Clunk left front

[LandyAndy]

My MY14D4 has just turned 20000km.
Early in the year whilst off roading on a fishing trip there was the occasional clunk from the left front whilst in extended mode on beach sand tracks.Aaron 40 said his wasnt making any noises on the same track.I had actually forgot about it.
Yesterday at the Caravan Show whilst driving over a small kerb to park(so small a falcoon would have pulled it off) I heard the same clunk.
She is on the back lawn tomorrow for a wash,going to super lift to look at the joints.What am I looking for???? Happy to jack the corner too if need be.
Andrew

[scomac]

Andy it will most likely be the lower control arm bushes although at 20,000km a bit early I would of thought. Mine makes the same sound because SWMBO comes into the driveway at a buck sixty with the front left hitting the curb hard.
They don't seen to last very long due to them being hydra rubber bush. (correct me if Im wrong)
Scott.

[LandyAndy]

I would be very sad if mine are worn already.I treat the thing with the utmost respect,I love it.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Off to Albany for a week over Easter,I will be doing a bit of off-roading down there so will be able to listen out again.
Would like to know what or how to check asap so I can do it tomorrow incase something is ready to fail.
THANKS
Andrew

[scomac]

Idle along and repeatably stab the breaks see if the noise is replicated. This is a sign of a worn bush.(so I'm told by my mechanic)

[ADMIRAL]

clunking over kerbs in mine was lower front balljoints ( about 35000klms ) . LR replaced the complete lwr arms rather than just the balljoints under warranty.

I can hear a clunk again occasionally ( now 80000 odd klms ) When it becomes more obvious I will probably replace the lwr arms again.

Seems it will be an ongoing issue. Not the only vehicle out there with repeat issues. Just roll with it.

[Ozzy119]

clunking over kerbs in mine was lower front balljoints ( about 35000klms ) . LR replaced the complete lwr arms rather than just the balljoints under warranty.

I can hear a clunk again occasionally ( now 80000 odd klms ) When it becomes more obvious I will probably replace the lwr arms again.

Seems it will be an ongoing issue. Not the only vehicle out there with repeat issues. Just roll with it.

Agreed. Mine was the ball joint. Get the arms replaced, it's the simplest way to go.

[scarry]

Nothing for you to worry about at all,off to LR to get it fixed:D

Free:):)

Mine has had a hiding on corrugations,but luckily can't hear any clunks yet:)

And the service guys have recently checked everything thoroughly.

[LandyAndy]

Couldnt see anything amiss.
Will try the brakes to get it to clunk.
Mine wouldnt have even done 500km on gravel.
Andrew

[BMKal]

Geeez .................. wouldn't have expected it at those km's. :o

At my last service (100,000km) I was told by the dealer that they were seeing a little bit of movement in the control arm bushes, and that they would need doing at the next service. I told them that I was about to head across to Tassie and asked if I should do them before that trip. Was advised that they would be OK for the trip.

While in Tassie, I noticed the occasional "clunk" when going over decent bumps, and the most noticeable occasion was when driving onto the boat (up a heavily corrugated ramp) on the way back. On that occasion, knocking coming from both front wheels, bad enough to set up a vibration in the steering wheel.

Other than that, no real issues, and now that I am back home I only notice the occasional knock when going over speed humps in Bunnings carpark or similar. I haven't heard any strange noises at all when applying the brakes at any time.

I jacked the front end up last week and had a look at things - I could move things enough to see a bit of movement in the bushes, but couldn't get it to "clunk" when moving wheels etc by hand. Was considering getting new control arms and replacing them myself at home, but there's nobody in Kalgoorlie with the correct gear to do a wheel alignment if required, so decided to leave it to the dealers this time. I'm in the process of buying a GAP IID tool with Bluetooth at the moment, so wheel alignments won't be an issue up here in the future.

Car is booked in for 120,000km service on 5th April, with control arms to be done at the same time. ;) I wonder what they'll give me as a loan car this time. Last service, I had the choice of an Ewok or a Disco Sport, and I opted for the Sport for a day - might try an Ewok this time if I'm offered one. :D

[BobD]

When the bushes get bad you get continuous clunking that you can feel through the steering wheel on corrugations and rocky gravel. In normal driving there is still no sign of clunking until you go over speed bumps, trafficable kerbs and the like, where there is a bit of a sharp bump. Even then, if you hit it on an angle you won't get a clunk, even when they are really bad.


I did Perth to Darwin to Kakadu to Binns Track to Great Central Rd to Perth with the continuous clunking on rough roads stage, so there is nothing to worry about going to Albany with the odd clunk on one side. I hadn't noticed any serious clunking until I got on the rough roads north of Newman so I didn't really know the bushes were worn before the trip.

[AndyG]

Sorry I can't help it,
Would never happen in a DEFENDER
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

after all they had 67 years to fine tune it

[~Rich~]

Anti Roll Bar bushes are also a possible clunk source.

[LandyAndy]

Geeez .................. wouldn't have expected it at those km's. :o

At my last service (100,000km) I was told by the dealer that they were seeing a little bit of movement in the control arm bushes, and that they would need doing at the next service. I told them that I was about to head across to Tassie and asked if I should do them before that trip. Was advised that they would be OK for the trip.

While in Tassie, I noticed the occasional "clunk" when going over decent bumps, and the most noticeable occasion was when driving onto the boat (up a heavily corrugated ramp) on the way back. On that occasion, knocking coming from both front wheels, bad enough to set up a vibration in the steering wheel.

Other than that, no real issues, and now that I am back home I only notice the occasional knock when going over speed humps in Bunnings carpark or similar. I haven't heard any strange noises at all when applying the brakes at any time.

I jacked the front end up last week and had a look at things - I could move things enough to see a bit of movement in the bushes, but couldn't get it to "clunk" when moving wheels etc by hand. Was considering getting new control arms and replacing them myself at home, but there's nobody in Kalgoorlie with the correct gear to do a wheel alignment if required, so decided to leave it to the dealers this time. I'm in the process of buying a GAP IID tool with Bluetooth at the moment, so wheel alignments won't be an issue up here in the future.

Car is booked in for 120,000km service on 5th April, with control arms to be done at the same time. ;) I wonder what they'll give me as a loan car this time. Last service, I had the choice of an Ewok or a Disco Sport, and I opted for the Sport for a day - might try an Ewok this time if I'm offered one. :D

Had a pretty good look this morning Brian,everything still looks brand new,couldnt feel any movement.

If it does sound noisy on tracks whilst in Albany I may call into the only non metro Landy dealer in WA;););););) and get them to have a look.
Andrew

[BobD]

Andy,


I assume you are driving around at off road height when on the beach, not some higher setting. You mentioned extended height in your first post.


If you are at a height that is higher than normal off road height the D4 will turn into a Jeep and bang and crash all the time due to the lack of downward suspension travel! If I put my Llams at off road height and then select an off road mode in low range, the car will automatically do the extra 50mm raise and you soon start to feel that something is wrong. I keep getting caught out when I'm not thinking.

[LandyAndy]

Andy,


I assume you are driving around at off road height when on the beach, not some higher setting. You mentioned extended height in your first post.


If you are at a height that is higher than normal off road height the D4 will turn into a Jeep and bang and crash all the time due to the lack of downward suspension travel! If I put my Llams at off road height and then select an off road mode in low range, the car will automatically do the extra 50mm raise and you soon start to feel that something is wrong. I keep getting caught out when I'm not thinking.


When I first noticed it was in normal extended off-road height over 3 days.On friday it was normal on-road height.No GOE rods or Llams fitted.

I do use the lowered height every time I get out,much easier on my back.I always TRY to lower before parking to decrease stress on the components.(compared to lowering with handbrake on and in park)
Andrew

[scarry]

Had a pretty good look this morning Brian,everything still looks brand new,couldnt feel any movement.

If it does sound noisy on tracks whilst in Albany I may call into the only non metro Landy dealer in WA;););););) and get them to have a look.
Andrew

So they didn't use any second hand parts when they put it together ?:p:D:D:D:D:D

[LandyAndy]

So they didn't use any second hand parts when they put it together ?:p:D:D:D:D:D

Who knows these days.At least I didnt see any Defender parts under there;););)
Andrew

[scarry]

Who knows these days.At least I didnt see any Defender parts under there;););)
Andrew

Or any defender oil leaks??:D

[LandyAndy]

I was pleasantly surprised.
No weeps anywhere underneath,do they actually put oil in these things????

Andrew

[scarry]

I was pleasantly surprised.
No weeps anywhere underneath,do they actually put oil in these things????

Andrew

Amazing, isn't it,mine is as dry as :)

Touch wood it stays that way:o

Just like my 8yr old,260K low ace butter box…….work van. :D:angel:

[Disco-tastic]

Anti Roll Bar bushes are also a possible clunk source.

I have been told this is the source of the clunk in my D3. Just haven't bothered to look into changing them. Is it much of a job?

Cheers

Dan

[AndyG]

Who knows these days.At least I didnt see any Defender parts under there;););)
Andrew

Certainly no 85 profile rubber :p
Is this the model with with no dip stick, so many variants :confused:
Sure it will end well with LR stellar customer service :p

[~Rich~]

I have been told this is the source of the clunk in my D3. Just haven't bothered to look into changing them. Is it much of a job?

Cheers

Dan

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Front ARB Bush replacement with pictures LR015339 (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic61491.html?highlight=how+to+ARB)

[Disco-tastic]

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Front ARB Bush replacement with pictures LR015339 (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic61491.html?highlight=how+to+ARB)

Turns out it is the rear LCA bushes :(

Now, to just do the bushes or install all new arms....

Cheers

Dan

[AndyG]

Or any defender oil leaks??:D

Being faithful to the heritage ;)

[BMKal]

I was pleasantly surprised.
No weeps anywhere underneath,do they actually put oil in these things????

Andrew


Amazing, isn't it,mine is as dry as :)

Touch wood it stays that way:o

Just like my 8yr old,260K low ace butter box??.work van. :D:angel:

Gets bloody expensive if they do develop a leak. Mine was diagnosed a while back with a leaking pipe fitting in the transmission. It wasn't dripping any oil onto the ground, but there was a film of oil on the underside of the vehicle.

Recently had it fixed - $1,300 :eek: (That price included replacing the horn too, as it had given up the ghost on the way across to Tassie earlier this year).

On checking for something else on Topix the other day, I noticed that the oil leak / repair has been entered into the Topix record for my vehicle. Didn't realize that they would keep track of things like that on Topix.

[SBD4]

All service records are online now for the new cars. No service book anymore.