Sometimes, you just can't always buy what you want and in my own case, what I wanted was Harder/More Resilient, Shock Absorber Bushes than OEM.

In which case the only alternative (as far as I know) is to make your own and then as a bit of a bonus, save around £20 on an OEM product that I didn't really want.

As well as the satisfaction, of making something 'Bespoke' for your own Car.

I'm not sure of the Technical Name for the Resilience but I think it may be measured in something called 'Shore' (no doubt someone else on here will know and chime in)

Making these is as easy as falling off a log and only takes a few minutes.

Anyone buying an XJS could well find on their Car that the Shock Absorber Bushes, are completely worn away and in my own case so much so, that they were non existent.

And responsible for a 'Graunching Sound' whenever you hit the smallest bump in the road.

So as they are so easy to make (and fit) I put new ones on every year, just as a matter of course.

This is how I did it (comments welcome)

As for the Resilience as I'm not an expert, I took a bit of a 'punt' in so much as I chose a strip of Butyl Rubber, more Resilient to 'Squashing' than what the Original OEM Bushes were made of.

If you want to make 8 of these so you have got spare ones put by, then you need a Strip of Rubber (of the resilience of your choice) about 16 inches long and 2 inches wide.

As for Thickness, I chose 10mm, which may vary according to your make of 'Shocks' and how much thread you have got sticking up.

Then very simply Cut them out with a 38mm Hole Saw, which in the scheme of things is pretty standard.

You can do this with an Electric drill although a Pillar drill is better, if you have one

and I found the Slower you cut them, the better finish you get although its not that important, if they are a little bit rough round the edges.

Fitting new Bushes is also incredibly easy and I'm planning to put up some photos of how you do that.

 

i think you will find that the measurement of resilience is on a sliding scale called

"years of marriage" or so my wife says

 

Love that Leo! lmao