Rear shock absorbers (XJS)

[theironduke]

Roughly how much will i be looking at (parts inc.) for a good specialist to fit a new pair of rear shockers on my cat?

I've just had a look on ebay and there seem to be lots of people selling the shocks (pair) for around £100, is it a labour intensive job? My dad and i did them on my old XJ40, is the XJS a similar suspension set up?

tia as always

[Jaguarman22]

there a little fiddle but simple to do just take your time

[theironduke]

Ok might give it a go, any recommendation for make/OEM?

[theironduke]

Without going outside and taking a wheel off what is the rear suspension set up on an XJS? i.e. am i looking at 1 damper per side or two (as per an E type for example)

I've had a look on the net and found "no make" shocks for £35 a piece or Boges (OEM?) for £42 odd.

[robgee1964]

theironduke said:

Ok might give it a go, any recommendation for make/OEM?

Just get the OE ones, they are made by Boge. Any other makers wouldn't know the correct valving settings so would only be an estimated setup.

I got my set from John Gordon jag spares http://www.john-gordon.co.uk/. They weren't dear, around £100 quid for the four. Oh and yes there's two each side. 3-4 hours to fit the whole set, assuming all the nuts and bolts will undo. You need a coil spring compressor and strong vice, the former isn't dear and is worth buying for this job alone. PS the sportspack dampers are a lot dearer, but really the standard ones are perfectly fine, both types are gas filled anyway.

If you decide to go for it I can scan you in the relevant pages from the Haynes manual, which has some good exploded diagrams. Just make sure they are knackered though, you can easily tell, if the car seems easy to push a rear corner down, or appears to bounce when released, they are shot.

Contrary to popular belief these jags are quite straightforward cars to work on.