Hi all I'm new to this forum (today) and don't want to immediately jump into an ongoing contentious thread and create a S^&%t storm. However on the front control arm issue, the pre 2002 A arm (before chassis # M45255) is wrong for S-Types from chassis # M45255 and up. The pictures at the beginning of the thread show the difference. Image 1 is the #M45255 and up control arm, image 2 is the pre #M45255 .
I went down this route and ordered A arms from an internet supplier that sold them as fitting S-Types 00 - 08. I realized they were wrong once I had one arm out and was able to compare the dimensions and profile. I ordered the correct A Arms from Parts Geek where they do have the A Arms correctly identified as from Chassis # M45255 and up.
I'm not sure what the impact will be to the handling using the early A arms on a later car, but as stated by member aholbro1, castor will way off and that will affect camber in a turn. I suspect that there will be an increase in tire wear as well.

 

Welcome to the forum, Geezer. Glad you've joined up. Contentious? Nah.... minor disagreement amongst friends. If you want contention, search out an oil or seafoam thread..... lots of good info here.Glad to see you've already posted an intro, get that post count up above 10 and a mod will soon upgrade you to full membership status.

 

Thanks very much for the welcome. I will remember to steer clear of any thread that resembles lubrication or Sea Foam issues.

 

Aww, they can be fun...

Drilled/slotted rotors, too.

Magnetic fuel savers...

 

Jon, I'm getting there...

BTW Since I need front upper A arms soon, I'm gonna order a pair through SNG Barrat soon, and let you guys know how they are. They do have seperate part numbers for earlier VINs and later ones after a certain point, so I'm sure they'll be no fitment issues.

 

While we are at it...................
What oil for the transmissions?????????????????????

Don't go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bob

 

Two words: electric supercharger...

 

Brown's Gas

 

Nitrous oxide . . . for a real laugh!

 

I'm revisiting this thread because Wayne (cjd777) and I will be tackling the upper front control arms in my 2005 S-Type 3.0 at Wayne's home shop later this month. We hope Rick (joycesjag) will be able to join us on the selected day and if he does, we should be able to tackle his upper front control arms as well....

I decided to play it safe and go with the arms from Welsh Enterprises at $180 for the pair. Guaranteed to be an exact-fit for my car so no worries regarding conflicting geometry that could wreak alignment havoc down the road....

More to come once we zero in on a date for the job....

 

Jon, I'm gearing up to do this in the springtime myself.

I've been browsing control arms. So you like the Welsh Enterprise ones? SNG Barrat has them for $118 US, but I'm a little skeptical of their quality. ( non Lemforders?)

My local Jag dealer has them for $600 each ( lol),
and Jagbits has them for $300+... supposedly OEM...

I have time anyway to make a decision...so many other things to do to this car before then.

 

Jon, I'm gearing up to do this in the springtime myself.

I've been browsing control arms. So you like the Welsh Enterprise ones? SNG Barrat has them for $118 US, but I'm a little skeptical of their quality. ( non Lemforders?)

My local Jag dealer has them for $600 each ( lol),
and Jagbits has them for $300+... supposedly OEM...

I have time anyway to make a decision...so many other things to do to this car before then.

 

Jimmy,

I refuse to spend the exorbitant money required for the Lemforder control arms. Welsh Enterprises has always done right by me, they have been selling Jaguar parts since the 1960s, their price was decent, and I trust them when they say their parts are a perfect fit for my car. I think their aftermarket control arms will do just fine....

 

Jimmy 68, Do you think that yours will make it here in a couple of weeks?
We work, eat BBQ and laugh a lot, surely the third one would be the charm.

Wayne

 

Indeed, come on down to Wayne's place and join us for the festivities. Always a great time and we manage to get a few issues fixed on the cars as well....

 

I just finished installing both upper control arms, vertical control arms and both wheel hubs on my 2000 and all went well with the exception of the ball joints that came with the vertical control arms. The ball joint on the on the lright failed and I had to replace it. I am in the process of making a procedure to do all of it and also the problems with the ball joints.

The upper control arms were easy with the exception of having to remove the strut on both sides and on the right you have an electrical bracket that needs to be relocated to access the control arm bolt.

 

I hear you, Gus. There's a lot of stuff in the engine bay that has to either be removed or be loosened up before you can get your wrenches to the control arm nuts and bolts. We'll try to shortcut where we can but it will still be a lot of work....

 

Piece of cake Jon, we just point Rick in that direction with a couple of wrenches.
Gus, thanks for the info and all looks good and no big OPPP's or surprises, just try and not break any of the plastic bits.
Looking forward to it and seeing you guys. Lets try for a Thursday that there is a auction, so the girls will have something to do. We won't give them any money or the truck. LOL

Wayne

 

I sure do appreciate the offer,Wayne, thanks!

Here is SC, right? I'm in northern NJ ( 8 miles west of Manhattan, right near MetLife Stadium.. Go Big Blue!)

Anyway, thats quite a ride! Time and distance would prevent me from doing so,( also being married with two little kids), but I'd love to meet up and spin some wrenches with you guys, and have some fun and bbq in the process! Would be nice to meet up with fellow forum members. I do appreciate the invite!

Luckily,forum member abonano lives under an hour away from me and has helped me out!

The car, she'd make it no problem, would be a nice ride!

 

Jimmy,

Wayne is in Spencer NC, about an hour northeast of Charlotte. It's an easy trip down I-85. He's about 120 miles southwest of me and depending upon early-morning traffic (and the highway patrol presence that day), I can usually make that drive in about 90 minutes....