Morning,

I noticed a clunk on my RR 4.4 MY12 on rough ground.

I had the drop links replaced and whilst this has cured some of the noise i am still getting a clunk so I am thinking it might be time to get all bushes replaced.

I remember on other cars that some had a upgraded bushes available - do they do a set for RR, if so who and are they any good

Ta muchly 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE

These are very good!

http://www.polybush.co.uk/shop/land-rover/...r=2%7C2012 Current: TDV8 (3.6) RRS HSE



Past: TDV8(4.4) Vogue
Discovery 3 Commercial
TDV8(3.6) Vogue
TD6 Vogue
D2 V8 ES
D1 V8 ES
RR Vogue Classic

Mixed opinions on polymer bushes. Some opinions being that whilst they stiffen/harshen up the ride initially, they don't have the suppleness long term, leading to them wearing out. i.e. you've paid more on them but they haven't really lasted for a longer time.

If the clunk is from the front, then the most common clunk is often from the suspension arm ball joints where they attach to the hub and not the bushes. No poly bush is going to fix that balljoint clunk... , and considering that one arm comes with the balljoint in it, then to swap to poly bush, you would have to remove a brand new rubber bush and put in a poly one ... doubling the cost essentially.

There isn't really a specific test method I've found that can definitively diagnose which balljoint is failing or has play in it. The suspension seems to be tensioned in such a way (on the ground or lifted up) as to limit the ability to pry-bar at the balljoints looking for play. Honestly, the best method is to simply drive over bumps and listen to which side is clunking, and then replace both arms and balljoints accordingly.

that being said, once you have the balljoint nuts undone and the arms disconnected ... any play in the balljoints is easily found by hand when testing the movement of the joint ... typical.

I just replace mine when I hear the clunk ... and I use whatever is going cheap. I've tried the genuine and crap ... both last about the same time ... so figure on just going cheap.

I personally think that the balljoints are under-specced for the size of car, and is a design fault as such, leading to premature wear. V8 or else ...

Totally agree I replace mine far too often just done them again probably once a year so about 20k but then it annoys me if it doesn't drive true
Not too dear either

Some solid advice there from fisha! The arms and joints are a problem with the FF, but it is a big chunk of metal.
I only referred to the poly bushes as that is what the original post referred to.
Hope you get sorted out anyway whatever you do?.  Current: TDV8 (3.6) RRS HSE



Past: TDV8(4.4) Vogue
Discovery 3 Commercial
TDV8(3.6) Vogue
TD6 Vogue
D2 V8 ES
D1 V8 ES
RR Vogue Classic

Hi Busa1400,

I had similar symptoms on mine and after changing the drop links it did cure most of it. what I eventually found was that the whole wheel and suspension leg was moving in the wheel arch. Noticed it by chance as I was admiring the cars reflection in a window whilst ebbing ever so slightly forwards in traffic.

A further inspection revealed the ball joint rubbers were perished but more worryingly the big bush at the back of the tie rod arm was completely wrecked. the central core with the bolt through it had totally detached from the outer rubber, thus allowing the tie rod arm to be rotated 45 degrees each way from centre which in turn let the large metal bush mounting piece of the arm hit against the subframe.

They have to be done in pairs so I swapped out the arms and ball joints and now all is good and the steering is much more precise. Dan gave me a good price for OEM, there is a thread in his section giving the details and a little diagram of the arms.

Hope that makes sense and helps in your diagnostics quest.

I will be replacing the rear( largest) bush on mine asap , got the new bush , just need to whip it off to do the job , mine is knocking like mad at certain steering angles

SteMY06HSE wrote:

Hi Busa1400,

I had similar symptoms on mine and after changing the drop links it did cure most of it. what I eventually found was that the whole wheel a......................................................

Just to be clear ... I would't bother trying to just replace a bush within an existing arm. Just buy the whole arm that includes the bush from the outset. V8 or else ...

why ever not ? its an easy enough job if you have access to a press

I suppose if you have a press ... I get where you are coming from ... I'm a cheapskate at times, so do look for the cheapest option ...

but by the time you take the old arm out, walk across the workshop and just offer it up to the press, you could have had the new arm lined up and slid the bolt through and put the started putting the nut back on, knowing that the bush you've fitted is in the correct orientation.

Rimmers have a bush only for about a tenner, and a bush+arm for about £35ish ... I'd pay that £25 more personally. My time is worth that difference in price. The time I save replacing the whole arm versus messing with a press would go a long way to covering that £25 as an hourly rate. V8 or else ...

well the arm was £88 plus vat from my parts place and the bush was 12 quid , hence why I went that route , big saving to be had , job itself is a bit of a pig off the floor but I managed it , would have been easy with a 2 poster