A local Land Rover dealership wrote me an invoice to replace my 2005 LR3 left rear upper control arm which has excessive play.

They said the need to lift the body off the frame to do this repair. It will cost $9,534.98 + tax.

I'm new to Land Rovers.

Is this a reasonable price?

Thanks,
Leonard

 

First of all it's pretty rare to hear of any issues with rear upper control arms. Only time I have seen/heard of that in 16+ years of LR3 ownership and time spent on this board and others, is when the vehicle had polybushings installed. Second of all, that price sounds absurd. I'd simply call another dealer and get a quote for the same job or better yet, call an independent shop that can do the job. I'm not sure where you live as I'm sure labor rates vary geographically, but that just sounds high by a factor of 3 or 4.

 

I'm assuming this is a joke question!? Please post a copy of the quote...

 

I have done 3 rear upper control arms myself. All factory bushings that had gone bad, 3-4 hour job does not require body removal.

 

How in the hell have you gone through THREE sets of upper control arms? Same side? That isn't normal....I wonder what it is about your setup that the LR3 doesn't like.

 

LOL no 3 total on 2 different trucks. Did a pair on my gray one before I went to the big lift as they were so bad I nearly had rear steer. My stock 07 had one that was dead to, so it didn't like Land Rovers set up Bushings die life goes on. Pretty sure the other one is going out on the 07 as I am starting to get that squirrely feeling in the butt again

 

in principle I should report them to BBB or Landrover corp for unfair practice. It seems outrageous.

 

I feel like that's the I don't want to do this job price

 

I hate those rear upper arms, they fail a lot and are on par with the front lowers. Basically if the front lowers are shot, the upper rears are too. I have replaced then on my own truck and two (or three?) other LR3s. They are not horribly difficult to do but the working space is tight. The bolts have to get cut both at the arm and the knuckle, usually (you are lucky if you can unthread them). But I see absolutely NO need to remove the body. Even the workshop manual does not mention the need. Run from that shop.....

 

I've got 132k on my 2005 and the rear arms are original. Suspension is tight, like new.