I have a 2000 s-type jag. I have a clunking noise coming from the front suspension that sounds like something is loose at low speed 5-30mph. i don't feel any vibration, tires wear look normal, once i go over 30 the noise just stop. thanks for looking.

 

i had the same problem, it was my lower control arm bushings. you havthe e to replace the whole control arm. cost me 800.00. since they where under there i had them replace the drivers side also

 

Try holding down the brake and pushing the gas when the car is in drive.. If you hear the noise then then its a motor mount. If you don't hear it, then it is a suspension bushing.. Most likely control arm like steven said.

 

Since your car is a 2000 year I would very much think it's the front sway bar bushings. This is a well known problem with the Lincoln LS also. The parts are cheap but they are kind of difficult to install. Especially on the passenger side. Some people have had good luck with removing the factory rubber bushing and using an aftermarket urethane bushing. This is cheaper because you bring in your old ones and they just match the size. Plus no waiting on dealership parts.
I would try this first before replacing control arm bushings. How many miles on the car?
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I will try the brake test, the car have 111,000 miles

 

i did the brake test while driving and the noise didn't stop, the car was doing the same noise. how do check the motor mounts

 

Sorry I guess I didn't word that correctly, the test is done while the car is not moving at all. To check to see if the motor is moving around, while the car is *completely stopped* hold down the brake firmly and slowly push the gas pedal (when the car is in drive) while preventing the car from moving with the brakes. If you hear a knocking noise coming from the engine, that is the motor jerking up and down an inch or so. If you don't hear anything then the noise is coming from a control arm or sway bar bushing.

The motor mounts in our Jags are filled with an fluid/oil and is cushions the motor so you don't feel the vibrations and movement like you do in cheaper cars. When they collapse you will see fluid dripping from the bottom bolt of the mount.

 

whiteSTR, worth knowing - thanks.

 

I have 02 S-Type with 65k miles.. and same problem... i had to take it to 3 different places besides Jag dealer to get the right diagnose! lower control arm bushing rubber is cracked and opened.... and it actually goes up and down on small bumps. That's what that clunking noise is.
I was wondering what is better to do, replace the whole steering knuckle part or try to do just the lower ball joint? I heard that replacing just the lower joint is not a permanent decision for that problem cause that control arm is made of aluminum and after market ball joint is made of steel so it gets loose after some time.
Also wondering if its possible to do by myself? cause paying $200-$300 just for work is kinda crazy.
And also does it have to be original steering knuckle part from the jaguar dealer or can it be bought online? My friend mechanic said he will not install and give guaranties on online parts made in Mexico or Canada.
Tolstiy

 

did the engine mounts test and no noise was noticed, but noticed while the car is in still motor running and i m move the steering wheell side to side the noise is present. thanks for your replies

 

thanks

 

I lifted the car and the problem is the lower ball joints i didn't check the upper ball joints but i'm pretty sure they gone too. how much i'm i looking to spend? are the ebay ball joints reliable?

 

 

Did you have to do an alignment after replacing control arms?

 

yes, totally different car now good luck

 

This same problem is now happening with my car. I took it to a mechanic who said I couldn't just replace the bushings that are deteriorated. He said I have to replace the whole control arm. I read online that it IS possible to just replace the bushings. I have two questions:

1. My car is a 2003 S-Type 4.2L V8. I was told that some 2003 models have the 2002 control arm and some have the newer 2003 and on control arm. Is there a VIN cutoff I should know about? The last six digits of my VIN is M86524.

2. If I find the control arms online, coming from a parted out Jaguar, is it likely to have the exact same issue? Or if I can replace the bushings without replacing the control arm, where can I get them, and who will install them.

I'd really like to get this entire job done (both LH and RH sides need replacement) for under $1000. If anyone has any recommendations on how to get this done for under $1000 (including labor), please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your help!

P.S. How could these go bad in 6 years?

P.P.S. If anyone in Southern California has a mechanic recommendation for my Jaguar, please PM me. Thank you.

 

i chaged the lower bal joints $100.00 + $70.00 to get them out and the new ones in and the car is running lovely

 

Ok, I'm confused. Are the lower ball joints the same things as the bushings or lower control arms? Where can I get them?

Update: I just bought 2 of these:

Jaguar S-Type/Super V8 Front Control Arm Bushing 03-07
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=220491737916

If I take those to my mechanic, will it get the trick done?

 

update
Well, i did changed that lower ball joint on the control arm. It cost me 60$ to order part from eBay and 40$ to pay a mechanic to switch old ball joint for a new one. But the rest of the work (to take control arm off and put it back) was done by me and my buddy. It was a complete b*tch to put it back!
And guess what? The clunking noise is still present while driving!
Went to a dealer and they said its a sway bar bushings that's making that noise. Now i have to change that too...
and yes, i do need to make an alignment now. And not all shops know how to do it on Jags. If they don't know, they will just mess it up even more! Ask at the shop if they ever done it on Jaguars before letting them work on your kitty.
Good luck

 

The issue with sway bar bushings is the shape of the bar itself. It's not really round but more ovaloid - as a result it wears out the bushings. So, the first thing anybody with the 'clunk' should do it replace the bushings. They are cheap ($32 from Motorcars) and relatively easy to replace. Second thing to check would be the sway bar links (aka drop-links), also very cheap and even easier to replace. And only after you replace all of those should you consider replacing the control arm bushings and the ball joints.

just my $.02