Had some clunking on the NSF of late and assumed it was ARB bushes again. The car was just in the local indy for a service and I asked them to check while there, and they said it needed both lower arms.

What should one expect to pay for this job please? And are there any shortcuts/kits etc that offer an alternative way?

Flack seems to have gone quiet on the forum, is there anyone else Manchester/Stockport/Glossop based does this at happy money? Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

Hypothetically one can remove the arm and just replace the bushes. Bushes are much cheaper than the whole arm, of course. The reality is that the bolts are usually seized in the bushes and the only practicable way to remove the arm is to cut it off. Going in with the intention of cutting and replacing will likely save time compared to trying to get it all undone - which could take some time and thus money. You can get lower arms for as little as £100 each from Advanced Factors, more if you want better/name items (LR items are about £250 each from AF, likely much more from a dealer. You need a bolt it too. AF will sell you a whole arm kit (pair of arms and the bolts).

https://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/front-lo...-141-c.asp

I bet someone who knows what they're doing could do both in a morning. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Is it a job simple enough it can be left to a regular all round garage or would an indy be preferable for any reason? Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

I had both of my lower arms done a couple of weeks ago at my local indy. £650 all in for the arms with pre-installed heavy duty bushes. The standard bushes have liquid/gel in them, so wear quicker. The heavy duty ones are solid, so somewhat tougher- I was expecting more a little more noise from them, but car drives exactly as it did before, and without the clunking
Much more cost effective to have the complete arms replaced, as replacing bushes alone is a pig and they won't last as long... so I was told.
As a comparison, Marshall LR wanted £596 just to replace a single bush! Zoinks!!

Any competent garage should be able to do it, just make sure they can do castor, camber and toe too. Otherwise take to somewhere that has one of those Hunter alignment machines. You can't see the eyes of the demon until him come callin'

Hi Stuart,

I replaced both of mine in one evening using a local garage which can be rented by the hour for the ramp.

Don't forget the four wheel alignment which is essential!

I'd go down the indy route as they're likely to have done them before and know the tricks, where to cut them etc. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

PC76 wrote:

Hi Stuart,
Don't forget the four wheel alignment which is essential!

I bought a pair of lower arms of ebay for £140 I think and it was £220 labour including 4 wheel alignment. Steve.

I do wonder how good an arm is at £70 a pop, but I guess if you're not keeping it for more than a year then they're ok. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed