↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Front radius arm - bush replacement
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 2 12>
Print this entire topic · 
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Front radius arm - bush replacement
After replacing the rear trailing arm bushes it was time to replace the front radius arm bushes. After fighting to remove the drivers side arm first and also having to drop the steering arm to make room the arm came free.

Old bushes


Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge


I am pretty sure I shouldn't have been able to remove the centre metal tube by hand...
After a few hours, new bushes back in and tomorrow is get the arm back on the car. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755522 1st Feb 2019 7:44pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
williamthedog



Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Tamar Blue
No you certainly shouldn't be able to remove the centre by hand. I think the technical term is FUBAR Thumbs Up
Post #755532 1st Feb 2019 8:26pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
I think I have had my monies worth ( I have done 74k miles since i had the car) I suspect original ones. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755557 1st Feb 2019 9:17pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Bluericky



Member Since: 26 Jun 2014
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 647

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Keswick Green
Replacing the bushes was supposed to be the hard part but I later found that getting the radius arm pivot bolts lined up was by far the most time consuming part of the process !
Good luck
Post #755572 1st Feb 2019 9:50pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
That's my task for tomorrow! Should be about as much fun as trying to get the correct torque while being on my back in the drive! 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755583 1st Feb 2019 10:08pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
williamthedog



Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Tamar Blue
Wheel chocks and racket straps are your friends if you're having trouble lining them up.
Post #755594 1st Feb 2019 10:30pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
One arm done and back on. As mentioned getting the bolts to line up was a pain in the rear but after careful use of a trolley jack and a bottle jack plus some pry bars, the holes lined up.

Decided to try the other side and flat battery Sad So no can do. Battery now on charge. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755697 2nd Feb 2019 4:12pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Grouse



Member Since: 16 Apr 2012
Location: on the hill
Posts: 512

A long tapered spike helps to align the holes - makes it far easier
Post #755723 2nd Feb 2019 6:47pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
I used one of those as well. I think the drivers side is the hardest due to the diff being in the same area 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755727 2nd Feb 2019 7:05pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Started the passenger side. The front bolt for the radius arm had rusted to the inner metal tube in the bush. With the help of a pry bar and a Makita rattle gun got the bolt out and arm off.
Passenger side



Click image to enlarge


There was a inner tube but that fell out.

And now the seals on the press have gone... Sad 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755898 3rd Feb 2019 12:58pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Both arms now done. Passenger side went almost straight back in. Front bush lined up bob on and the bolt slid straight in. Rear bolt just needed the axle rotating a bit and then bingo.

A few days and i will retorque the nuts after settling in.

For comparison old chassis end bushes


Click image to enlarge
 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #755925 3rd Feb 2019 3:16pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mermade



Member Since: 08 Dec 2018
Location: cheshire
Posts: 3

United Kingdom 
worth going poly while doing it and you wont ever have to do the job again Very Happy
https://powerflexstore.co.uk/land-rover/defender-2002-2016/
Post #757060 7th Feb 2019 3:59pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
I went for genuine LR ones, Figured the old ones have done over 200k, so will new ones.
I did consider poly bush as an option but went LR ones. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #757068 7th Feb 2019 4:34pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5743

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
After a run up the M62 to Pickering for the Riponian rally and towing my crane, the car felt a lot smoother and quieter on the motorways. Also felt better in the forest in the mud/ruts. A job worth doing!

For those interested I have a list of part numbers. 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #757930 11th Feb 2019 12:48pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2548

Scotland 
Amazing the difference a new set of bushes makes to the handling of the car. You certainly got your moneys worth out of the old ones.

Genuine Metalastik bushes are the way to go - polybushes are a waste of time unless you are doing winch challenges or rallying and need to replace the bushes every six months.
Post #758019 11th Feb 2019 7:52pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 2 12>
All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums