Hi guys,

I am looking to replace my well worn out rear shocks and struts as well as my front shocks(later on)...I wanted to do it myself instead of having to fork over $1300 to the local Jaguar shop(not dealership) just for the rear shocks and strut replacement...I am in college so free time on the weekends can be used for a DIY project like this

I also just got all 4 tires replaced with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus Tires so I would like to do the replacement asap before the bad shocks/struts start wearing out the tires unevenly and such...

I have a few questions...

1. how hard is replacing the rear shocks on this car? will youtube videos that show how to work on other cars be similar or are jaguars totally different to work on? I know the big cats have their own little quirks lol

2. what is the best set of aftermarket shocks and struts that I can get that are closest to OEM without the higher price tag? Brand name, model number, and the best place to buy from would be appreciated in your reply!

thank you so much for your time...and hopefully I can get started on this project soon!

 

More car details needed - engine & whether CATS. See below...

 

thanks for the quick reply!

i thought I had my car's details in my signature..but here it is:

2004 Jaguar S-Type 4.2L V8 (non-R) ...i am not sure if it is CATS suspension, though i don't think it is...how can I find out?

 

after looking at this thread:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...-i-have-92872/

i'm pretty sure that I don't have CATS suspension installed.

 

I haven't done the shock absorbers / dampers on my 2005 S-Type 4.2 VDP, but I looked into it and it sure seems like getting Bilsteins is the way to go. Bilstein makes the OEM shocks and the exact same shocks are available at Jaguar dealers as Jaguar part numbers, or from aftermarket shock dealers as Bilstein part numbers. There are no uprated shocks available from Bilstein for the S-type (I talked to a knowledgeable Bilstein tech myself -- so did forum member brianshaw009), but the OEM shocks are monotube shocks. You can get the shocks for the base/standard suspension, or the shocks for the "sport" suspension that offer about 10-20% higher damping rates. (See this thread: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...g-rates-91516/)

These are the part numbers for 2003-forward 4.2 NA:

Front:
24-067287 Base/standard
24-067430 Sport

Rear:
24-067713 Base/standard
24-067720 Sport

 

Are you having trouble with the shocks or do you just want to replace them?

 

They are not all that difficult to do if you have all the tools and are careful not to stretch the brake lines. I believe I needed a 55 or 60 torx bit for one of the bolts and you will need a spring compressor. As far as brand, the only ones I would recommend for regular driving are the Bilstein Sports as mentioned above. You can probably get something cheaper like Monroe Sensatrac, but the ride will be soft and unsatisfactory.

 

Is there a huge difference in the "roughness" of the ride between comfort and sport suspension? I would love to have better handling performance overall but not at the expense of the amazing soft yet firm enough ride I had when I bought the car
BTW, here is where I am thinking of ordering from: Bilstein*Shocks:*03-04*S-Type / S-Type R 4.2L V8 with Standard Suspension* - eShocks.com:

Well I went into the local Jaguar shop and now recently the tire shop and both have told me to replace the rear shocks because they are leaking badly...they also said that the front shocks/struts need to be replaced soon. Honestly, I can already tell the difference between when I got the car and now...every time I turn hard, the car kinda sways and I can hear noises like the shocks are straining...perhaps the sway link bar is due for an upgrade as well..

Yes, I plan on going with the Bilstein Comfort or Sport, idk which yet...nothing but the best
I'm sure I can get the required tools from AdvancedAutoParts with their tool rental program but I just hope that the Jag doesnt have any weird steps required that may not be required with other cars when replacing shocks.
Also, how hard is it to replace the sway link bar? Is it easier than replacing the shocks? To me, it seems like it's just a bar to replace...maybe I'm being naive lol

THANK YOU GUYS

 

The sway bar links are very easy to replace, but you likely won't feel a difference unless one of your old ones is broken. Even if one of the links is bad, you would likely only hear it clunk a little rather than have it affect your handling unless you are driving like you are on a race track.

I would also opt for the sport struts over the comfort.

 

I think whether you go with the standard-spec shocks or the "sport" shocks on a normally-aspirated S-type mostly comes down to esthetics. IMO. The base/standard shock is a monotube design that offers a level of damping that keeps the car under control in normal and reasonable levels of sporting road driving. It offers a compliant-enough ride to give that classic Jaguar balance of ride versus handling. I have hucked my 4.2 with base suspension around a bit and it will handle, but there is some body roll. If you want the feel of less suspension movement, a more solid feel to the suspension, then go with the "sport" shocks. According the the Bilstein tech I talked to, for the front shocks the sport versions offer 10.3% stronger rebound damping and 16.7% stronger compression damping. If you are really pushing the car to the limits of safe driving on the road, then the sport dampers would give you more control. The fact is, I suspect, that at least for non-R owners, 99.9+% of actual driving time is not spent pushing the car hard in bends and corners. So, that's why I say it mostly comes down to esthetics: do you like the feel of less suspension movement and more damping and solidity, or do you like the feel of a bit softer and more "comfortable" (again, esthetic) ride?

 

hmm, the site says they're also for the STR but they look not to be CATS so cannot be...

 

The part numbers in the link match what the Bilstein tech confirmed for me as the correct part numbers for the standard OEM shock absorbers. I don't recall whether these part numbers are correct for pre-2003 S-types or non-V8 S-types, but since you have a 2003 4.2 V8 these are the correct part numbers. If you want the sport model shocks, look for the other part numbers I gave you. If I were replacing my shocks, I would probably go with the sport models. But as I wrote in my previous post, it mostly comes down to preference/esthetics/feel, if you have a non-R model.

The eshocks website says they are twin-tube gas shock absorbers / dampers. The very knowledgeable Bilstein tech told me that the Jaguar OEM Bilsteins are in fact a monotube design. The Bilstein B4 line is the OE replacement line with the factory damping rates and design. Most of the base/standard OEM dampers in the B4 line are twin-tube, so maybe that's why the eshocks website has them described as twin-tube. But Bilstein's B4 line does not equal twin-tube, it equals original equipment specification/design, and in the case of the Jaguar S-type, that was a monotube design.

 

Okay, so I am planning on getting the shocks and the sway bar links replaced as well. So you are saying that the shocks on eshocks.com are actually monotubes and not twintubes for the S-Type right?

Also any ideas as to where I can get sway link bars online for a good price?

thanks

 

Yes, those shocks are monotube. That is what I was told by a Bilstein US tech on the phone who seemed very knowledgeable and even went to the trouble of checking the Bilstein Germany database. He said he was working on correcting and updating the US database.

That said, I have not ordered the shocks and have no other knowledge about their design other than what the Bilstein tech told me, and the information that is on the Bilstein US website. See these web pages:

BILSTEIN B4 - OEM Shocks/Struts
Note that it states this in reference to their B4 line: "BILSTEIN uses both monotube and twin-tube technology to give the best in OE replacement driving comfort at a great economical price."

This is the OEM front shock absorber for the standard/base/non-sport suspension: Bilstein 24-067287
Note that it states: "36mm Monotube Shock Absorber"

This is the front "sport" shock (also 36mm monotube): Bilstein 24-067430

This is the REAR standard/base/non-sport shock (46 mm monotube): Bilstein 24-067713

This is the REAR SPORT shock (46 mm monotube): Bilstein 24-067720

Note the links to "Download Installation Instructions" on those pages.

 

I am finding I also need new shocks. Maybe if we all buy from same place they can cut us a deal?

 

Investigating this topic I found interesting fact. It seems there is no equal alternative to CAT-shocks in terms of performance. Look at the capacity comparison of CAT shock to Sport non-CAT shock:

S-Type CAT shock:


S-Type Sport shock:

 

Hi guys,

Thanks for the wonderful thread we have going here!

I need to replace my leaking rear struts and most likely the front ones soon on my 2005 S-Type with base suspension.

Even though I do not have the sport suspension, my mechanic recommended the # XR851788 Rear Shock Absorbers.

Would anyone be able to confirm the Bilstein part #'s for the non-STR 05' S-Type?
Any places you guys prefer to shop for these?

Thanks!