Lowering Springs
#1
Lowering Springs
I've had a generous offer of lowering springs (30mm) for my XK8 and was wondering if this in the realm of DIY. I'm not so much worried about being able to do the job as I am about all the other issues I could run into or create. Is this one of those jobs where one thing leads to another(like every bushing in the suspension)? Any thoughts or opinions will be appreciated.
#3
Lowering Springs
DaveC; Opening the question of your thoughts and opinions will surely invite a number of different responses, so here are my two cents: Lowering 30mm is approx. 1 1/4 inches which doesn't seem like a lot; however, as steveinfrance states, these vehicles are rather low already and to go lower one must be prepared to be more defensive with speed bumps & curbs. Additionally, lowering springs will also change the geometry of the suspension (slightly), which can have an effect on alignment to the point that you may find a need for shim changes in the rear. Also, be sure tire clearance is not an issue (right/left, up/down).
There have been some posts of owners lowering their vehicles and associated comments.
There have been some posts of owners lowering their vehicles and associated comments.
#4
lowered
I've had a generous offer of lowering springs (30mm) for my XK8 and was wondering if this in the realm of DIY. I'm not so much worried about being able to do the job as I am about all the other issues I could run into or create. Is this one of those jobs where one thing leads to another(like every bushing in the suspension)? Any thoughts or opinions will be appreciated.
Below are before and after pictures.
#7
Dave:
I installed a full set of Mina springs in 2007 or 80,000 miles ago. (You can take a look at my car this Saturday in Napa). Eventually I changed out a few bushings - not spring related. I would say in general if you need to refresh the bushings you will need to do it regardless of the springs.
I installed a full set of Mina springs in 2007 or 80,000 miles ago. (You can take a look at my car this Saturday in Napa). Eventually I changed out a few bushings - not spring related. I would say in general if you need to refresh the bushings you will need to do it regardless of the springs.
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DaveC (04-02-2013)
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#8
#9
Dave:
I installed a full set of Mina springs in 2007 or 80,000 miles ago. (You can take a look at my car this Saturday in Napa). Eventually I changed out a few bushings - not spring related. I would say in general if you need to refresh the bushings you will need to do it regardless of the springs.
I installed a full set of Mina springs in 2007 or 80,000 miles ago. (You can take a look at my car this Saturday in Napa). Eventually I changed out a few bushings - not spring related. I would say in general if you need to refresh the bushings you will need to do it regardless of the springs.
#10
#11
Any chance you could post one or two with a little more of the car in the picture? That looks interesting, but a bit too close up... I wanted to see how it changes the overall esthetic...
#12
Pictures
Those are all the pictures I took, any others will need to come from Dave. By the way, if it wasn't clear, the car was ordered without the rear seat.
#14
#15
Thanks for the photos!
I'm not sure what I'm gonna do... I think I want some secure storage for camera gear/equipment and some open storage for just throwing stuff there. Possibly a relocation of the CD player so I can change magazines easier, not sure... I don't think I'll be adding a huge stereo though, and I want it to look sorta OEM and very understated / utilitarianistic...
Thanks for sharing though!
I'm not sure what I'm gonna do... I think I want some secure storage for camera gear/equipment and some open storage for just throwing stuff there. Possibly a relocation of the CD player so I can change magazines easier, not sure... I don't think I'll be adding a huge stereo though, and I want it to look sorta OEM and very understated / utilitarianistic...
Thanks for sharing though!
#16
XK8 lowered springs and rear camber adjustment
I decided to post this because I found it really hard to find any one place that contained all the information about installing lower (sport) suspension springs on an XK8 and then dealing with the resulting rear camber adjustment issues.
I have encountered numerous sources (including some Jaguar dealers) stating that the XK8’s rear suspension cannot be adjusted for camber or at least cannot be adjusted enough to compensate when lowered springs are installed. I am here to tell you that the required camber adjustment is possible (I am not saying that there isn’t some effort and cost involved).
I installed a set of H&R Sport Springs on my 1998 XK8 (non-CATS) purchased from Tire Rack (http://www.tirerack.com) that lowered the car approximately 1.5-inches front and rear. The H&R Sport Springs cost substantially less than any other option (Mina, Arden, etc.) I could find.
The resulting rear camber measurement was left -2.5 degrees, right -2.8 degrees (the correct setting should be -0.5 for both sides). When viewed from behind, the top of the rear wheels tilted inward noticeably looking like the car was heavily loaded. The rear camber adjustment on the XK8 is accomplished by inserting shims between the differential and the axel half-shafts to add positive camber (moving the top of the wheel outward).
According to an article I found: "0.5mm of shim per 0.2 (positive) degrees" (http://www.justanswer.com/jaguar/6yqh3-jaguar-xxk8-xk8-1997-need-wheel-alignment.html) which meant that I would need 5.0 mm of shim on the left and 5.5 mm of shim on the right.
To be on the safe side, I ordered two 3.5 mm shims and 12 0.46 mm shims (these things are only available in 7.5 mm, 3.5 mm, and 0.46 mm thicknesses). The 3.5 mm shim was $39, while the 0.46 mm shims were $1.00 each (that’s why I didn’t mind getting a few extra). Please note: I could not find anywhere that said the 0.46 mm shims would even work on an XK8. Because both the 3.5 mm and the 0.46 mm were listing as working on a late XJS, I thought I would give it a shot.
Well, after some trial and error (installing both 3.5 mm shims and adding / removing the 0.46 mm shims as needed) the rear camber measurement is -0.6 degrees left and -0.3 degrees right. When viewed from the rear, the car looks as it should with the wheels / tires filling out the wheel wells nicely.
Below are the parts numbers and vendors for the shims. Jagbits had the best pictures and descriptions, Jaguar Parts Cheap had better prices (you have to search using the part numbers).
http://jaguar-parts.jagbits.com/rear-camber-shim
http://www.jaguarpartscheap.com/
Part #: C16621 .46 MM Shim
Part #: CBC480635 3.5 MM Shim
Part #: CBC480675 7.5 MM Shim
I hope all of this is of help to anyone contemplating the installation of lower springs on their XK8. Good luck!
I have encountered numerous sources (including some Jaguar dealers) stating that the XK8’s rear suspension cannot be adjusted for camber or at least cannot be adjusted enough to compensate when lowered springs are installed. I am here to tell you that the required camber adjustment is possible (I am not saying that there isn’t some effort and cost involved).
I installed a set of H&R Sport Springs on my 1998 XK8 (non-CATS) purchased from Tire Rack (http://www.tirerack.com) that lowered the car approximately 1.5-inches front and rear. The H&R Sport Springs cost substantially less than any other option (Mina, Arden, etc.) I could find.
The resulting rear camber measurement was left -2.5 degrees, right -2.8 degrees (the correct setting should be -0.5 for both sides). When viewed from behind, the top of the rear wheels tilted inward noticeably looking like the car was heavily loaded. The rear camber adjustment on the XK8 is accomplished by inserting shims between the differential and the axel half-shafts to add positive camber (moving the top of the wheel outward).
According to an article I found: "0.5mm of shim per 0.2 (positive) degrees" (http://www.justanswer.com/jaguar/6yqh3-jaguar-xxk8-xk8-1997-need-wheel-alignment.html) which meant that I would need 5.0 mm of shim on the left and 5.5 mm of shim on the right.
To be on the safe side, I ordered two 3.5 mm shims and 12 0.46 mm shims (these things are only available in 7.5 mm, 3.5 mm, and 0.46 mm thicknesses). The 3.5 mm shim was $39, while the 0.46 mm shims were $1.00 each (that’s why I didn’t mind getting a few extra). Please note: I could not find anywhere that said the 0.46 mm shims would even work on an XK8. Because both the 3.5 mm and the 0.46 mm were listing as working on a late XJS, I thought I would give it a shot.
Well, after some trial and error (installing both 3.5 mm shims and adding / removing the 0.46 mm shims as needed) the rear camber measurement is -0.6 degrees left and -0.3 degrees right. When viewed from the rear, the car looks as it should with the wheels / tires filling out the wheel wells nicely.
Below are the parts numbers and vendors for the shims. Jagbits had the best pictures and descriptions, Jaguar Parts Cheap had better prices (you have to search using the part numbers).
http://jaguar-parts.jagbits.com/rear-camber-shim
http://www.jaguarpartscheap.com/
Part #: C16621 .46 MM Shim
Part #: CBC480635 3.5 MM Shim
Part #: CBC480675 7.5 MM Shim
I hope all of this is of help to anyone contemplating the installation of lower springs on their XK8. Good luck!
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