Thread: LOWER BALL JOINT ISSUES

Hi there...

I asked my dealer for a quote to replace both lower arms. I have been quoted for ball joints and bushes $500 and labour $900. They said they are aware the ball joints are modified but dont appear to be larger. Said there is only one part number. They seemed to wonder why I would want the entire arm replaced.

does this quote seem reasonable?
Should I insist on the complete arms?
Is the new joint a new part number?

Is the $900 labour just for the lower arm bushes & ball joints?
It's only a 3 hr maximum job for an experienced repairer.

It's sometimes cheaper to replace the arm assemblies rather than press in/out bushes & ball joints so get a quote for each type of repair if you can.

Originally Posted by smwilk

Hi there... I asked my dealer for a quote to replace both lower arms. I have been quoted for ball joints and bushes $500 and labour $900. They said they are aware the ball joints are modified but don't appear to be larger. Said there is only one part number. They seemed to wonder why I would want the entire arm replaced. does this quote seem reasonable? Should I insist on the complete arms? Is the new joint a new part number?

The ball joint design was improved for about model year 2008. Even if your D3 already has the newer design, given labour costs, the dealer comments still puzzle me.

In my case, I had the older design but regardless, I think that changing out the arms is with labour, both cheaper and easier. If you go back a couple of pages on this thread to post #9, you will see where I have provided the newer part numbers. If the dealer intends replacing the bushings as well, then for certain, labour will be less if the newer arms are installed. It costs the same to remove the old arms, and there are no bushing or ball joint remove and replace labour costs associated with the new arm as it is all in place. You will need a 4 wheel alignment however with the new arm installation; perhaps not, the other way.

Also there is an argument to say that the ball joints should not be replaced more than once on an existing arm. I assume however that this will be a first time replacement.

In summary, as above, get a price for new arms and labour, plus discuss wheel alignment requirements.

Agree with all of that, as the arms need to be removed to change the bushes it's a no brainer to just change the whole arm. I costed up the separate parts, they add up to almost the cost of a new arm so new ones it was for me.

Also, look at OEM rather than pattern. I've seen pattern parts on ebay etc for 50-70 GBP *more* than the OEM items. Don't forget you'll also most likely need new camber bolts to attach the arms & they're not cheap, cost me 70 quid just for the full set.

I've posted elsewhere about the price of these bits, but it's worth going to www.disco3.co.uk and getting hold of TLO (The Large One) for parts. Nick's the parts manager for Yeovil Land Rover (a main dealer) and will do parts at almost trade price & ship them. Given the exchange rate it might still be viable for you to go down that route, looking at my receipt the lower arms would set you back $360 plus shipping. Bear in mind 20% of that price is VAT, which you'll not pay.

Originally Posted by Mike_S

Don't forget you'll also most likely need new camber bolts to attach the arms & they're not cheap, cost me 70 quid just for the full set.

Yes, and the bolts will probably be required regardless.

Even if you retain the old arms, new bolts will probably be needed if the bushings are also changed out. My dealers experience is that the old bolts are rusted and either have to be cut off to be removed or even if removable, would damage the new bushings, if reused.

Also if the plan was not to rebush, sometimes the A arm has to be removed to press out the old ball joint. In that case, same story. Also if the original estimate did not include the bolts, then guess what, a phone call to say it is going to cost more.

My dealer did reuse the bolt that held the bottom of the air spring assembly to the A arm, but installed new bushing bolts. There were no parts or labour cost surprises because practically everything was new.

I'd think the quickest way of changing them is to cut the bolts off anyway, I'm certain it'll need doing this way just looking at the corrosion on them. I'm no stranger to seized wishbone bolts given our 'other' car is a Triumph Spitfire, near on 20 years of ownership & 3 suspension rebuilds all requiring the bolts to be cut off, despite using copperslip on them !!

Thx guys, the labour was for the whole job! I think I will go elsewhere, dealer really should be telling me this sort of stuff. I won't mention the contaminated coolant they sold me the other day!

recently had my front end worked over - below is what was used
SuperPro Solution for Land Rover Discovery Series 3
Great service and very competative price.
Supplied and fitted by Horsepower factory - Ask for Mat (also a D3 owner)
8-10 Amberley Crescent
Dandenong VIC 3175
(03) 9793 1616