Hi everyone! I am new to Jaguars. My mother-in-law has a 2004 x-type that has been sort of neglected over the years. She is using it for daily driving. I am trying to help her maintain it and troubleshoot possible problems. I've learned a lot about little eccentricities of this car on this forum -- thank you! -- so I thought I would ask this general question.

When I look at the car from the side, the front end seems to be lower than the back. The side of the car doesn't have a straight line from wheel to wheel, the back is higher than the front. It's as if there is a lot of extra weight on the front end, that's sort of what it looks like. I don't know if this is related, but the car does not handle bumps in the road all that well, it's not a smooth ride all the time. So first, I am wondering if this car is supposed to look this way. Second, if it is not supposed to look this way, I wonder if there may be a significant problem with the front struts, if maybe they need to be replaced. A mechanic did look at the struts and said that they *could* be replaced, but there was no mention of them being in such bad shape that they cause the car to slope, and the mechanic didn't seem to think the struts were a "have to." Then again, this is the same mechanic who said that this is basically a Ford Taurus and has little specific experience with Jaguar. Any thoughts out there? Thank you!

 

Thomas, there is a bit of a rake (lean front to rear) wtih the X-Type. With that being said, it is possible that you have old springs on the front of the car and someone has recently replaced the rear springs. This would cause the rake to be exaggerated, especially if they went with say the heavy duty rear springs. You can prove this by looking at the rear springs and seeing what color sticker is on the spring. Post the color here and we can tell you which spring you have. There are 3 springs that I am aware of. You have the normal spring, the Sport spring (shorter by 1.4 inches) and then you have the heavy duty springs which were used in the station wagon X-TYpes.

 

Thank you Thermo!!! I looked underneath and I couldn't see any stickers on the rear springs. Hm. I suppose if there is supposed to be a bit of rake (or "positive rake" according to the internet!), maybe what I am seeing is relatively normal. I'm still thinking the struts on the front need to be replaced. ka-THUNK! Anyway thanks again for the advice!

 

 

All published Jaguar figures give the ride height to be the same for all X type saloons.. In the Specification book here

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto...s-09-2009-.pdf

note that for other models, eg the S Type, the differences between Comfort and Sport are well detailed, but the X type section states that the single set of figures are for all models.

X type brochures state the Sport models as having 'body colour grill surround, boot plinth, bumper blades and satin black window surrounds to give the X Type Sport athletic looks' but no mention of a lower ride.
The brochure specifications page gives the same overall dimensions for all, though offering Sports suspension as an option on the SE and Sovereign models to replace the standard Touring suspension

The ride height is kept at constant between models by varying the spring rates rather than their lengths.

 

Hi Astromorg - Wow, thank youI that is really interesting.

Here is a picture of the car. Does this look normal?

 

Yours


Dell's


Looks a pretty similar rake comparing the cars following the sill upper line through front and rear wheel centres.
Even my 2.1 V6 has a similar stance.

 

The X-Type has nothing to do with the Ford Taurus. It's a common error. It's based on the Ford Mondeo.
X-Type
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.
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The only sure-fire way is to check your front and rear ride heights against the figures given in the Specification link, also noting the + or - tolerance figures given

 

This is very commonly called a "California Rake" in the U.S. Looks normal to my eye (shrugs*)