FYI I just found that my lower ball joint was loose and wanted to bring it to the forums attention. See the attached TSB.

Link http://www.jagrepair.com/images/TSB/...l%20Joints.pdf

 

umm, 15 years after the TSB / recall you think it's the TSB / recall that's the issue?

 

Not sure but will have more info when I pull it apart to see what is going on. Imagine me surprise when I found it loose!

Gus
WWW.jagrepair.com

 

I was thinking horror rather than surprise...

 

Replace the vertical link or the Ball Joint itself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a BUNCH of those cars that had loose BJ nuts. The first one or two I just retightened the nut. The cars came back with a loose nut AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ball joint seizes and the nut loosens with steering!!!!!

The loose nut will allow the BJ stem to wobble out the lower control arm.

You will end up replacing the BJ/vertical link AND the control arm!!!!!!!

been-there-done-that!!!(still don't have the 'T'shirt)

bob gauff

 

Glad to hear the explanation for them loosening up!

This is very common on the early LS (2000-2002) and the recommendation on the LS boards has always been just tighten up the nut and go on your way.
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If the nuts were slightly loose to begin with, then just tightening would work. (as in Service Action/Recall S204-R136)
On some cars I torqued the crap out of the nuts and they came back loose so I knew something was wrong. I even 'double-nutted' one car and it STILL loosened.

bob

 

My Black one got the "creaks" from the RH lower balljoint.

Found replacements, but asked about fitting them in those alloy uprights, NOOOOOO way was the popular reply, with a smattering of "we will give it a go", aha, not on my car you wont.

The vertical assemblies did not sit well with the bank balance, so outside that Aussie square again. I drilled a hole in teh end plate (the bit that faces the sky) threaded that hole and screwed in a grease fitting. Greased the RH, boy was it dry. It took some serious greasing pressure to force that grease past the internal end cup and ball (its how ball joints work), and then did the LH side, not so dry.

That stopped the "creaks" instantly, and a week later I removed the wheels and greased them some more, took very little, so it is now part of my "Annual" service chart.

The steering is now as sweet as it should be, and the steer pump has finally "shut up".

OK, I accept that grease cannot FIX a worn out ball joint, but mine were simply TIGHT, and I believe on the way to the seizing scenario mentioned above, and I had the Jaguar Gods on my side for a change and caught them just in time.

I did a thread on that with snaps, so look on this section and you will find.

 

Thanks Bob! I replaced the ball joint with a new vertical link that had the ball joint installed. As I was searching for the ball joint I found that I I got it for a few dollars more than just the ball joint. I installed it yesterday in just a few hours. I examined both the upper control arm and they are in fair condition but I will be replacing them soon.

If you are asking how did I find it well the steering wheel was a little off center and what made me look was after a drive and went over a swell in the road and the car responded poorly. Have yours checked!

Just as a side note I did tighten the nut when I found it but it came loose again in just a few miles as you experienced so it was a no brainer about replacing it. Just an FYI I have been keeping them greased faithfully. Oh well just another opportunity!

 

Wanted to give you an update because this saga was not over.

Been driving the car a lot about 3,000mi and noticed that the front end was not what I thought it should be. I was at the time about 300mi from home so I took it to a shop to look at the frontend and found that the left ball joint was failing so they replaced the vertical control arm with ball joint. When I did the right side I examined the left side and did not see a problem. Drove it home and was still not satisfied with the way it was handling. I put it on my lift and checked every ball joint and bushing and found that I had 2 bushings on the lower left rear control arm were also failing. Purchased the new bushings and pressed them in and now all seems good. I do not do alignments but had it done by someone I did not know well he knows me now.