Bushings

[Houm_WA]

I have read a lot on this board and others about bushings being the culprit for a "clunking" or "knocking" feeling through the steering wheel over a certain kind of bump.

I feel that knocking sometimes too....but I think I always have. Plus, I kinda like it. It gives me good feedback when I drive over something. It sort of helps me "feel the trail" beneath the LR3 as I drive over it.

So here are my questions:

1. Is this knocking due to bushings being worn out? ...or due to them being designed too soft?

2. What is the harm in not changing them?

3. Does anyone else feel like the more you take $hit apart and put it back together, the more trouble you're asking for?

 

[Trynian]

I hear ya.

Seems like mine have always done a little since it was new. So my guess is, it a bit of both.

For fun I had them checked last service and they said they would not have anything to do with them because I have banged up the control arms some off road.

For now it is not enough to bother me yet.

 

[jjvd21]

The rear of my D3 rumbles so bad I can barely enjoy driving it anymore. I used to think it was rear interior panel noise but I recently rode in the back and its definitely suspension related. I just dropped it off at the dealers this morning to have them look at the rear suspension. My feeling is the bushings are made of chocolate cake and they fail way too early - especially if the D3 is driven over rough roads. I read somewhere that the european bushings are different than the usa version. I read that they are much stiffer. Anybody else hear this?

 

[Houm_WA]

I've heard that too, hence question # 1.

If they are soft then I'm fine with it...because like I said, I sort of like it. I don't have a rumble in the back. I like feeling bumps as long as it's not hurting anything in the suspension.

 

[JackMac]

The rear of my D3 rumbles so bad I can barely enjoy driving it anymore. I used to think it was rear interior panel noise but I recently rode in the back and its definitely suspension related.

Possibly cupped rear tires?

 

[jjvd21]

My rumbles only happen over cracks, bumps or potholes. I by no means expect silence but the rear literally flops/chatters. I'm in chicago and the street conditions here are as bad as I've ever seen - so I think the bushings are wearing prematurely. When I took my D3 to the dealers today it was like night and day how it drove on smooth suburban pavement. Just like how I remember when I bought it.....no noise.

 

[USAFbuckeye]

I've heard that too, hence question # 1.

If they are soft then I'm fine with it...because like I said, I sort of like it. I don't have a rumble in the back. I like feeling bumps as long as it's not hurting anything in the suspension.

There is a TSB for the rear sway bar. I think nwoods has something on his blog about it. The fix contains 4 rubber shim-like things. Check it out if you have time.

 

[jjvd21]

I've had the shims put in and my front bushings replaced twice. The shims helped for 30 days. I think my rears are worn and that's what is causing the flop. To answer the original question I think they are too soft and I think they wear too fast as a result. The only harm in not changing them is your sanity if the rear boot area makes a lot of noise. I'd like to point out that my D3 is the best all around vehicle I've owned, if I lived in a locale where we had normal street/road conditions then I probably wouldn't have any bushing wear complaints.

 

[Houm_WA]

So I guess maybe I will just not worry about it unless it becomes an issue as far as the ride quality. Right now I'm happy with it and I'd just as soon not have a tech taking things apart for little benefit.

 

[jjvd21]

Installing the arb shims is fairly easy and it has immediate benefits. I'd have them put them in at your next service. Parts are about $10 and its a 30 minute procedure.