JeffR Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 The panhard rod bushes on my Disco 1 have given up the ghost after about a years use. The were genuine parts (NOT BP- I'm not that stupid). Front suspension was completely replaced at the same time, swivel hub pre-load checked and adjusted, steering damper replaced, yet the buggers have gone again. I give in, why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Have you checked to see that the bolt holes in the bush mounting brackets have not elongated? This gives the same symptoms as worn bushes, but also accelerates the wear on the bushes as they are being 'hammered' as it takes up the slack. The easiest solution is to weld a thick washer to the outside of the mounting - this can make a world of difference. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Have you checked to see that the bolt holes in the bush mounting brackets have not elongated? This gives the same symptoms as worn bushes, but also accelerates the wear on the bushes as they are being 'hammered' as it takes up the slack. The easiest solution is to weld a thick washer to the outside of the mounting - this can make a world of difference. Si Now there's a possibility! Once the monsoon/minor hurricane abates shall have look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reads90 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Power steering fluid kills them really quickly. Check you don't have a leaking power steering box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Have you checked to see that the bolt holes in the bush mounting brackets have not elongated? This gives the same symptoms as worn bushes, but also accelerates the wear on the bushes as they are being 'hammered' as it takes up the slack. The easiest solution is to weld a thick washer to the outside of the mounting - this can make a world of difference. Si How do you determine where on the elongated hole to weld the washer to ensure the bolt, thus the rod is at its original position? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Does it have a lift? If it is lifted a lot, the bush gets a twist, as the axle rotates. An adjustable panhard can help here. Daan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Frimodt Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Also something as simple as tightening the panhard bush bolts with the suspension fully extended (ie full droop) will quickly kill the bushes as they would be quite twisted at ride height, so when it travels up on bumps it'll twist it to bits! The never ending issue on a leafer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I've had the same panhard rod bushings in My series LR for well over 10 years.I set mine up so that I need to jack the chassis up an inch or two before the bolts can be fitted easily. Unlike the standard fitment this preloads the bushings at ride height and reduces the tendency toward death wobbles with large heavy mud caked unbalanced wheels and tyres, and also allow more suspension droop and articulation before the bushes are strained to their maximum.My suspension setup has significantly more droop than compression travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Well, the holes are not oval, but there is a couple of mm play between the bush and the bracket (drivers side) where the pan hard rod fits. Hopefully a washer will remove that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Jeff, have you got the right sized bolt in there and if you have is it FT? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Well, the holes are not oval, but there is a couple of mm play between the bush and the bracket (drivers side) where the pan hard rod fits. Hopefully a washer will remove that. Are you sure you have the right bush for the axle? IIRC there's a wide and a narrow one available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Are you sure you have the right bush for the axle? IIRC there's a wide and a narrow one available. Ben, are you not mistaking Jeffs panhard rod bushes with his front radius arm bushes? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 How do you determine where on the elongated hole to weld the washer to ensure the bolt, thus the rod is at its original position? Put it in the middle of the slot. Mine were so bad, I ended up making a washer which looked like this: Which solved the problem. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Ben, are you not mistaking Jeffs panhard rod bushes with his front radius arm bushes? John Could be, but I thought there were different sized panhards too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 The other thing not mentioned is wear on the bolt. The bolt on mine was also worn and causing problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Like Bill I had a set that lasted a long time, 12 years in fact. They were red Polybushes. I only replaced them as I was rebushing the whole truck in one go. The Panhard rods ones were not really worn at all. By contrast a mate of mine managed to kill the same bushes on his 90 in just over a year! Ever since he has slagged off Polybushes. He drives a few more miles than I do, and drives like a hooligan too, but I struggle to see those two factors making such a huge difference. The oversized bolt hole issue sounds like a good area to check first. I agree that tightening the bolts when the suspension is not sitting level would not help either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Replace the bolts when I replaced the bushes (false economy for the sake of a few quid)! Bolts tightened with the vehicle on the ground. Guess it's something I'll not get to the bottom of, will go the polybush route when I change em this weekend, see if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 If fitted correctly the panhard rod bolts, just like leaf spring shackle, trailing arm and radius arm bolts will nor be subject to shear forces. That is the job of the central tube of the bushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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