Good it’s not just me then....I think you may be right with the EPB versions...our previous FL2 was normal but this latest one ate a set in less than 12,000 miles and checking the previous history that’s all that ever seems to have been done above the normal servicing regimes...

Hi, just done both rear ends, and people that say this a 2 hour job are talking rubbish, crap design and a 14 year old car lead to cutting off bolts, putting back in the driveshaft when it drops out, etc etc etc...this setup is completely exposed to the elements and is a pain in the rear end, doing it at home with all the right equipment doesent help. If the car has been in salt and mud for 14 years plan to change every bolt because you wont get them off, no matter how much penetrant you use. A job I hope I will never do again. Got the shocks off amazon a pair for 80 and they were great, bought all the seals rubbers, dust cover, bump stops, gasket and nuts from Britcar 175, not bad as everything was perished or rotten. Also removed wheel arch covers and jet washed the rot trap of years of mud and leaves and the hammerited the entire panel before refitting. The car drives great, but still wake up in a cold sweat....

One note if using non oem shocks you will have to transfer the off white cap from the old shock to the new one so the dust cover has something to latch on to at the bottom, see pic

agreed
why oh why cant they give you an access port to the top nut etc.
Instead you have to strip out a load of trim panels - loads of extra cost if youre paying for labour

Its not just JLR- my old BMW E91 was just as bad if not worse when it came to changing the rear shocks. Jules