Freelander 1 Epic fail (or not?)

Border Boy · Nov 21, 2023

Have just had my Freelander 1 fail its MOT, new track rod end ball joints and lower suspension arm required, see attachment. Although the failure was on one suspension arm, I plan to renew both and similarly track rod ends
I plan to carry out the work myself, after looking at YouTube videos, removing the rubber mounting in the aluminium housing from the suspension arm could be difficult due to corrosion. I've got a reasonable tool kit and working area but I would like any useful tips for completing the work and problems encountered.
Who is the best supplier for good quality parts and reasonable price?
Cheers all

Andy Warren · Nov 21, 2023

Border Boy said:
Have just had my Freelander 1 fail its MOT, new track rod end ball joints and lower suspension arm required, see attachment. Although the failure was on one suspension arm, I plan to renew both and similarly track rod ends
I plan to carry out the work myself, after looking at YouTube videos, removing the rubber mounting in the aluminium housing from the suspension arm could be difficult due to corrosion. I've got a reasonable tool kit and working area but I would like any useful tips for completing the work and problems encountered.
Who is the best supplier for good quality parts and reasonable price?
Cheers all

Hi, replacing the lower arms is very straightforward, do the pair as they aren't expensive. Corrosion wise are you talking about the alloy bush housings or the bodywork they bolt to ?
You can leave the housings in place just to do the l/arms.
If you need the alloy housings these are also inexpensive just don't be tempted to use a nut gun on the bolts that hold them to the body as the captive nuts can break lose inside the body & you'll then have to cut a hole in the floor pan from inside the footwell to access them so leave alloy housings in situ if you don't need to remove them, all the best.

Andy Warren · Nov 21, 2023

Also, if you don't need to remove the housings just remember to put the large (rubber coated) snubbed washers on the way they came off.

Alteredtech · Nov 22, 2023

Hi,

Arms rust because there is small holes that let water pass, if there is mud stuck inside the arm, it will rust, just keep them clean. The hole near the ball joint is certainly in cause.

With cheap arms, the inner bushes don’t last that long. I need to change them again

The arms can get stuck in the rear bushes. Can take long to take them out. You can put some grease so they can be removed more easily when needed.

You can easily remove the arm with the rear bush that is in an aluminium housing. The most difficult part is to separate them.

Stance · Nov 23, 2023

I replaced both sides on my 2004 Sport, drivers side was badly corroded. Only difficult part was to separate the rear aluminium bushing from the arm. No way I could have done it keeping the rear bushing bolted to car. If I'd do it again now, I'd probably get new bushings, just in case the old ones are destroyed.

Dar ran Dar ran · Nov 23, 2023

I put two on recently I would definitely take the arm completely off
the bush comes out of the alloy housing
with a drill and effort
new one s just push in

They were advised on last MOT

Boy do they rot !

Border Boy · Nov 26, 2023

Thanks all for your replies.
I am at a stage(age?) where working outside on a cold wet day is not great so I took the Freelander to a local one-man band. Not collected yet. I don't think there will be a "happy ending"!

Freelander 1 Epic fail (or not?)

Border Boy

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Andy Warren

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Andy Warren

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Alteredtech

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Stance

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Dar ran Dar ran

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Border Boy

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