suspension Knock not LCA's
- Thread starter jhawk
- Start date
Had a similar issue and it was a front link. Very, very small amount of play but once replaced, all good. After the condition of our roads last winter, had to replace all four this spring.
Everything but the endlinks I just put on. Going over a speed bump, pot hole.etc. Wash boards really make a racket. I replaced the lower arms due to bad ball joints and the knock that made. This knock is not near as "solid" as the bad ball joints were, or the knock of bad LCA bushings.
I'm about at the point of waiting for whatever it is to fall off.
I'm about at the point of waiting for whatever it is to fall off.
I don't think I've seen it on an LR3, but I've heard knocks from Range Rover struts before. Rather than guessing at replacing more parts, it might be worth it to pay a shop with a chassis ear to diagnose it for you. Since you've replaced a lot of suspension components, I would recommend going over all of the bolts and making sure they are tight. Just a little bit a play in something can make a lot of noise. I know you say its coming from the front, but I would check the rear carefully. The upper control arms can get a lot of play in them, as can the sway bar bushings.
I've gone over every bolt numerous times. After the tie rod ends I had it aligned and asked the tech to look, but he found nothing. I'm sure he didn't use a chassis ear though. I'll go through the rear suspension this weekend and see what I can find.
How long ago were the sway bar bushings replaced? Perhaps it's time for a new set... On my 2006 RRS I went through several sets of front (can't remember how many, but at least 4 or 5) and a couple of rear bushings in 7 years and 200K+ miles of ownership. Sometimes they'd give a warning by starting to squeak lightly - think old mattress springs - sometimes they'd just start the annoying knock over bumps that got progressively louder.
They are roughly two years old. The other day I cut up some heater hose and made something similar to the shims Land Rover used to sell. Basically goes between the bushing and the frame so the bar can't bush out the back of the bushing and hit the frame. Didn't stop the knock. Is the bar hitting somewhere else?
Also, I appreciate the help gentleman, thank you.
Jim
Also, I appreciate the help gentleman, thank you.
Jim
I've seen a few LR3's with bad motor mounts. I don't know if that would cause the knock you are hearing, but worth checking. You can unbolt a sway bar end link on each side to rule out anything sway bar related.
I know you say the sway bar bushings have been done but I would see if the bar can move around in the bushing. They sound like loose lumber bouncing around when there loose.
There is no need to remove it completely, just remove one of the links. It won't make noise when one side is disconnected.
My buddy came over today and we got it figured out, I hope. Turns out the upper strut bushing (10) in the attachment has separated. There is only play in the set-up about half way through the suspensions travel. At that point you can move the top of the strut around.
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