I want to change the Rear Lower Control Arm, right side on my 2003 S Type with the 4.2 NA motor. Does the shock absorber and spring have to be compressed or supported to remove and replace lower control arm, or is it ok to just let it hang and remove and replace lower control arm. The online manual doesn't mention it. Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Other hopefully can confirm, what I think: - I have done similar repairs on X-Type and XJ8 (X308), but not on S-Type, but I think that compression of the spring is only necessary, if you intend to remove the dampener inside of it. As long as you only want to remove the lower control arm, the spring should not require compression...

PS:
I just found this video for you and it confirms - I think - that no compression of the spring is required:

 

There is no need to remove the rear dampers, or compress the springs if only the lower control arms are being replaced.

DO NOT completely tighten the control arm bolts and nuts, or the lower damper bush bolt to the final torque value until the vehicle is on the ground or the bushes are going to be deformed or tear.

 

NBCat is right about that:

>> DO NOT completely tighten the control arm bolts and nuts, or the lower damper bush bolt to the final torque value until the vehicle is on the ground
>> or the bushes are going to be deformed or tear.

The same applies e.g. for the front on the X-Type, and I do not know, if access to the bolts is possible with the rear wheel mounted and the car jacks removed on the S-Type, but I do not believe that this is possible on the X-type (front), as those bolts a not accessible with the X-Type low and the ground and the wheel blocking them. But I found a way around it: With the wheel removed and the bolts loose I provisionally mounted the rotor (= brake disc) - not necessarily with the callipers, but with at least 3 wheel-nuts (and if they are not long enough without the wheel nounted then use a few washers) - and then I put a second car jack under the rotor (or a wooden block of the correct height would do) and I let the weight of the car rest on it fully before tightening the bolts.

 

I am finally going to break down and replace the right rear lower control arm and some links on my 2003 Jaguar S Type. Do you need pullers or any specialized tools to remove the existing lower control arm, or just remove the fasteners and it comes right off and the new one just goes right on? Thanks