Jaguar Independent

[JW1]

Hi All,
I have a 2007 XKR and I find the suspension a bit on the soft side, I have been advised that fitting alternative springs will provide a noticeable improvement, help stiffen the ride and provide better handling characteristics. Can anyone recommend an independent garage in the Surrey/West Sussex area, more specifically Croydon/Crawley areas? Has anyone had experience with a company in Croydon called Millennium Jag?
Thanks,
James.

[Fleckers]

There is a place in Penge

[Jaguar steve]

Drive a modified example on roads you are familiar with before you change spring rates and see if the loss of ride quality is acceptable. You may find it is to you but not to anybody else when you come to sell. You may also find fitting uprated springs alone is the top of a very slippery slope and you'll end up having to commit to a full suspension re bush and up rated dampers calibrated to the new springs to get the best out of them.

Another route to consider would be changing wheels and tyres having first made absolutely sure the factory suspension is in good condition and the geometry is set correctly. Having said that there's no point in even considering any suspension modifications or replacing wheels either if the factory fit bushes and ball joints are tired, the geometry is out of spec. and you have cheap or knackered tyres on the car

Google TRC tyre calculator for an indication of the effect on ride comfort if you change wheel diameter and fit lower profile tyres. If you go for this instead and find you don't like the change in handling/ride characteristics after a few months then you can stick them on fleabay and get some money back.

Personally I'd have a thorough suspension check and a Hunter 4 wheel alignment done to be absolutely sure what you already have is performing exactly as intended before I'd even think about spending money on anything else.

[JW1]

Thanks Jaguar Steve for such a detailed reply. Sadly I don't know of anyone who has an XK let alone had the springs changed. I hear what you are saying concerning the slippery slope, that I wish to avoid having not had the car very long. I went for an 120 mile drive today and definitely wish to stiffen the ride. The car albeit a late 2007 has only done 31k miles and has been serviced religiously every year at a Jag main dealer, so appears to have been well looked after. But I take your point about getting the suspension/alignment checked prior to entering into any sort of work.

[timolloyd]

The Surrey Jag Centre in Croydon are brilliant. Well worth getting their advice.

[JW1]

Thanks, is this the company in Canterbury Road?

[timolloyd]

JW1 said:

Thanks, is this the company in Canterbury Road?

Yes, that's the one. Ray is the proprietor. I've been taking my X308 there for the past four years and have always been impressed.