Lower arm bushes

[Simond S]

Morning chaps,

LR have just called and said that LR Warranty are rejecting the lower arm bushes as a "wear and tear" item on my 2014 Disco 4.

Has anyone else claimed from LR for these? I'm shocked as never had to replace lower arms before.

Also rejected the Park Brake Bracket which has worn. Thoughts?

Many thanks

Simond

Edited by Simond S on Thursday 5th December 13:05

[InitialDave]

Well, I guess they are a consumable item, but what's the age and mileage on them?

I'd certainly expect them to last within a manufacturer's warranty period unless they've been outright abused.

[Simond S]

I bought the car on about 70,000 in November 2017. It now has 83,000 miles on it.

[A.J.M]

Lower arms are a wear and tear item and unless the warranty does state them. They won’t be covered.

Likewise the handbrake holding hooks.

[paintman]

If this is the Defender 110 in your garage then they are big heavy vehicles & like most Land Rovers aren't kind to suspension bushes.
I presume they are talking about the bushes in the front radius arms? - arms often referred to as 'hockey sticks' for obvious reasons.
Items 2 in item 1 in this link: http://new.lrcat.com/#!/1228/7048/7288/651

If so - you don't give the year - they are easily replaced with a press & genuine & aftermarket items are readily available - usually best to replace the rubber bushes on the chassis end at the same time. I'm not a fan of polybush etc & use the original types on my RRC.
If you do DIY then don't fully tighten the bolts until the weight of the vehicle is back on its wheels & the suspension has adopted its normal running position.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 5th December 12:31

[Simond S]

paintman said:

If this is the Defender 110 in your garage then they are big heavy vehicles & like most Land Rovers aren't kind to suspension bushes.
I presume they are talking about the bushes in the front radius arms? - arms often referred to as 'hockey sticks' for obvious reasons.
Items 2 in item 1 in this link: http://new.lrcat.com/#!/1228/7048/7288/651

If so - you don't give the year - they are easily replaced with a press & genuine & aftermarket items are readily available - usually best to replace the rubber bushes on the chassis end at the same time. I'm not a fan of polybush etc & use the original types on my RRC.
If you do DIY then don't fully tighten the bolts until the weight of the vehicle is back on its wheels & the suspension has adopted its normal running position.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 5th December 12:31

Its for the 2014 Disco 4. I wont be DIY'ing anything, either warranty or I'll use a local specialist to do it.

[paintman]

Ah. Totally different set up.

[doggydog33]

The front lower arms on a disco seem to be good to about 70,000 miles. They go on for longer but you do get a knocking and they can sometimes cause problems with the electronic suspension (it gets confused with heights).
If they were anything like mine on my old disco 3, they will be a cow to remove. The bolt rusts to the rubber bush inner sleeve.
Normally the quickest way to remove them is to cut through the bolts. Worth buying a kit from a specialist that supplies arms and all new fixings.

Regards, doggydog.

[Storer]

I am assuming (dangerous, I know) that the lower suspension arms are the same as a Discovery 3. The lower arms on a 3 rarely need new bushes. It is the upper arms that go.

I would get the car to a LR specialist (not main dealer).

If the car does really need the parts replacing it will be cheaper and they can fit OEM parts at half the cost.

I would not expect LR to pay at that mileage.