Front end knocking/rattle

[VK3GJM]

Hi All,


I have an interesting but serious problem.


Over the last 6-8 months I have noticed a significant knocking coming from the front end.
It was reported and LR replaced the Hydra-bushes. Great, upon receiving the vehicle back, all gone, however about a week later the knocking has returned with the same affect/sound.


I had no choice but to take it on our trip north and outback QLD/NSW. On corrugated surfaces it feels like a steering rack or mount issue of some type. Having spent several hours under the vehicle checking bolts/nuts etc, I have not found the root cause.


A perfect example might be travelling slowly over a bluestone road surface, the knock inertia can be felt at the steering wheel and it's not pretty.


Over corrugated roads and if braking is required, the vehicle becomes somewhat unstable as things like stability control and ABS assist, with the addition of this knocking, it becomes an interesting challenge to pull up short towing avoiding a roo.


Has anyone experienced a similar issue that is very hard to describe unless you are at the wheel.


Please note, all this started with LR OEM 19" rims and General Grabber AT's, so certainly not Gordon's rims and the new D697 shoes.


I am visiting LR tomorrow and hope to take the Service Manager on a test drive, but finding a rocky road / lane or dirt road in or near Doncaster will be an interesting exercise.


Some might say, well Bull bar all that extra bling does it, however, my Business partner has the exact same vehicle with front end bling and there is no knocking with OEN 19" and GG AT tyres.


Constructive Feedback is welcome.


Regards


Gerald

[eddomak]

Sorry for my mechanical ignorance, but I don't know what Hydra bushes are.

However I was getting knocking as a result of the bushes in the front control arms, and worn ball joints. I could reproduce this (forward and back inertia changes) by medium to hard pulsing of the brakes, especially on an uphill. This has stopped since replacing the front control arms.

I am still getting some rattling/knocking over bumps (up and down movements), and suspect suspension bushes are next..

[eddy]

Gerald,Presuming the outer tie rod ends have been checked get them to check the inners Steering Rack END ROD Land Rover Discovery | eBay

[BobD]

Sounds exactly like lower control arm bushes, which you said were replaced. Usually you replace the whole control arm so it could be something else in that old control arm assembly that was not replaced causing your current issues. Maybe the bushes were not fitted correctly??

[VK3GJM]

Sorry for my mechanical ignorance, but I don't know what Hydra bushes are.

However I was getting knocking as a result of the bushes in the front control arms, and worn ball joints. I could reproduce this (forward and back inertia changes) by medium to hard pulsing of the brakes, especially on an uphill. This has stopped since replacing the front control arms.

I am still getting some rattling/knocking over bumps (up and down movements), and suspect suspension bushes are next..

Valid question.


Fancy name for rubber bushes. Why Hydra, I think the rubber bush has a small concentricity offset, thus rotation of the bush itself also provides alignment.


Regards


Gerald


Land Rover Front Lower Arm Ball Joint Hydra Bush Range Sport 10 13 MR0110 Allm | eBay

[VK3GJM]

Gerald,Presuming the outer tie rod ends have been checked get them to check the inners Steering Rack END ROD Land Rover Discovery | eBay

Hi Eddy, Shall do. I would expect this to be looked at by LR. I am and was very specific about the issue and the type of trips I do, they made it very clear to me, Yes Gerald it was a pair of Hydra Bushes only and we replaced both sides.


Hmmm, does make you think, what did they not check?


More to come after a test drive with Service Manager and hopefully subsequent fix. Gosh just clocked 62,000km, the front end cannot be that vulnerable!!


BobD, Yes LR will be pocked and prodded. Not good enough in my view.


Regards


Gerald

[LRD414]

Why Hydra, I think the rubber bush has a small concentricity offset, thus rotation of the bush itself also provides alignment.

Hydrolastic ... good explanation here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...trol-arms.html

Does sound like low km's compared to what most people report on here for LCAs.

Cheers,
Scott

[josh.huber]

Hey, disconnect the sway bar link end from the upper control arm on one side only, then drive it, 17mm nut from memory. my sway bar d rubbers had no movement with a bar but after I had done my lca were the extra noise I was chasing

[josh.huber]

Hope fully they have left nothing loose, put a spanner over the lca pins and balljoints,

[Scouse]

Usually you replace the whole control arm so it could be something else in that old control arm assembly that was not replaced causing your current issues. Maybe the bushes were not fitted correctly??

If it was a warranty repair, only the worn/loose bushes would be replaced.
Out of warranty, it's often more cost effective to replace the arm assy, depending on the skills of the workshop.