Finally, after 1 year with new rims, installed a new set of shiny and closed lug-nuts, replacing the open type ones of my old rims.

Brought them back from Japan last month, and took a fair 1/2 hour of elbow grease to get them back to new, but the result is there.

 

WOW, looks GREAT!

 

Wheee! Great job! Looks like showroom condition!

 

Replaced clock's bulb over weekend. Turned out to be more hassle than I thought... but after sunset I just couldn't find peace without that little bulb :-)

 

Replaced the front right wheel bearing. Quite an easy job, except of the abs ring removal. It seized and I ended up breaking it loose with a chisel and replacing with new. It got worse when the 15t press broke - I had to go to a truck and bus garage to get the bearing pressed out. Their 60t press did a fine job. Now my cat is whooooshing along quiet and comfortable again. So I replaced 3 wheel bearings in total during the last 10k mls...I'm wondering when the last wheel bearing will be on it's way out... ;-)

 

Finally got around to installing the front plate. after 16 years the plate had never been installed. I used a Bell automotive bracket to drill from the bottom and keep the bumper hole free from up front. While I was at it I added a Coventry grill badge

 

Dropped out the rear suspension so as I can swap out my knackered diff for a (hopefully) better one.

 

Have you been particularly aggressive on the loud pedal? I wonder if the rate of diff failure is any higher than the average Impala or Crown Vic, taking into account the hugely higher production numbers.

I experienced diff failure in my '93 VDP and was gobsmacked by the $1200 repair bill. I always thought that, drag racing excepted, diffs were forever.

Dreaming, I suppose.

 

Out of curiosity what are main failure points in the X308 diffs? Ring/pinion? Bearings?

As I understand it the X300s have the same diff. Do they also have a high failure rate?

 

Bought a 2nd gen pulley (nontensioning) to get rid of a nasty grinding noise...

1st gen is plastic
2nd gen is metal

 

The X308 has a modified version of the X300 diff. The output shafts are different and the housing at the same time.

 

I was actually off the loud pedal, slowing down, when it made a LOUD bang!....


Managed to limp the old girl back to the garage at about half walking pace, with it making a horrible bonk noise every couple of feet ( I was only a few hundred yards away from home ) otherwise I would not have attempted to limp her back.


When I get her back on the road, and have some free time, I will strip the old diff down, and report on what let go!

 

Sorry to hear that. Did you notice any leaking from the seals or noise at all before the failure?

 

Put together the shopping list to buy some suspension parts for the rear end, and if I can get my search mojo to work right and find me CATS-compatible front bushings by themselves without the mount too, those as well. Otherwise, everything for the rear shocks, minus the shocks, springs, and mounts themselves.

 

To be honest, there was a bit of a noise, that I thought was a UJ, changed all 4, and it was quiet for a while.


The noise started again, and on investigation there was some in out movement at the rear wheels, (not a wheel bearing) so changed the diff output shaft bearings, quiet for a while.... BANG!


As I said previously, when I get some free time I will tear down the old diff and see what gave out!


It has a very tight spot about every 1/3rd revolution.

 

Decided to put the shock bushings off two weeks, courtesy of the flat tire I surprised myself with this morning on the way to work. Since two of the others are getting a little worn down anyway, time to hit up Tire Rack for a new full set and call it good. I guess the bitter cold and the railroad tracks decided to team up on me (not sure, but it was right after I went over them that I felt the rumbling). Good times.

 

Replaced the belt pulley on my 3.2l V8... As you can hear, the old one is definately f*ck*d. Cheapest repair so far!

 

That sucks. That is one thing I have never had a problem with, the rear end.

 

Well, I swapped the diffs over, after putting the new bearings in the other diff, undersealed all the area above the diff when installed.


Will refit the rear axle tomorrow, have to let the underseal dry, and fingers crossed, the XJR is back to full health.

 

Went looking for the slight exhaust leak I could hear when it was cold, and would then go away after a few minutes of driving.... Turned out to be the EGR pipe ( Line ), the pipe looks like new but was leaking in the inside of one of the accordion like bends. Little Blue Magic Themosteel and a stainless steel clamp it's nice and quiet again.

Now to hunt down a new pipe.......