Front Suspension Control Arms

[simmo1]

Folks,

I am wondering if anyone has any feedback regarding the front suspension control arm bushings needing replacement. This is/was a known wear item for the Disco 3 and 4's and the L320 RRS but I am wondering if this wear behaviour and need of replacement will be required for the current series L494 and the like. I have only abt 35,000 km on mine so far and it is starting to develop a feeling thru the steering wheel like it wants to duck and dive when crossing along road surface irregularities, sort of feels like a supermarket trolly trying always to escape. The tires are wearing quite evenly so no apparent indication there. Any thoughts anyone?

Cheers, Simmo

[discojools]

I am up to 50000k on mine and no sign of anything unusual. I know that when we got back off epic Hay river trip my friends had a shock absorber go....both front ones were replaced under warranty with newer types. If yours has the Dynamic option this does not apply as there is no problem with those shocks.

[peterall]

These bushes wear quickly if you continually hit speed bumps and other 'traffic control devices' at any speed. I heard from my independent service guy that a RRS L494 needed new bushes at 20,000km. Only ever driven around town but the lady owner admitted that she does not slow down for the many speed humps around her area. Sound quite logical really as they put a huge shock into the whole front end at 50 or 60 kph.

[simmo1]

Thanks Peter. We have a number of what I would call gentle speed bumps around here, and I guess that you could call most of the roads as continual speed bumps. I just drive on and let the suspension work. Not on proper bump bumps though. On many prior vehicles I have never had any issue so I truly hope that the bushes are not 'delicate' service items. Annual service at Melb Land Rover due next month so it will be interesting to see what they say.
Simmo

[101RRS]

I am not sure what it is about the earlier models and now the new models that causes these bushes to chew out so quickly - it is really not good enough.

My old 79 subaru that was often used offroad had over 400,000km and was still on its original bushes - not the tightest suspension but was still going strong.

My 98 Freelander had 300,000km on it and it still rode like it was knew with not knocks from the front end.

My 07RRS has been knocking from the front and rear since I about 40,000km and unlike the other vehicles where I could have just replaced the bushes - not really practical with my RRS.

Now we find the new models doing the same - what a load of crock. I think that we need to stop looking at our vehicles through rose coloured glasses - there is a lot of great ideas in them but there is a lot that you have to wonder "what were they thinking".

[Meccles]

Our 96 Subaru liberty with 210000km has had to have both rear LCA bushes replaced, one twice. They are silicone sealed unit that when they fail knock like crazy. And genuine bush is not cheap😩

[Grentarc]

I had a Saab 9000 Aero with a little over 225 kW and 500 Nm which would kill genuine LCA rear bushes in 20k km. I went to poly bushes after the 2nd set of genuine died. The torque steer was atrocious once the bushes were past their use by. The tuned engine also killed the hydro engine mounts very quickly.
The D4 on the other hand got 80k km out of the LCA bushes, so I am replacing them with OE ones - they cost $60 each which is quite affordable.