Hi everyone - official newbie here but quite an old RR hand (Previous cars FFRR 2002 TD6 and then RRS MY12 Dynamic).

My "new" car is a MY14, RRS SDV6 Autobiography (therefore obviously Dynamic with Active ARB), 48k miles, 21 inch wheels.

Have had a good search on here but nothing quite matches the issue I have:

I bought this from a well known prestige car dealer in June and on the test-drive I noticed a noise in the front pass side suspension, a slightly loose feeling (like worn bushes) and then creaking/groaning when it got warmer. They replaced both lower control arms, drop links and ARB bushes which has helped a lot and removed the groaning but there is still a noise and what is best described as a "jiggle"/looseness felt through the steering wheel when I go over a pot-hole, bumpy field etc.

Large bumps like road-humps etc don't cause the issue - just sharp little bumps such as sunken drainage covers, holes in the road etc.

Car has just been into independent dealer today to have a 3rd party inspection and they couldn't find anything wrong at all - everything is tight and no play in anything - steering, ARB bar, wheel bearings, suspension bushes.

Final info - ARB Dynamic fluid is on the low marker and looks very dirty - might a flush and refill help this issue?!

The noise happens worse when car is warm but it is unpredictable and not worth trying to record!

Any ideas hugely appreciated, thanks in advance,

Matt

Last edited by Punkawallah on Sat Oct 17 2020 6:30pm. Edited 1 time in total

Air suspension/damper unit? MY2016 HSE D SDV6 - gone due to fuel dilution problems.

By the age of 50 you have the face you deserve - George Orwell.

Thanks Wilf - yes it is seeming more and more likely - but as there is no way of telling this is the problem apart from changing it for a new one (expensive, I imagine as they tend to be replaced in pairs IIRC?) I want to cover off all other possibilities first...

Again, thanks for your response

Thanks Wilf - yes it is seeming more and more likely - but as there is no way of telling this is the problem apart from changing it for a new one (expensive, I imagine as they tend to be replaced in pairs IIRC?) I want to cover off all other possibilities first...

Again, thanks for your response

Wilf - thanks again for your answer here - out of interest, what makes you think it might be the air suspension/damper unit?

Also, have you heard of similar issues as this before with these air suspension/damper units? Just don't want to spend £1000 (or whatever it will be!) unless I'm fairly sure this is the problem.

Thanks for your help!

I have read about (but not personally experienced) similar fault descriptions both on RR and Jaguar vehicles.

Like you, I would be loathe to replace a suspension unit without a precise diagnosis. As it seems your current service agent can't sort it, I might ask another to try their hand at diagnosing the issue, although I recognise there may be a warranty to consider here.

If I couldn't get a firm diagnosis, then my route might be to find a "known good" s/h unit and try that first, to see if it removed the symptoms you describe. MY2016 HSE D SDV6 - gone due to fuel dilution problems.

By the age of 50 you have the face you deserve - George Orwell.

Thanks Wilf - have got a trustedindependent Landrover Specialist who is going to order in the air suspension unit on sale or return from LR, have a thorough check first and then if he cant' find any other fault he will fit the new part - at least the old one has 50k miles use so it's not a total waste if it doesn't solve the issue!

I am way out of warranty sadly...

Any other ideas very welcome!

Matt

Punkawallah,

Check the Sale of Goods Act, I’m pretty sure the revised legislation gives you six months warranty from the Seller.

Scrumps Somerset - Where the apples do grow and the cider do flow!
2021 Defender 90 D250 HSE in Tasman with white roof.
24MY D300 AB - Verasine Blue - 😀
19MY SDV6 AB - Byron Blue - Gone
17MY D5 SDV6 HSE - Firenze Red - Gone
16MY SDV6 AB -Aruba Silver - Gone
13.5MY SDV6 "HSE Black" - Baltic Blue - Gone
10MY TDV8 HSE Galway Green - Gone
14MY D4 HSE in Scotia Grey - Gone
05 TD5 D90 CSW in Cairns Blue

Thanks Scrumps - to be fair to the seller (Premium marque garage with good reputation), they replaced a huge amount for me (ARB bushes, lower control arms, drop links plus new tyres and brakes all round) and this improved the initial issue a lot. Most people probably wouldn't notice there is an issue now but I know how these cars should ride/handle!

Useful info though, thanks again

If anyone’s still interested, I had an inspection done by an independent Landrover garage and the noise turned out to be from looseness/play (about 20mm movement) in the active anti-roll bar. I will try to post the video.

Dealer I bought from in June this year has agreed to replace the whole unit and the valve block. Apparently early models ran at very high pressure which destroys the seals in the anti roll bar. Later models (not sure which year) have a revised valve block which runs at lower pressure.

Does this sound like it would explain my symptoms above? Hope so!

Anyone else suffered with this?!

Mine has similar symptoms which have grown worse over my 3 year ownership. Best described as a "popping" looseness in the front passenger side when driving over small bumps in the road. However when turning left (transfer weight to drivers side) and hit a few small bumps, its always there. On inspection, everything seems fine, although Im not an expert. I wonder if i have the same fault ?

Found this 4 pages back....
http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic51359.html

. MY 14.5 SE SDV6 Loire Blue. Silver roof. 22's.

Yes - sounds like same issue.

Just been off-road properly for a full day today - the noise is annoying (soon to be fixed hopefully) but on a separate note I’ve been amazed at how soft and bouncy the suspension goes when in mud/grass mode and off road height - it must totally decouple the anti roll bar or something - very impressive.

Also interesting to see the 2 diff locks (mid and rear) both working - rear one is often permanently orange when in mud and grass mode meaning I presume that it’s locked...

All in all, very impressed with the car off road.

Glad you are getting to the bottom of it, just goes to show how valuable a really knowledgeable garage can be. MY2016 HSE D SDV6 - gone due to fuel dilution problems.

By the age of 50 you have the face you deserve - George Orwell.

Punkawallah wrote:

I noticed a noise in the front pass side suspension

Humbug, Im SHOUTING....... MY 14.5 SE SDV6 Loire Blue. Silver roof. 22's.