From what I've read on various forums there's a suspicion in some quarters that Land Rover's OE rear subframe supplier may have made some of the subframes slightly oversize & Land Rover being Land Rover decided to use them anyway due to production pressures, but using a large rivet through the side to ensure the bushes stayed in place.
Who knows what's actually true - other than some cars have rivets and many don't ! Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

Just for clarity - this is what the situation did look like.

Click image to enlarge

What am not understanding is how are they falling down?

Like why isn't the bolt/backing plate holding them into place? Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

I think that the rivets are protecting the bushes against rotation, as they cannot fall down. TDV8 4.4 MY2012 Vogue Trim

hmm okays, i guess ill get the rivets, the subframe will be dropped slightly anyway as I need to reinstall the control arms. Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

to those who have replaced the bushes already .............did you feel any difference before and after ?
will

i mean ive replaced them.

i felt a great sense of relief and accomplishment.

...oh you mean how does the car feel to drive? no idea all the other suspension bits are being rebuilt

am replacing more or less all the rear bushings meaning i wont be able to tell whose fault for what. Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

...was thinking of doing mine that was all that have come up on mot but rubber is rubber and it wears

will308f wrote:

to those who have replaced the bushes already .............did you feel any difference before and after ?
will

I did replace them as they told me on MOT that they need replacement. However once I had them out of the frame I could not really see any proper damage. Besides the f* rivets. I think that they have probably misjudged the anti-corrosion coating that was also painted on the bushes a little bit.

That said, I did not really notice a big difference before and after...despite the great sense of accomplishment just like mgrover said above  TDV8 4.4 MY2012 Vogue Trim

tbh out of all the jobs ive done this is the easiest.

get the tool, get a right rachet spanner and get a pole that can go around it. Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

a little side question for @mgrover: do you have any hints on how to break the ball joint in the front?

I tried my best with a 4 lbs hammer and specific fork but this thing did just not move at all. Only the fork got stuck....

Click image to enlarge

tool is on my list of things to get ....working on replacing front suspension at the mo,but when finished will move on to the rear and do the same she should feel like new when I'm done

vektory wrote:

a little side question for @mgrover: do you have any hints on how to break the ball joint in the front?

I tried my best with a 4 lbs hammer and specific fork but this thing did just not move at all. Only the fork got stuck....

Click image to enlarge

theres a video I saw somewhere that just used a balljoint breaker.

after i finish my rear at some point ill redo the entirety of the front as well Its actually a sport

Not anymore, 4.4 TDV8 now

A regular balljoint breaker does not fit in between these two arms. However if you start with the lower control arm first, then there is also enough space for the tie rod and its ball joint. Changing the ball joint alone seems to be problematic.

I might need to release both ball joints :/ TDV8 4.4 MY2012 Vogue Trim

( Sorry for the resurrection, but stumbled across this, when looking for other info )

That arm wont come off the ball joint whilst the suspension is hanging at full extension ... you need to jack up under the hub ( you can put a jack under the other arm ball socket ) to lift the hub up a bit. V8 or else ...