Dealership recommend to replace front lower control arms at 20,000kms

[joneswood]

2015 SDV6 HSE, travelled 20,000 kms, low mileage. Sent to Land Rover dealership, did the 3 year 75,000kms schedule service($1156). The dealership recommended that the hydro bushes on the front lower arms has a little bit play, and quoted 2200 bucks to replace the whole control arm assembly, due to Hydro bushes cannot be removed from the arms. Meanwhile he said the issue is not urgent, and the ball joints and arms are in good shapes.
I am a bit reluctant to have the arms replace at this low mileage. Arms and bushes all look pretty good. What are you guys opinions?

[cjc_td5]

If there is no clunking when going over speed humps or oil weeping, I'd just drive on until they fail. They don't fail catastrophically, just start clunking eventually...
C

[DiscoJeffster]

Lol. What absolute rot. The arms can have the bushes replaced in them as that’s how the dealer did mine.
As for needing replacement, I’d highly doubt it but as it’s not in front of me I cannot confirm it. Seems ridiculously low mileage for that issue to appear however.

[joneswood]

Lol. What absolute rot. The arms can have the bushes replaced in them as that’s how the dealer did mine.
As for needing replacement, I’d highly doubt it but as it’s not in front of me I cannot confirm it. Seems ridiculously low mileage for that issue to appear however.

Sounded ridiculous. It is like when you got a leaking valve stem, then they ask you to replace the rim and tyre.

[Celtoid]

Any decent mechanic or steering place should be able to tell you what condition they are in.

LR recently stated my brakes and LCAs where shot and wanted shed loads to do the job. I took the car to a local guy I've known for years. LCAs were indeed shot .... brakes had months of wear left.

He has a Snap-On diagnostic tool and could easily do the LCAs and the required alignment. He used genuine parts and still came in heaps lower than LR. Recons the job was easy too and that was the first time he'd ever done a D4.

[cjc_td5]

Others have certainly been replaced at those sort of kms. Yes the bushes themselves can be replaced but when including labour, it usually cheaper to just replace the whole arm.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Mine got done at 120,000km, complete LCA replacement with upgraded units. The front was clunking considerably under braking and over speed humps.

I'd say at 20,000km is a bit early, wait until they start making noise. 2200 is also a bit steep, if you're handy with a spanner, you can take the LCAs out yourself and either get the bushes replaced at a suspension shop or install new LCA's then get a wheel alignment. New LCA's from the UK suppliers are relatively cheap.

[LRD414]

Mine were done at around 55. Bushes only done by the dealer.

[joneswood]

Others have certainly been replaced at those sort of kms. Yes the bushes themselves can be replaced but when including labour, it usually cheaper to just replace the whole arm.

For sure if hit a rock, damage the parts, I would expect replacing them.
however from everyday driving, I don’t expect changing the LCAs every 20,000 kms. By saying that there is no clunky noises when turning or going through bumps, car drives smoothly.

Will go to a different dealership for next year, if they insist changing the LCAs, then that probably the time to get them replaced.

[LRD414]

For sure if hit a rock, damage the parts, I would expect replacing them.
however from everyday driving, I don’t expect changing the LCAs every 20,000 kms. By saying that there is no clunky noises when turning or going through bumps, car drives smoothly.

Based on reading about LCA bush life as reported here over many years there is a wide range depending on usage but I feel that 20k would be something of an outlier. It may not be statistically valid but my feeling is that it's reasonable to expect at least 50k even under relatively harsh usage over corrugated outback roads. Given you have experienced none of the classic symptoms of bush failure I think it unlikely there's actually an issue yet with yours.

I don't think it is a given that complete arm replacement is the cheapest option any more. There's more places with the correct tooling for bush replacement and the OEM bushes are very cheap (I think around $40 each from memory).

Regards,
Scott