XJR X308 Front end rebuild.
Discussion
Having done over 5000 miles in my XJR, I am really quite enjoying it and will be happy to live with it for some time.
Driving dynamics are very important to me and at 102,000 miles the front was feeling decidedly soggy. Consequently, I decided to give the suspension an overhaul.
I have just installed top and bottom wishbone bushes, lower shock bushes, steering rack bushes, top and bottom ball joints, trackrod ends ARB bushes, and ARB drop links.
The whole job was performed in about 18 hours of work mostly on the drive and some a friend's shed who has a 10 ton press.
When the job was completed, I had a 4 wheel geometry set up at Northampton Motorsport. Setting up the suspension was a doddle as they have a fantastic bit of kit which can be mounted and calibrated in minutes. The adjustments can be viewed on the PC screen as you go, the readings displayed on the screen as the eccentric flange bolts are turned. Conveniently as I'd just had every thing apart for renewal, nothing was seized up adding to the simplicity of the job.
When I disassembled the suspension, I marked the installed position of the lower wishbone bolts so they could go back in the same place. I set up the tracking by centring the rack and measuring the toe with a tape measure. Amazingly the car drove really well during the 300 miles before I got to Northampton Motorsport. When measured, most of the settings were in spec and probably a lot closer than they would have been with the clapped-out bushes.
When at N'ton M/sport I had plenty of input to discuss where I wanted the settings. All are within Manufacturer's spec but biased here and there to tune to my preferences. All the rear end setting were equal side to side and in spec apart from camber which was just outside top limit (ie a tad more -ve camber than spec)
To say I am chuffed with the outcome of this refurbishment would be a huge understatement. The car feels solid and planted. Tracks dead straight. Rides better and quiter. Feels pretty perky and up for it when heaving it along twisty back roads (for 1775Kg Luxobarge, not a Caterham
) Massively improved stability under braking. Marked reduction in "tramlining".
The Bilstein CATS shocks at 10 years old and 102k are still superb. Although this is no surprise to me based on other experience of the durability and excellence of billies in other applications.
Now for the gritty issues;
1) It was pretty cold doing this job outside over last weekend!!!!! But I can handle that!
2) what really bugged me were parts issues from a very well known purveyor of Jaguar and Land Rover Parts based in Britain (can't mention their name due to PH policy, I believe).
Firstly they sent the wrong ARB bushes, despite me discussing with them on the phone exactly what car and that it had sport suspension. OK they changed these without question but the words on the "exchange FOC invoice" implied that I had changed my mind as to what I wanted
It also took 3 days after they received the returned items from me for the swapped parts to arrive whereas the original order had been on next day. During this time, the parts person I was dealing with failed to return two telephone messages.
Secondly, the big bottom ball joint they supplied was undersize in diameter! These are meant to be a heavy press fit. The old ones took 8 tons to push out. The replacement ones less than 0.5 ton to press in! Ooops! They could then be tapped out with a screwdriver handle!!!
Bear in mind these BJs take suspension loads and are pushed in from the same side as the BJ spigot so do not fail "safe". The supplied parts were 0.0065" less diameter than the originals resulting in this dangerously loose fit.
This problem meant I was unable to get the car back together in the one weekend and had to order a pair of lower rear arms from my local motor factor on Monday resulting in reassembling everything on Tuesday night.
I am currently in negotiation with the supplier to flag up the poor quality and to get a refund for the two BJs and the two unused lower bushes.
I will not be rushing to use these people again.
So there's the story good times and bad. Hope it has been interesting for other XJ8 and XJR owners. I would say this is possibly one of the best investments you can make in a a high mileage X308. It has given the car a real rejuvenated feel. The reason it's worth it is that the rest of the car is bearing up to its age and mileage so very well. This job makes the whole car feel at one again.
Cheers for now until my next posting on tyres and gearbox oil change.
Peter.
Driving dynamics are very important to me and at 102,000 miles the front was feeling decidedly soggy. Consequently, I decided to give the suspension an overhaul.
I have just installed top and bottom wishbone bushes, lower shock bushes, steering rack bushes, top and bottom ball joints, trackrod ends ARB bushes, and ARB drop links.
The whole job was performed in about 18 hours of work mostly on the drive and some a friend's shed who has a 10 ton press.
When the job was completed, I had a 4 wheel geometry set up at Northampton Motorsport. Setting up the suspension was a doddle as they have a fantastic bit of kit which can be mounted and calibrated in minutes. The adjustments can be viewed on the PC screen as you go, the readings displayed on the screen as the eccentric flange bolts are turned. Conveniently as I'd just had every thing apart for renewal, nothing was seized up adding to the simplicity of the job.
When I disassembled the suspension, I marked the installed position of the lower wishbone bolts so they could go back in the same place. I set up the tracking by centring the rack and measuring the toe with a tape measure. Amazingly the car drove really well during the 300 miles before I got to Northampton Motorsport. When measured, most of the settings were in spec and probably a lot closer than they would have been with the clapped-out bushes.
When at N'ton M/sport I had plenty of input to discuss where I wanted the settings. All are within Manufacturer's spec but biased here and there to tune to my preferences. All the rear end setting were equal side to side and in spec apart from camber which was just outside top limit (ie a tad more -ve camber than spec)
To say I am chuffed with the outcome of this refurbishment would be a huge understatement. The car feels solid and planted. Tracks dead straight. Rides better and quiter. Feels pretty perky and up for it when heaving it along twisty back roads (for 1775Kg Luxobarge, not a Caterham
) Massively improved stability under braking. Marked reduction in "tramlining".The Bilstein CATS shocks at 10 years old and 102k are still superb. Although this is no surprise to me based on other experience of the durability and excellence of billies in other applications.
Now for the gritty issues;
1) It was pretty cold doing this job outside over last weekend!!!!! But I can handle that!
2) what really bugged me were parts issues from a very well known purveyor of Jaguar and Land Rover Parts based in Britain (can't mention their name due to PH policy, I believe).
Firstly they sent the wrong ARB bushes, despite me discussing with them on the phone exactly what car and that it had sport suspension. OK they changed these without question but the words on the "exchange FOC invoice" implied that I had changed my mind as to what I wanted
It also took 3 days after they received the returned items from me for the swapped parts to arrive whereas the original order had been on next day. During this time, the parts person I was dealing with failed to return two telephone messages.Secondly, the big bottom ball joint they supplied was undersize in diameter! These are meant to be a heavy press fit. The old ones took 8 tons to push out. The replacement ones less than 0.5 ton to press in! Ooops! They could then be tapped out with a screwdriver handle!!!
Bear in mind these BJs take suspension loads and are pushed in from the same side as the BJ spigot so do not fail "safe". The supplied parts were 0.0065" less diameter than the originals resulting in this dangerously loose fit.This problem meant I was unable to get the car back together in the one weekend and had to order a pair of lower rear arms from my local motor factor on Monday resulting in reassembling everything on Tuesday night.
I am currently in negotiation with the supplier to flag up the poor quality and to get a refund for the two BJs and the two unused lower bushes.
I will not be rushing to use these people again.
So there's the story good times and bad. Hope it has been interesting for other XJ8 and XJR owners. I would say this is possibly one of the best investments you can make in a a high mileage X308. It has given the car a real rejuvenated feel. The reason it's worth it is that the rest of the car is bearing up to its age and mileage so very well. This job makes the whole car feel at one again.
Cheers for now until my next posting on tyres and gearbox oil change.
Peter.
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