I recently had a mishap while off-roading on Saturday. My swaybar end link snapped. Looking at it after it broke shows that it bent and broke. I think that it had been damaged on a trail run last month, but I couldn't see the problem until it was too late. This issue on Saturday didn't happen on any obstacle or anything. It was a spot that created some flex but it was easy...no biggie.

So with the link broken and me in the middle of the forest I had to drive out on the trails as slowly and carefully as I could. I heard a lot of bad sounds but I got out. The upper control arm struck the air shock about 3 times in my estimation. The geometry was all messed up. On the way home, my EAS crapped out and threw a red fault; and put me at bump stops (with 32" tires!) a few times and on the second such occurance we used the IIDTool to pump the suspension back up, and then pulled the fuses. Got home.

Fast-forward to today. The LR Dealer was really confused on how to proceed and wanted to throw all kinds of parts at it. They didn't really know where to start. We decided to replace the stuff we KNOW is broken first and then try to re-cal the EAS to see if things looked better. As it were the upper cotrol arm was still touching (or nearly touching) the shock and the shock seemed pressed against the frame.

After trying to install the end link, specifically while tightening up the bolts, the damn thing bent again. So clearly something is not conforming.

So my question, mainly to the techs that post here, is: what do you suppose the issue is? Bent or failed upper control arm? Bent or failed sway bar? Neither? Both?

The gameplan at this point is to replace the (bent) end link and the upper control arm. If anyone has other ideas, please share.

This sucks, and to me the worst thing (besides the cost) is not knowing and having to wait for parts (nearest upper control arm is in CA and nearest swaybar is in the UK!).

Please help. Thanks in advance.

 

Too bad you don't have pictures.

 

Here are some sections from the shop manual for your review.

 

That is great info Savannah Buzz and I do appreciate it....now do you have it for the front suspension? ...that is where my issue is.

Thanks!

 

I knew you were gonna say that. Oops. Here it is, and the whole thing for the LR3 can be downloaded in links in my signature.

 

And some more pages for overall orientation.

 

Thanks!

 

you probably bent the control arm and the strut and or the knuckle. you need to put the thing on the alignment rack to see whats up with it first.

 

all that? There was no monster obstacle or anything. That knuckle seems pretty beefy....

 

doesn't take much. put it on the alignment rack or else.