X308 suspension overhaul
Discussion
Hi,
Looking at buying a 2001 XJR. These cars are old now and mostly have high mileage.
I'd like it to ride/glide like new, no knocks or jolts from underneath and no shimmying through the steering wheel.
To my mind that's an overhaul of all the rubber parts underneath? All bushes etc. in all wishbones/drop-links/etc.
Has anybody ever had a complete overhaul like this done? If so, how expensive was it and how effective was it?
Is there anything else you'd add to the list? Do the CATS shock absorbers tire?
Thanks,
Adrian.
Looking at buying a 2001 XJR. These cars are old now and mostly have high mileage.
I'd like it to ride/glide like new, no knocks or jolts from underneath and no shimmying through the steering wheel.
To my mind that's an overhaul of all the rubber parts underneath? All bushes etc. in all wishbones/drop-links/etc.
Has anybody ever had a complete overhaul like this done? If so, how expensive was it and how effective was it?
Is there anything else you'd add to the list? Do the CATS shock absorbers tire?
Thanks,
Adrian.
If it needs doing then it will be effective. If it doesn't then it wont.
Soaking all the suspension components in Waxoil always seems to give a subtle improvement in ride quality
Unless there's something badly and obviously probably wrong the best way to go is have a 4 wheel alignment and wheel balance done first then see how the car drives and how the tyres wear.
There seems to be an opinion that shocks should be changed as part of a overhaul to optimise ride quality. I'm not sure if that's true as my last X308 was way past 100k when I changed the lower shock bushes and the shocks themselves were fine then and given how expensive they are I'd not bother unless there's obviously a problem.
You can buy a complete kit of ball joints and bushes for the front suspension from AM suppliers or individually through the Jaguar Classic parts Scheme. I'd change the subframe V mounts and the spring pigtail rubbers too whilst it's all in bits. Whoever does the work will need a press and the Jaguar front spring compressing tool which can be hired from the JEC.
You have the option of replacing the original front bushes with Polybushes of various types.
The rear is easy enough as probably all you'll need is to change the A frame bushes.
I'd - possibly slightly wildly - guess about 3-4 hours Garage labour per side on the front and an hour or so for the rear A frame bushes. You'll need another alignment afterwards too.
Soaking all the suspension components in Waxoil always seems to give a subtle improvement in ride quality
Unless there's something badly and obviously probably wrong the best way to go is have a 4 wheel alignment and wheel balance done first then see how the car drives and how the tyres wear.
There seems to be an opinion that shocks should be changed as part of a overhaul to optimise ride quality. I'm not sure if that's true as my last X308 was way past 100k when I changed the lower shock bushes and the shocks themselves were fine then and given how expensive they are I'd not bother unless there's obviously a problem.
You can buy a complete kit of ball joints and bushes for the front suspension from AM suppliers or individually through the Jaguar Classic parts Scheme. I'd change the subframe V mounts and the spring pigtail rubbers too whilst it's all in bits. Whoever does the work will need a press and the Jaguar front spring compressing tool which can be hired from the JEC.
You have the option of replacing the original front bushes with Polybushes of various types.
The rear is easy enough as probably all you'll need is to change the A frame bushes.
I'd - possibly slightly wildly - guess about 3-4 hours Garage labour per side on the front and an hour or so for the rear A frame bushes. You'll need another alignment afterwards too.
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