Tell me about D3 ball joints?

[Michael70]

Guys,

I am sure this has been discussed before but the search function on this site is frustrating to say the least. Anyhow I have recently purchased my first LR a D3 that I had admired since they were released. Had this checked out thoroughly by RACV and it had a full service history at a LR dealer, so all looked OK.

Driving it around after a month or so it developed a clunking noise under the front passenger side when turning corners (mainly to the left) which simply sounded like something loose banging against the chassis rail. Took it to my local repairer AMV and after a quick lap of the block they diagnosed a front ball joint as being the issue.

Apparently these give up the ghost at about 100K kms (mine has about 115K kms) and cost $1,350 per corner. The replacement is apparently a revised design as these were a known weakness and rectified with the D4 (mine is MY08 D3).

The question is: has this problem been overcome with the replacement unit, and should I expect the other three to go in fairly quick succession?

I was planning on spending some coin on accessories for off-road but seems that I have to save my pennies to get this right as well as other surprises that may yet come out of the woodwork.

Thanks for your advice,


Michael.

[PerthDisco]

Hi Michael

Going through all this myself currently at 90k kms.

Took mine in for a wheel alignment recently and they would not do it as too much movement in the front lower control arm bushes.

Seems this is about the right time for them to wear out as car is very heavy and also they have a very tight turning circle which tortures the bits and pieces.

Bit of homework shows that best way is to replace the entire lower control arm (cost approx $350 each) which has all new bushes and a new ball joint, presumably of the latest upgrade variety. Total cost to remove and replace around $2k I would guess.

Interestingly, the local LR dealer did not seem interested in this solution only to press out and replace the bushes (which is a mongrel of a job apparently).

Suggest replace ARB bushes at same time and she should be good for another lap of the block.

[Michael70]

Excuse the ignorance but what are "ARB bushes"?

Also I had the wheel alignment done when I replaced wheels about a week or so before the noise started up, and there was no comment from the aligner about movement or anything untoward???

Either way, it is a strange noise because it does really sound like something slapping against the chassis rail rather than a clunk in the suspension....is this the same sound you are experiencing?

Again thanks for the replies.

Michael.

[PerthDisco]

Anti Roll Bar - same deal bushes wear out.

I don't want to scare but I had a clunk in mine before the manufacturer warranty ran out. You could feel it through the steering wheel when turning / accelerating. Dealer told me they replaced the steering column

There are a lot of things that can go 'clunk' on a Disco it seems but replacing the entire lower control arms seems to kill three birds with one stone so a good investment in my mind.

Best if you find a very good D3 mechanic and go through it carefully.

[trobbo]

welcome to d3 ownership.
The d3 ball joints are crap and often fail in as little as 45,000 km.
I had the ball joints replaced in my d3 (along with the steering rack) to stop the knock, which it did, however it returned 3 weeks later.
I then had to replace the lower control arms which the ball joints attach to. Got hit twice for much of the labor involved in the two jobs so my advice would be to do the control arms as well and hope you dont have to replace the steering rack.

[roamer]

They haven't gotten any better in the D4 , twice in 65000km
At least it was under warranty

Cheers Ken

[smwilk]

I got both lower front control arms replaced for about $1000. Seems to be about the going rate.

[Michael70]

[FONT=""][COLOR=""][SIZE=""]Not good news.....but thanks for the heads up!!

Looks like I have to save my pennies as this may be a recurring issue; pity the little things detract from the overall package.

Believe that the Disco is generations ahead of the jap offerings but I am still a bit nervous with all of the electronics and EAS; but when it is working it is brilliant.

Fingers crossed that the ball joint is the only problem for a while.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]

[RichardK]

$1350 per corner is a bit rich, I've just had both my front ones done plus the mandatory wheel alignment, my cost was $1650 all up

[NavyDiver]

I had both lower control arms replaced at about 150,000 cost a lot less than $1000 per side I think.

It seems your alinement person is not on the ball or ball jiont You would have thought they might mention a fault like that. That said my rattle was really only noted when going over corrigations or speed humps to fast. The nice guys are a ringwood LD service place could not find it till they hit a speed hump as well. Quick and easy to fix.

The great turning circle and other tricks our Discos can do does have some mainatence requirements.