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Ajmngn

Member Since: 25 May 2021
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 205

2011 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Santorini Black

Subframe bush replacement issue

So I refreshed the subframe bushes as part of my complete bush replacement programme on the car and have noticed an issue since fitment. In short, the front pair are not seating correctly and it is my best guess that the replacement parts are not quite the same height as those that were removed. The pictures below show what I mean.

Click image to enlarge

You can see that the bush has un-seated itself on the subframe, and the subframe has risen up towards the car slightly.

Before you ask the obvious questions:
- parts were Febest LRAB-037 and LRAB-036. They are pretty much the only available replacements for the OE items which are out of stock anywhere I looked.
You can see the parts here https://octanedistribution.com/tecdoc.part...mp;carid=0
(I didn’t buy them from Octane but it’s a good diagram with the measurements
- yes, they were fitted the correct way round front and rear and oriented correctly.
- yes, I used the OE lube/bonding liquid and left to settle before putting weight on the car.

I think the issue is that the front bush LRAB-037 is slightly higher/taller than the OE one that came out. So, what I think has actually happened is that the subframe has settled to where it would normally rest. The washer at the top and bottom will stop the subframe from moving too far but I’m in two minds about whether to try and reseat it, just leave it, or try and source a different bush.

Thoughts? Andy

2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior
2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red
2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green (Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration!)

1st Sep 2025 12:47pm

kevinp

Member Since: 28 Sep 2019
Location: Telford
Posts: 1342

2011 Range Rover Autobiography TDV8 Santorini Black

Did you rivet the new ones in?

1st Sep 2025 1:34pm

Ajmngn

Member Since: 25 May 2021
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 205

No, but that’s one easy option. I just need to first compare the dimensions of the replacement bushes vs the old OE bushes to see whether there is indeed a difference that might cause this. The issue I’m trying to avert is putting the subframe out of its intended alignment and relative level in the front-to-back horizontal plane. In other words, is the subframe in the correct horizontal alignment and the bush is actually out of spec. Or, is the bush correct and I do indeed need to press the bush back in and rivet once done to keep it there.

I’ll keep this thread updated once I’ve worked it out as one outcome may be a recommendation to avoid the Febest bushes which seem to be the most easily available replacements (and very competitively priced making it a no-brainer to buy them if same spec as OE parts).

More to follow once I’ve broken out the vernier scale! Andy

2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior
2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red
2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green (Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration!)

1st Sep 2025 6:10pm

kevinp

Member Since: 28 Sep 2019
Location: Telford
Posts: 1342

I used genuine Landrover ones and had to drill the rivets out to remove the old ones.
I would have thought you would have had to do the same on your 2011.
I know some people have had similar issues after fitting the BMW spec bushes.

1st Sep 2025 6:16pm

Ajmngn

Member Since: 25 May 2021
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 205

Yes, see those posts and elected to go with KHC000050 and KHC000060 equivalents to avert the BMW bush gripes.

I did have to drill the rivets out, but other posts describe that renewing the rivets was not essential and that their purpose was to prevent rotation in the subframe rather than vertical movement. However, maybe that’s not strictly true, I’m just surprised as no other posts on here that I can see where the same issue has been experienced.

Either way, I’ll work it out and advise so others can have the info they need to make the correct decision for them. Andy

2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior
2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red
2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green (Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration!)

1st Sep 2025 6:22pm

Ajmngn

Member Since: 25 May 2021
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 205

So I went out with the vernier this evening and had a proper look. I drew a diagram to explain and to illustrate the issue. Bottom line is that the front of my subframe is sitting about 12mm higher than I think it should, so possibly affecting things like propshaft alignment out of intended spec.

Left drawing is old bush. Placing a straight edge level on the bit where the oval washer would sit gives 89mm height between base of washer and lower rim on bush. As I don’t have a reference having removed my OE bushes I found a few subframes for sale on eBay and an image from one confirms that the lip on the bush should sit flush with the base of the subframe. As per the photo below.

Click image to enlarge

My drawing on right shows the Febest LRAB-037 as currently sat in subframe. I was wrong in thinking it was taller than the OE bush as it’s actually shorter by 6mm; it is 83mm between bottom of washer and lip on bottom of bush. In addition to that, there is a gap of 6mm between the lip and the bottom of the subframe.

The standard reference point in all cases is the bottom of the washer as that line cannot move and represents the vehicle body (plus the washer thickness). Therefore if the bottom of the subframe should be 89mm below that washer then the Febest bushes will be 6mm higher at 83mm so already out of spec but probably not enough to make a noticeable difference. However, if like mine and the subframe is not on the lip but higher up, then that is making the subframe sit even higher, in my case a further 6mm, so 12mm higher in total.

Therefore, I need to re-press the bushes back flush into the subframe and then rivet them in place to get the front of the subframe further back down in relation to the rear.

For what it’s worth, I’ve had a driveline vibration noticeable since completing all this work and I’ve suspected it was propshaft causing it as I can feel it mostly through the seat. This symptom only appeared after doing the work, but I did do all of the rear suspension arms and hub bushings all at the same time, so it was hard to pin this vibration down to just changing the subframe bushes. However, the subframe being out of its intended plane and therefore causing the line between the centre bearing and rear differential to be at an angle would make a lot of sense as to why it’s vibrating now when it was not doing it before.

Once I’ve had a chance to remediate I’ll report back. I also hope this info may be of use to someone else. What a faff!!!

I’m also tempted to polybush the subframe instead now as I’ve now done it to every other bush on the truck so what’s the worst that can happen! 🫣 Andy

2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior
2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red
2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green (Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration!)

1st Sep 2025 11:28pm

kevinp

Member Since: 28 Sep 2019
Location: Telford
Posts: 1342

Don't know if this picture of the genuine bushes helps.

1st Sep 2025 11:44pm

pcourtney

Member Since: 14 Jan 2020
Location: Stansted
Posts: 985

2011 Range Rover Vogue 4.4 V8 Sumatra Black

These subframe bushes from PSB have had good reviews £175 for the set

https://psbushings.co.uk/product/4-x-bmw-x...2000-2006/

Click image to enlarge

2nd Sep 2025 10:56am

Ajmngn

Member Since: 25 May 2021
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 205

Ha, these were the exact ones I was looking at. Powerflex equivalents are over twice the price!

I’ve emailed PSB to get the measurements before I decide to give them a go. However, the one concern is the ability of the bush’s metal sleeve to go over the extrusion on the subframe mounting point at the front. The rear one is flush with the body so no issue, but the front one has a bit that sticks out to center and locate the bush. I’ve seen posts on BMW E53 forums about the metal sleeve on the PSB bushes needing to be reamed out about 0.5mm to be able to seat themselves correctly. This seems odd as the bushes are designed for the E53 so maybe there’s a manufacturing issue with tolerances. Either way, I need to work this out first as don’t want to get halfway through the job and find out the PSB bushes don’t fit properly. However, I am very tempted by them so I’d be willing to give it a go to prove the polyurethane bush naysayers wrong. Andy

2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior
2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red
2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green (Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration!)

2nd Sep 2025 12:22pm

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