X type ride quality
#1
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X type ride quality
Good day all,
I recently bought a very nice 05 X Type 3.0 Sport Package.
I really like most things about the car, but I cannot believe how rough the ride quality is. I came from a 2000 SAAB 9-5 3.0 V6 Turbo, which was a very fast, and SMOOTH car on bumpy roads-and no slouch around the turns.
Unless the road surface is perfect the Jag is pretty miserable. Is this what we all deal with?
The car came with low profile 18" rims/tires, which I thought were the problem. I found some factory 16's and put a set of Continental Touring tires on the car (I know, the Sport calls for 17 -19" rims). This did help quite a bit (although the tires are pretty soft in cornering), but it is still a rough ride.
Has anyone put standard struts and shocks on a Sport Model to soften the ride? Normally I would be the type to want a "Sport" anything, but I would give up some stiffness for comfort...
I hope I can find some compromise of ride quality and retain decent handling..maybe softer struts and shocks and go back to a stiffer tire?
I would appreciate anyones comments, suggestions or observations. I can't believe I am the only one who feels this way (or am I???).
Thanks in advance-great site!
I recently bought a very nice 05 X Type 3.0 Sport Package.
I really like most things about the car, but I cannot believe how rough the ride quality is. I came from a 2000 SAAB 9-5 3.0 V6 Turbo, which was a very fast, and SMOOTH car on bumpy roads-and no slouch around the turns.
Unless the road surface is perfect the Jag is pretty miserable. Is this what we all deal with?
The car came with low profile 18" rims/tires, which I thought were the problem. I found some factory 16's and put a set of Continental Touring tires on the car (I know, the Sport calls for 17 -19" rims). This did help quite a bit (although the tires are pretty soft in cornering), but it is still a rough ride.
Has anyone put standard struts and shocks on a Sport Model to soften the ride? Normally I would be the type to want a "Sport" anything, but I would give up some stiffness for comfort...
I hope I can find some compromise of ride quality and retain decent handling..maybe softer struts and shocks and go back to a stiffer tire?
I would appreciate anyones comments, suggestions or observations. I can't believe I am the only one who feels this way (or am I???).
Thanks in advance-great site!
#2
The car is a stiff ride, even without the Sport springs. The cabin is under-insulated for noise. You did probably the single biggest thing you could do by swapping rims and tires. What PSI are you running in the tires? This can make a bigger difference than you think. If it is really bad, you might want to take a look at your suspension bushings. The ride should be stiff but not terrible.
#4
#5
I know a harsh ride is pretty subjective, but I have a 2005 sport with 18" Aruba wheels. Considering the tires ar 40 series I think the ride is pretty decent. Actually, one of the concerns I had before driving it with the low profile tires was how bad the ride would be. I am very satisified and I am no stranger to rough pot-holed roads. I live in Milwaukee. Maybe something is worn in the suspension or the previous owner put on some aftermarket suspension pieces. If you have a set of Eibachs on it and decided to go back to stock I know there would be a tom of members that would gladly switch with you.
I used to own 1999 Saab 9/5, so I'm familiar with the ride between the two. The Saab was quote a bit softer than the Jag for sure, but I'm very happy with the ride quality in the Jag. Hope there is nothing mechanically wrong with your car.
I used to own 1999 Saab 9/5, so I'm familiar with the ride between the two. The Saab was quote a bit softer than the Jag for sure, but I'm very happy with the ride quality in the Jag. Hope there is nothing mechanically wrong with your car.
#7
Check your swaybar bushings, sometimes they can cause a "clonk." If somebody had the subframe apart at some point, you might want to check the mounting bolts and re-torque. Your comparisons of the Lexus and XJ are apples to oranges with an X type.
I've had 8 Saabs over the years, including a 9000 Aero and I currently have a 2007 9-3 SS. They do have a more supple ride in general than this particular Jaguar, although the Aero was pretty stiff. The X handles better than any of them though due to the AWD layout and RWD bias.
I've had 8 Saabs over the years, including a 9000 Aero and I currently have a 2007 9-3 SS. They do have a more supple ride in general than this particular Jaguar, although the Aero was pretty stiff. The X handles better than any of them though due to the AWD layout and RWD bias.
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#8
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Ride quality
Thanks for the great input. I am much happier with the new wheels and tires, but I am looking hard the the suspension bushings and springs in general-I hear a "spring" sound when I get out of the car-like a spring is unloading....
Once I sort that out I am going to try the non-sport struts/shocks anyway-just to see. I like so much about the car it seems worth some experimenting.
Cheers,
S
Once I sort that out I am going to try the non-sport struts/shocks anyway-just to see. I like so much about the car it seems worth some experimenting.
Cheers,
S
#10
Hey Sethec... Ironically, I also just purchased a very nice 2005 X-type sport that ended up having suspension issues. My car came with the 17" Aguila wheels with 45 profile Continental Tires... When I drove the car home (WI to NY) the ride quality was terrible and very noisy...It sounded like the front and rear ends were loose... I finally got it home an brought it to the Jag repair center. They found both the front and rear bushings were bad (only 25k miles on the car), and they replaced both. Good thing I was still under factor warranty. Although my car is a "Select Edition", the Select Edition warrranty would not have covered the bushings.. Anyway, since the repair, the ride quality is still pretty stiff (compared to my 07 S-type) but the ride is much, much quieter. Despite the ride quailty being stiff, I've actually gone in the opposite direction of you... I have just purchased a set of the 18' Melbourne wheels, and am now looking for a good "All season Tire". Althought I know the already stiff ride of the X will get even stiffer with the 18's, it's the price we pay for that sporty look and ride. I must say, the X sure does look sexy with those 18 MELBOURNE'S though (see below)... Good luck, and have those bushings checked..
P.S. If you have some pics of your ride, I'd like to see it!!
P.S. If you have some pics of your ride, I'd like to see it!!
Last edited by steevo124; 06-23-2009 at 07:31 PM.
#11
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Interesting..
Thanks Steevo,
I will put some pics up over the weekend. It is black on black, and very nice.
I did come to the same conclusion about the bushings and will have that done very shortly. Any idea what that would have cost?
I have set of nice 18" rims (3 are perfect, one has a minor nick), with very new Kumho tires I will be selling if you are interested. I live near Chicago.
Good luck-I know what you mean about the look, but I need a car my wife will go for a drive in. Putting the 16's on was a big help, and when I do the bushings, I will likely try the non sport shocks & struts.
Once that is sorted and if it makes a difference I may move slowly to a stiffer, more performance tire-I bought the softest touring Contis I could find, and they are a bit soft for spirited driving. Still, I am getting closer to the car I wanted..
Cheers!
S
I will put some pics up over the weekend. It is black on black, and very nice.
I did come to the same conclusion about the bushings and will have that done very shortly. Any idea what that would have cost?
I have set of nice 18" rims (3 are perfect, one has a minor nick), with very new Kumho tires I will be selling if you are interested. I live near Chicago.
Good luck-I know what you mean about the look, but I need a car my wife will go for a drive in. Putting the 16's on was a big help, and when I do the bushings, I will likely try the non sport shocks & struts.
Once that is sorted and if it makes a difference I may move slowly to a stiffer, more performance tire-I bought the softest touring Contis I could find, and they are a bit soft for spirited driving. Still, I am getting closer to the car I wanted..
Cheers!
S
#12
Hey... I don't exactly know what the bushing will cost, but I can't imagine that it would be very expensive. I'm just thankful that I didn't have to pay for it. What model 18" rims do you have?? The aruba, melbourne or aftermarket wheels?? Anyway, good luck and I look forward for the pics.
#13
I see this is an older thread, but I am so happy I found it fast with a search using "rough ride". Since I bought my car two months ago, the one thing I have been most embarrassed about when driving friends around is the unbelievable truck like ride and shimmy. Two days ago I took the car in to have the tires balanced and rotated to see if this helped. It seemed to, but this evening we put almost 300 miles on the car driving to have dinner at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri. Home of the throwed rolls, and the travel channels number one "place to pig out". Believe me, it is. Anyway. Talk about a car that rides like a truck. Tomorrow I'm taking it back to the tire place and have them check the tires for a bad one or two, see if any of my wheels are bent, even though they say they were able to balance them good the other day. And, have a wheel alignment if they can do it. I will surely have the bushings done next week with my British Car repair guy but it looks like the rough ride is something I might have to live with, but not something I ever expected from a luxury Jag sedan. My car has 72,000 miles on it and it's an '03.
If anyone has any other ideas, please chip in. This is the only thing I cannot stand about this car.
**Just an update. I'm at the tire store and they took it for a ride, then took me for one . Anyway, the tires are badly worn on the inside on all of them. By badly, I mean they are very uneven. He said it was more the tire (Cooper) than alignment or anything. I thought Cooper was a great name in tires. Anyway, I searched online for Jag tires that help with the ride and came up with Falcon tires being the best for the money and I went with a size up 225/50/17 for a more comfortable ride. I'll report back to see if it's okay.
If anyone has any other ideas, please chip in. This is the only thing I cannot stand about this car.
**Just an update. I'm at the tire store and they took it for a ride, then took me for one . Anyway, the tires are badly worn on the inside on all of them. By badly, I mean they are very uneven. He said it was more the tire (Cooper) than alignment or anything. I thought Cooper was a great name in tires. Anyway, I searched online for Jag tires that help with the ride and came up with Falcon tires being the best for the money and I went with a size up 225/50/17 for a more comfortable ride. I'll report back to see if it's okay.
Last edited by RickMG; 08-08-2009 at 09:30 AM.
#14
Okay, here's the outcome. After puting on the Falcon 225/50-17 tires and doing an all wheel alignment my car is driving like a dream, and QUIET too. Unbelievable what a difference it made. I love it when I do something that you notice an immediate benefit. And it was not expensive. Here's a link to the tires I bought (bought them locally for $110 each plus $44 for wheel balance & valve stems. They did the alignment for $59 since I paid to have the wheels balanced just a few days ago. I am also including the alignment results below.
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...w=false&cs=225
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...w=false&cs=225
#15
I am having the exact same problem as you did in the same year car and around the same mileage. Except I just got 2 new tires, an alignment and balance. I am wondering if coupling 2 old and 2 new tires is what is causing this shimmy and noise. I was thinking of doing a Road Force Balance to see if that resolves it, this issue is the only thing I have a problem with so far after buying it a couple thousand miles ago.
#16
I highly suggest you do run 4 of the same make and model of tire that are in very similar condition. It is extremely important that you run tires that are the same size and shape on the same axle (front right the same as front left, etc).
Have your toe set to zero in the front, or as close to zero as possible - this has been shown to greatly reduce or eliminate the inner tire wear problem.
A Road Force balance is always a good idea, in my opinion, simply because this car is so picky about balance issues.
Have your toe set to zero in the front, or as close to zero as possible - this has been shown to greatly reduce or eliminate the inner tire wear problem.
A Road Force balance is always a good idea, in my opinion, simply because this car is so picky about balance issues.
#18
Not that I've noticed. I would think if I was going over a big bump while turning it might hit, don't know. Actually, I think they look better than before, as the other's almost looked to small for the car.