to be 2 lower arms to one set of upper arms, you could be OK with just doing your lower arms.

I do a lot of offroad Ks, as well a tow offroad, the car is also used for semi serious offroad as well and with all the accessories, which means it weighs a lot more, mine go early.

Baz.

[Bens]

thanks fellas. i am going to do the upper fronts too and leave the upper rear this time round. a local mechanic said the upper rear shouldn't need doing until about 300k kms.

really appreciate the advice. have a good one.

[Redback]

thanks fellas. i am going to do the upper fronts too and leave the upper rear this time round. a local mechanic said the upper rear shouldn't need doing until about 300k kms.

really appreciate the advice. have a good one.

I haven't touched my rear arms, lower or upper, only the front.

[Bens]

the ride in the back has become really hard Baz, as well as the front. the odd knock too, at 215k kms it probably makes sense i should do this too.

[Redback]

the ride in the back has become really hard Baz, as well as the front. the odd knock too, at 215k kms it probably makes sense i should do this too.

Get all the arms to save money in the long term for the arms, but only do the front and see how it goes, then do the back if you think it needs it, will work out the same in labour cost anyway, just a thought.

Also keep your old arms.

Baz.

[Plane Fixer]

Just done the lower front at 102500 and what a difference it has made. The full alignment will have helped too. I replaced the sway bar bushes as well and my front end is tight and clunk free.
Feels like a new car!

[Bens]

will do, cheers Baz

[Bens]

thank you i've ordered the sway bar bushes as well because you mentioned this. appreciate it plane fixer!!

[Stuart02]

the ride in the back has become really hard Baz, as well as the front. the odd knock too, at 215k kms it probably makes sense i should do this too.

Knock in the rear could be sway bar related too?

[Plane Fixer]

The RH lower arm is the easiest, as is the sway bar bush. The LH arm is a little more difficult due access to the rear nut, as is the top nut on the sway bar bush. A universal socket is required for that (15mm)
My recommendation is to disconnect the sway bar on both sides at the top arm.
The dimension of 18.45" from the centre of the drive shaft nut to the wheel arch before tightening is critical to clamp the bushes in the correct position as it leaves them unstressed at normal ride height.
The whole job takes an easy few hours and the beer or red at completion is well deserved.

[PeterOZ]

Doing up a shopping list of parts to essentially rebuild the suspension and steering of my MY08 D3. It has over 202,000km on it. Lower control arms have been replaced about 4 or 5 years ago but will be due again.

Air struts I'll do myself.

Other bits though I will get a quote to fit from my friendly indy LR mechanics.

Am I missing anything or anything on list would not be needed?


cheers
Peter

[Bens]

hey Peter, I am probably not the best person to reply as I do mine as it is needed but all I am doing is replacing the control arms (with control arm kit) and the sway bar bushes.

Not sure you need to replace the air suspension bags/units until they fail? I've had to do one in the rear of mine but not the other. The valves do go eventually as well but again I wait until it fails.

Good to see your list though as I went through LR directly in the UK and I see you use LR Direct quite a bit which I think I will start doing.

Cheers - Ben

[PeterOZ]

hey Peter, I am probably not the best person to reply as I do mine as it is needed but all I am doing is replacing the control arms (with control arm kit) and the sway bar bushes.

Not sure you need to replace the air suspension bags/units until they fail? I've had to do one in the rear of mine but not the other. The valves do go eventually as well but again I wait until it fails.

Good to see your list though as I went through LR directly in the UK and I see you use LR Direct quite a bit which I think I will start doing.

Cheers - Ben



Struts have over 200,000km and the car wallows quite a bit now. Definteily need replacing.


MR will go over it when they do control arms. Hoping that steering racks etc won't need replacing too.




have uploaded the actual spreadhseet I put together, might assist others who need parts for suspension. There are quite a few options to choose from. I'll be going for genuine LR or OEM in most cases.


cheers
P

[Narangga]

Had the lower arms done and also a new steering rack put in. Definitely made a difference as vehicle does not clunk on change downs in particular. Steering is definitely more direct too.

Even though it had a wheel alignment afterwards it now pulls to the left so will get that checked out this week.

[Disco-tastic]

How many km's does yours have narranga? I just purchased a 150k km D3 which apparently has a worn swaybar bush. Wondering how long until I need to do the arms.

Cheers

Dan

[Narangga]

Vehicle has done 220,000 so a new steering rack and bushes were to be expected.

Engine and transmission have both done less. :p

[gandalf]

PeterOz

Looking at the price of parts on your spreadsheet, some parts look
good, but have a look at Karcraft located at Silverwater in Sydney.

The air struts In particular are a lot cheaper.

I have bought parts from them recently.

Les

[PeterOZ]

PeterOz

Looking at the price of parts on your spreadsheet, some parts look
good, but have a look at Karcraft located at Silverwater in Sydney.

The air struts In particular are a lot cheaper.

I have bought parts from them recently.

Les
Les arethose struts LR / OME?

[gandalf]

Have sent you a PM with contact details

Gandalf

[Laurie 123]

I recently did mine, both upper and lower, mine has 130,000ks on it, although mine has all the gear on it, front and rear bars rack, awnings, long range tank and so on, my top arms were shagged, my lower arms weren't that bad, as I had done them about 40,000ks earlier, and I probably could have left them for another 40,000ks, but I decided to do both.

How many Ks have you on the car and has the lower arms been done before??

Baz.
gidday mate when you replaced your front upper control arms did you have to remove the air bag to get at it ?
looks like mine are knackered hehe thought it may have been lower arms because of the clunk mainly off road at slow speed but looks like they have been done recently .

[loanrangie]

I was looking at the uppers while doing my bushes and it does look tight but don't think the strut will need to come out.

[Redback]

gidday mate when you replaced your front upper control arms did you have to remove the air bag to get at it ?
looks like mine are knackered hehe thought it may have been lower arms because of the clunk mainly off road at slow speed but looks like they have been done recently .

Had them done while the car was in for a service from memory, car has 220,00ks up now.

[Darren LR3]

Hi - having just replaced the front lower control arms on my D3 it looks like it could use all the other (x6) doing as well, it has done well as they are all the original on a 300K vehicle.

My question is that I've got a quote from BMI who sell out 'Recovery' (the make) arms. Has anybody used them? any advice?

Thanks