I had the same thing. It was the rear brake pads rattling as the spring that locates the inner one in the piston was missing. Its a common fault. Two years later its just started again so its time for new pads.

 

I had a RR rattle too, and it was indeed the lower shock bushing as Wayne, johnscott, and Charlie have suggested. The only way to 'hear' the bushing was to lift the entire car (tall jackstands will do) and then put a jack under the tire to lift it...taking the pressure off of the bushing to stay in contact with the shock. Then, WHACK the tire/wheel UP from underneath it, and that bushing clicked just like I remembered from the front seat.

The good thing is that the rear shock on the XK8 is DIYable, and only $100 from an online source.

A few months later, I found my RR bearing was bad too, but I digress.

 

Thanks for the additional feedback, guys....

As I mentioned early on in this thread, I've never had to replace a shock so I'm looking for a little more understanding here. If the right rear lower shock bushing is indeed the culprit causing this annoying rattle, does that typically mean that the rubber bushing that is part of the lower end of the shock assembly has gradually worn away enough in at least one spot to allow bolt-to-casing contact and that is what's causing the rattle? If so, is the proper fix to replace just the rubber bushing or replace the entire shock? Both rear shocks seem to be doing their job. No ride issues, no sagging issues, no speed bump issues, just the annoying rattle in the cabin....

If I'm incorrect with my explanation above, please set me straight. I don't want to go through the hassle and sweat of jacking up the car again and crawling underneath it until I have a much clearer understanding of what I should be looking for and how to correct it....

Thanks for your patience, guys....

 

Jon, it is the bushing on the lower end we are talking about. You can just replace the bushing and unlike the front it's not the price of a new shock. They can be replaced in the car, there was a good write up somewhere about doing this. I would hate you to think that is for sure the only thing back there that can cause a rattle, the upper mount can also be suspect, but just trying to help you eliminate one thing. Lots of bushings and things that go bump in the night under your Jaguar. LOL


Wayne

 

Jon, while you are under there, check the sway bar links. I did have one that was noisy, but more of a thump than a rattle. the compressed bushing at the sway bar were worn out.


Wayne

 

Wayne,

Thanks for the clarification. I realize that the rattle could be coming from a number of different sources. The lower shock bushings seem to be the most common cause reported here on the forum. I'll do some additional searching here to see what else I can learn....

Do the old lower shock bushings slide right out and the new bushings slide right in, or do you have to press them out and in using a special tool?

And after they are replaced, is a fresh four-wheel alignment required?

 

Jon, They have to be pressed out, but not to worry as the guys on the forum have devised lots of ways to do this and if that is your problem and you want to undertake it, then we get serious about the procedure. I won't advise it for a novice unless help was there.


Wayne

 

XKRacer is the one who has posted more than once, a 'tool' of some sort that he uses to press out/in a bushing in place.

 

Thanks for the additional clarification, guys. I'm learning on the fly and I truly appreciate your assistance....

I'm looking at the exploded drawing of the shock assembly on page 52 of my SNG Barratt Group XK8 parts catalog that I received back in February when it became available to us forum members. My wife's 2006 XK8 does not have adaptive control damping, so the appropriate exploded drawing for her car's shock assembly is boxed in by the dotted lines labeled 11. Am I correct in assuming that the part that everyone here calls the "lower shock bushing" is represented in this drawing by item 12, called the "spherical joint" in the catalog, and is Jaguar part no. CCC6782 ?

 

After doing a bit of reading this morning in some of the threads that Matt and Wayne referenced, I called the good folks at SNG Barratt Group to ask questions and obtain some initial pricing. They said that our annoying rattle is most likely coming from one of three common sources: the shock itself (due to an internal fluid valve piece failing), the lower shock bushing wearing out (they call it the spherical joint), or the anti roll bar link bushing wearing out....

The challenge is in pinpointing the actual source. I'll try the various "bounce and feel" and "jack up and listen" ideas that have been suggested by several folks, but I have no previous experience in this arena and may miss important clues. Any suggestions (other than the dealership) on who should have the expertise to figure this out? I don't want to spend time and money replacing the wrong component and having the rattle immediately show up again....

 

Another source for the rattle could be the top shock mounting - I chased a similar noise on mine - changed the lower shock bush, no difference. Eventually bit the bullet and removed the shock - the top mount had crumbled in much the same manner as the the top mounts do on the front of the car. Bought two new Bilsteins on line for about $240 and changed them(they come complete with all bushings). The side that wasn't rattling at that point was about to fail so good proactive maintenance as it turned out.

 

Thanks for your input. The more I read, the more I wonder if I should just bite the bullet and replace both rear shocks. The car is pushing 83,000 miles so that may be the most prudent course of action. Still debating it....

Can you share your source for your Bilsteins? Thanks....

 

FCP Euro - there's a few vendors on Ebay as well- P.N.24-067270. I also changed the coil spring shim whilst I was in there, P.N.MMD3565AA - $75 for both- they weren't shot but were on their way out- they are a similar material to the top mounts.
It's an awkward job to do on your own but I managed it - there's a couple of little tricks I thought out to help if you don't have a second pair of helping hands - let me know if you are and I'll post the procedure.

 

Thanks for the source and part numbers. I'll check them out....

I think it would be foolish for me to attempt this job alone. I have zero experience with shocks and their various components. I'll try to draft an experienced neighbor who has the proper tools and set-up, but the relative complexity of the XK8 suspension may understandably scare him off (he's used to working on American pickups). If he says no thanks, I'll have to break out my checkbook and head to a local trusted shop....

 

Jon, your friend would find it very interesting I'm sure and you have enough reading material to give him a heads up on surprises.
Just got in a very interesting saying, "Amateurs built the Ark and professionals built the Titanic", get your hands dirty.
If you want to drive here, we could spend a day at it, just hope no major problems.
Wayne

 

That's a very kind offer, Wayne. But I hear you loud and clear about the major problems erupting. I don't want to be dead in the water (and blocking your driveway) 120 miles or so from home....

 

Update:

A local European specialist indie shop took a look at my wife's XK8 yesterday afternoon for no charge. They disconnected the anti-sway bar links, drove the car, and still heard the rattle. They believe the rattle is indeed coming from the rear shocks but they refuse to guarantee it. So if I pay them to install new rear shocks and the rattle still persists, I lose that money....

They admit that they see very few Jaguars and seem to specialize in BMW and Benz. Think I'll keep looking until I can get some positive assurance....

 

TBH if it is the top mounts I could not replicate the noise whilst the car was stationary - if you look at an exploded diagram of the mounts you'll see the problem. I just got to the point where I didn't see it being anything else. One thing you can do is look up at the spring shims - they are made out of the same material as the top mounts - mine were starting to crumble so I just figured that the top mounts must be in a similar condition. My car had done 82000m and fitting the new dampers improved the ride irrespective of the mounts - felt like a different car. Stuff wears out.

 

If you are thinking of keeping this car awhile I'd say go ahead and replace mounts/shocks/bushing(swaybar). Once you are in there it's easier to replace now then go back in later, of course it depends on the purse strings it's easy to spend others money :-), but in the long run you've updated the rear end and will know what's there and be good for many more miles. I think many here will agree the hardest part of any of these jobs depends on the condition of the car, ie rust / corrosion. The mechanics of removing parts is straight forward, it's the frozen bolts/nuts etc that drives up the labor. In this light it's a good time to clean up the rear wells etc. Good luck.

 

As I've previously mentioned, I've never had to deal with faulty shocks before and I've been driving since 1969, run a number of vehicles to between 120,000 and 150,000 miles before selling or donating them, and run my beloved 1974 Datsun 260Z to right at 250,000 miles before selling it....

So I wonder about the quality of these Jaguar factory shocks. Our XK8's service history that I dug up shows that its right front shock was replaced under warranty due to leakage by the Jaguar dealership in Hilton Head, SC in January 2007 at only 5,170 miles....

The Bilstein replacements that several of you are recommending are starting to look better all the time....