Member Since: 18 Aug 2020
Location: Surrey
Posts: 22
Front lower control arms DIY
Hi there,
I've had my 2015 Discovery 4 for a little over 2.5 years. Now that it's out of the LR warranty, I'm going kicking off some driveway maintenance. The first job is the lower control arms, which - at 70k miles - have started to knock over bumps, with some slight steering wheel wobble when braking.
I've spent quite a while reading the service manual, posts and 'how tos' on here + I've watched a number of YouTube vids. But, I've got a couple of outstanding questions I'm hoping for guidance on...
1. Is it still possible to buy a trolley jack adapter for the chassis jacking holes? They don't seem to be on eBay anymore, and I missed the group buys:
If not, is it still safe to jack the front of the car up (with the additional strain of it being in 'access mode' required for this job) with the recommended 3T Clark trolley jack from the centre of its cross beam before positioning axel stands? If not, I guess I could jack up and work on one corner at a time.
2. As per the service manual, I'll be torqueing the control arm nuts with the hub raised with a jack so the bushes are tightened at their usual ride height:
The manual seems to imply that the shock absorber can then be torqued with the hub lowered again, but could that damage the lower shock bushing? The Brit Parts 'how to' implies that it will (at 14mins 10s), although other guides contradict this:
?t=850
I don't want to buy the Brit Parts £300 Lynx Evo to take the air pressure out of the suspension and I don't think they'll be space to get a torque wrench and spanner around the wheel to the shock nut/bolt with the car back on the ground.
3. Lastly, can I ask for a quick sense check that the Brit Parts OEM control arm kits (£366 for left and right) are of comparable quality to their £530 genuine LR parts and worth the extra money over their very cheap £158 after market versions?:
I noticed that AF also sell several poly kits, which I've read can result in less comfortable ride/handling.
Maybe I was too quick to jump to conclusions re AF, though. I'm open to hearing if they're the recommended consensus .
18th Aug 2020 12:22 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4399
Good spotting! That was my comment, and as you say, it was related to Meyle arms fitted to my Passat.
I've done all the arms on mine this year, and used AF parts. All with 4 year warranty.
No problems as yet Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
18th Aug 2020 12:47 pm
PeterTh
Member Since: 06 Sep 2013
Location: Alunda
Posts: 330
I have Myele front arms from Advanced Factors. Fitted 3,5 years and 120.000 km ago. They are still excellent and no difference in ride.
//Peter2011 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 S Automatic
1999 Discovery 2 V8 ES Automatic
Earlier
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Automatic
1996 Discovery 300 Tdi ES Automatic
1975 Series 3 2.25 diesel
Nanocom Evolution for D2 V8, D3 and D4
Working kelpies for working the sheep
18th Aug 2020 6:21 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Sea Raider wrote:
Where are the bad reports re the Advanced Factors gear.
They do arms that come with a 4 year warranty.
There are at least a couple of comments i have read over the last year or two in relation to AF arms/bushes failing early.
Of course we do not know how they were fitted, and by who?
That is why I say genuine arms are the way to go, if the ops has had 70k out of the originals then they are worth every penny.
18th Aug 2020 7:17 pm
R1DSO
Member Since: 18 Aug 2020
Location: Surrey
Posts: 22
rrhool wrote:
Good spotting! That was my comment, and as you say, it was related to Meyle arms fitted to my Passat.
I've done all the arms on mine this year, and used AF parts. All with 4 year warranty.
No problems as yet
PeterTh wrote:
I have Myele front arms from Advanced Factors. Fitted 3,5 years and 120.000 km ago. They are still excellent and no difference in ride.
//Peter
This is useful to hear, thanks guys. Good to know the Meyle kit is a viable option, with a bit of a cost saving too at £269.
However, I just rechecked the AF listings and I’ve realised that all their lower control arms, including the Meyle kits, are made in house and feature solid (not oil-filled) bushes. This makes me think it might be worth the extra £97 for the Rimmer Bros OEM kit, even if only for my peace of mind.
18th Aug 2020 9:40 pm
R1DSO
Member Since: 18 Aug 2020
Location: Surrey
Posts: 22
lynalldiscovery wrote:
Sea Raider wrote:
Where are the bad reports re the Advanced Factors gear.
They do arms that come with a 4 year warranty.
There are at least a couple of comments i have read over the last year or two in relation to AF arms/bushes failing early.
Of course we do not know how they were fitted, and by who?
That is why I say genuine arms are the way to go, if the ops has had 70k out of the originals then they are worth every penny.
Interesting to hear, thank you. Rimmer Bros say their OEM parts are supplied by an original equipment manufacturer, but they aren’t in the original brand packaging. My take on that is that they are exactly the same parts as the genuine Land Rover products, but with a £164 saving.
It makes me wonder what parts garages would use for this job. I got an idea of prices from a couple of Land Rover specialists before I decided to do the work myself. Deducting a reasonable allowaction for labour, I’m pretty certain there wasn’t enough budget left in the quotes for genuine LR control arms.
18th Aug 2020 9:46 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Sadly OEM does not always mean what we like to think it means!
For example company A supplies LR with their water pumps, so they are are OEM manufacturer, then they decide to make lower arms, and as they are an OEM supplier they can say they are OEM?
I would hazard a guess even the cheap arms will last for a while on a road only going motor.
Range rover sport lower arms are the common mod for the D3, not sure if D4 arms are the same? Slightly harsher ride, but the arms are meant to last longer as the rear bush is solid and not fluid filled.
19th Aug 2020 7:29 am
DrRobH
Member Since: 10 Oct 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 924
Phone Paul Redding at Advanced Factors and chat to him.
As above, RR Sport versions seem the best upgrade. He does them too.
Customer service is unmatchable Visitor from fullfatrr.com
RR Vogue SE 2011 4.4 TDV8
1974 Lightweight
19th Aug 2020 7:33 am
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2136
I’ve always had genuine LR arms on my D4 and they only last 50k.
I’m on my third set, and probably won’t be going for them again!
Current: D4 HSE
Previous: BMW Z4M Coupe
Previous: Land Rover Defender 90 CSW Td5
Previous: Land Rover Discovery Td5 ES
19th Aug 2020 9:08 am
knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
lynalldiscovery wrote:
Range rover sport lower arms are the common mod for the D3, not sure if D4 arms are the same? Slightly harsher ride, but the arms are meant to last longer as the rear bush is solid and not fluid filled.
RRS genuine front lower arms do have the oil-filled hydrabush. This allows for more progressive handling.
AF arms, with the Meyle HD bushes are solid rubber. AF arms are all the same for D3, D4 and RRS. Ask Paul, he will confirm.Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
19th Aug 2020 11:56 am
R1DSO
Member Since: 18 Aug 2020
Location: Surrey
Posts: 22
lynalldiscovery wrote:
Sadly OEM does not always mean what we like to think it means!
For example company A supplies LR with their water pumps, so they are are OEM manufacturer, then they decide to make lower arms, and as they are an OEM supplier they can say they are OEM?
This is good to know, thank you. I'll call Rimmer Bros to find out what they say about their control arms.
lynalldiscovery wrote:
Range rover sport lower arms are the common mod for the D3, not sure if D4 arms are the same? Slightly harsher ride, but the arms are meant to last longer as the rear bush is solid and not fluid filled.
DrRobH wrote:
Phone Paul Redding at Advanced Factors and chat to him.
As above, RR Sport versions seem the best upgrade. He does them too.
Customer service is unmatchable
I'll give Paul a buzz too and get his input. Whilst I'd rather do the job once and not have to worry about parts failure, the 4 year warranty is interesting if the AF parts offer a comparable ride. My Disco does about 10k road miles a year and no serious off-roading, bar the odd farm track etc.
19th Aug 2020 11:59 am
knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
You won't go wrong with the AF arms with Meyle bushes Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
19th Aug 2020 12:11 pm
R1DSO
Member Since: 18 Aug 2020
Location: Surrey
Posts: 22
robpenrose wrote:
I’ve always had genuine LR arms on my D4 and they only last 50k.
I’m on my third set, and probably won’t be going for them again!
knwatkins wrote:
lynalldiscovery wrote:
Range rover sport lower arms are the common mod for the D3, not sure if D4 arms are the same? Slightly harsher ride, but the arms are meant to last longer as the rear bush is solid and not fluid filled.
RRS genuine front lower arms do have the oil-filled hydrabush. This allows for more progressive handling.
AF arms, with the Meyle HD bushes are solid rubber. AF arms are all the same for D3, D4 and RRS. Ask Paul, he will confirm.
knwatkins wrote:
You won't go wrong with the AF arms with Meyle bushes
All useful guidance, thanks guys.
Last edited by R1DSO on 19th Aug 2020 12:15 pm. Edited 1 time in total
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