LR3 Lower Control Arm Kits

[sp543]

Anyone use this kit with poly bushings from Lucky 8?:

FRONT POLYBUSH LOWER CONTROL ARM KIT W/ HARDWARE

Front Lower Control Arm Kit Poly Bushings w/ Hardware LH & RH Fits: LR3 2005-2009 LR4 2010-2016 Range Rover Sport L320 2006-2013 Part Number: LCAKWPB FREE SHIPPING TO THE LOWER 48!

lucky8llc.com

I've got the typical front end "clunk" that is driving me nuts. Thoughts on going with these vs OEM would be appreciated.

 

[gbarba]

After the clunk kept getting worse, I put this kit on my LR3 nearly two years ago. My control arms were pretty shot, so I don't have a direct comparison to OEM quality, but the ride is slightly stiffer and there is subtly more vibration than before. Quality may be up in the air; I personally need to get around to replacing one of these ball joints after the boot prematurely gave up, but that's just one person's experience.

There have been a lot of debates on here about which is better, and iirc some have experienced failures of the control arms because the bushings were too hard and transferred too much force into the arm itself, rather than absorbing that stress themselves. When I asked this question a while back, several experienced members chimed in and recommended the RRS control arms, which are apparently a better design than the LR3's and fit just fine. It really comes down to your use case – if on-road manners are your priority, then the RRS arms are almost certainly worth it. If you want to beat them up off-road, then these may be a better option? If I had it to do over again, I'd probably go with OEM, but I'm not unhappy with these.

It's worth checking your other bushings while you're in there, my front sway bar bushings were shot and it's easy to get to while the arms are off.

 

[Apex381]

Everybody is going to have thier own opinion about this.

I can only tell you my control arm odyssey. FWIW I used to run a euro specialist shop (not a LR specialist shop though) so I'm a perfectionist, take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Round 1: I had orange polybushes installed. I found them too harsh.

Round 2: Changed back to oe style because I had unrelated front end repair so I figured "while I'm in there". I got the generic oe style control arms that an online retailer recommended to me. The quality of these was garbage and when attempted to install they didn't fit right and comparing with the factory arms they were slightly out of spec. Most people or techs would probably beat them into shape or pound them in but I don't have good luck doing that in the past so I sent them back.

Round 3: Friend recommended Atlantic British kit with the green polyurethane bushings, more compliant he says, you'll like them he says. I had them installed. I still found these no different then the orange, also the LR3 never handled quite right to me afterwards but I sucked it up and figured it might be my imagination. Yes I did have an alignment.

Round 4: 1.5 years later and I have new tires so have the car aligned from an LR shop that supposedly can align the LR3 properly. Car still doesn't steer right, whatever maybe I'm a tool. I have to go to the dealer for a key programming and when I pull into the service bay the scanner that shows alignment on the big screen turns red... now the entire service lane thinks I'm the guy with the ghetto old LR3. Says my front left wheel is out of spec. Not a fan of dealerships but at this point I've had enough. The dealer attempts to align it and they can't. The Atlantic British bushings at least one is out of spec. Exasperated I just pay them to do it. I don't like dealers or high prices but flame away lol. Car drives like it's brand new now I'm in love with the LR3 all over again.

Many ppl like urethane bushings. I used to install urethane bushings on BMWs all day everyday and all the BMWs I owned I put Poly bushings on. There are also many who say the generic control arms are just fine. This was definitely not my experience. I recommend lemforder or genuine Land Rover bushings.

TLDR: if you just want it "right" and like the oe ride/drive then go stock

 

[Just Wandering]

I am currently in process of putting together a fairly comprehensive refresh on my 05. I believe I'll be going Meyle HD on these parts. Seems to be good intersection of cost and potential improvement over oe in the durability department. Unfortunately can't add my experience yet, but thought I'd add it to your list.

 

[iowalr4]

I just got some of the Meyle HD arms. They look really nice. I am hoping the solid, but rubber, bushes will be comfy but more sturdy. Otherwise my plan would just be OEM. I got nearly 80k miles out of my original set even though it is used off road. I think the only reason they have lasted this long is I don't do hardly any city stop and go with it and its mostly a road trip/travel vehicle.

 

[DiscoNels]

Speaking from experience on my 2006 LR3. I converted to 100% orange Polybush back in 2015, uppers, lowers, sway bar bushings, everything. I run two sets of tires; my winter tires on low profile 20" wheels, and my 32" mud tires on 18's. Pretty harsh ride with the lower profile 20's but very firm like a large heavy sports car. The ride is much better with the mud tires. Over the years I started cracking my control arms, and the bushings in the sway bar arms completely disintegrated into nothing and needed replacing (I went back to OE). Of course when the arms cracked I was somewhere like Moab, actually all 3 arms have cracked while in Moab. Two cracked on one trip (rear uppers) and a front lower last year. So, as they have been getting replaced I've replaced with LR OE arms. I used to preach "use them" all over the place, but my stance now on Polybush is DO NOT USE, they are far too stiff for such a heavy vehicle. Meyle HD is the way to go or stock. These are wear parts and will need to be replaced so budget for it.

 

[soflorovers]

Speaking from experience on my 2006 LR3. I converted to 100% orange Polybush back in 2015, uppers, lowers, sway bar bushings, everything. I run two sets of tires; my winter tires on low profile 20" wheels, and my 32" mud tires on 18's. Pretty harsh ride with the lower profile 20's but very firm like a large heavy sports car. The ride is much better with the mud tires. Over the years I started cracking my control arms, and the bushings in the sway bar arms completely disintegrated into nothing and needed replacing (I went back to OE). Of course when the arms cracked I was somewhere like Moab, actually all 3 arms have cracked while in Moab. Two cracked on one trip (rear uppers) and a front lower last year. So, as they have been getting replaced I've replaced with LR OE arms. I used to preach "use them" all over the place, but my stance now on Polybush is DO NOT USE, they are far too stiff for such a heavy vehicle. Meyle HD is the way to go or stock. These are wear parts and will need to be replaced so budget for it.View attachment 661691

Yeah +1 on this. Mine was on full poly bush - new owner has told me that the control arms were cracked and completely toast. You live and you learn.

 

[sp543]

Went with their less expensive kit: https://lucky8llc.com/collections/l...ucts/front-lower-control-arm-kit-w-hardware-1

No complaints so far.

 

[iowalr4]

Update on the Meyle HD. They seem perfect. Soft, no noticeable difference between OE and these. I am guessing they will last considerably longer.

 

[gatorgrizz27]

Update on the Meyle HD. They seem perfect. Soft, no noticeable difference between OE and these. I am guessing they will last considerably longer.

Good to hear. I bought their whole front end parts (lowers, uppers, tie rod ends, sway bar links), just need to fins some time to get them on. Did you have to cut any bolts to get the old arms out of did they remove ok?

 

[douglastic]

Went with their less expensive kit: https://lucky8llc.com/collections/l...ucts/front-lower-control-arm-kit-w-hardware-1
No complaints so far.

Good to hear. This kit is waiting in my garage for me to install.
When the LK8 (Allmakes) wear out in 50k (or less? haha), I may have a shop press OEM bushings into the removed OEM arms for next swap. Rinse and repeat.