Greetings all. So I recently purchased a '19 XJ SC with 28k miles on it. Came with a ride height issue that was a simple rear sensor fix. When I finally got to take it for a decent road trip of about 100 miles each way I came to realize there is slack in the steering, allowing the wheel to move a few degrees before engaging and actually turning the wheels. It wasn't readily noticible at lower, in-town freeway speeds, but once I was able to stretch its perverbial legs it was very evident. My first instinct is inner and outer tie rods, but I don't see any odd wear to the tires, which are brand new Conti Extreme Contacts. I did step up a size between the SC and the R, so 255s front and 275s rear (look great btw!), but can't see that being a cause vs wear somewhere in the steering. If you're an old head like me I would liken the feeling to that of an old worn rag joint. So, maybe it is the tie rods. I've already purchased them, and will put them in no matter what to see if it is the issue, but if anyone has run into a similar issue maybe you can help me kick the can with the tie rods down the road a bit. TIA

 

Does your car have electric steering? I think they went to that at the end. Looks like from VIN V90865 on are electric. So check your VIN. I do see there were some further part number changes in that VIN range too.



Use the list above to get the right part number. Be sure to check all part numbers against your car's VIN on any factory JLR web site to make sure it is the right one.

If not a mechanical problem it could be the rack. If it is and you have the electric rack it's not repairable and will need to be replaced. This will be expensive!
Is the car under warranty? I hope it still is.

Part C2D56392 is not available and the price is listed as 3000 GBP! It's a shame they went to electric. Way too expensive,numb steering and not repairable only replace the entire rack. JLR should have kept the better/cheaper hydraulic version. Part C2D44325 has been superseded by C2D56392 so that is of no help either.

If you could get the car scanned with the JLR SDD you might find some steering rack errors that would help too.
Yours is a very late production XJ so I would love to see what your VIN is. Car has to be close to the very last of the XJ's built!

You could look for a used rack if that turns out to be your problem.
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Club,
I own one hydraulic power steering X351, and one with EPS (The recently sold F-Pace also had EPS). I have to say that in no-way can you consider the EPS equipped cars As "numb", in fact they give greater 'straight ahead stability' , and enhanced feedback on cornering. In my opinion, JLR did a fantastic job with the EPS system.

JHendo,

You might want to check the recalls for your VIN. The EPS steering rack suffered from water ingress into the EPS motor and was recalled for free replacement.

wombat

 

Haven't looked but I would assume it had electric with all the nanny stuff it has; lane assist and such. I have an 11 also and the steering is VERY different, like you I prefer the feel of the older car. I guess the real question is how to nail down exactly where the slack is.

Now something I am noticing is you have the RH drive box checked. Being in the States I have a LH drive car. Wonder if that changes things for availability?

 

I will have to give the recall thing a look. I would think that were the motor to fail the steering would be down to manual mode? It steers with plenty mechanical assist, just has that few degrees from center before it actually firms up and moves the wheels. Be curious what symptoms might be expected if failure is happening slowly?

 

Your opinion and that's fine but I beg to differ as I think it's has little to no road feel. Is it as good as other electric racks yes I think so. I race and road feel is something you need to develop over time with experience. I actually prefer a manual rack as it's very direct and connected to the road surface. But people don't want any road feel they want a isolated box to drive around in. An appliance like an electric car. That's fine but that's not what I am looking for.

A recall would be great news. Does anyone have the recall number? I do see a number of posts about the problem but they all ended with no recall only a replacement. As Wombat posted above "water ingress" seems to be the biggest cause of failure. A number of them had problems after driving thru water.
Here is a thread with a different car. I post this as there was a mention of a place that has started to repair the LR racks but that link from 2023 is now dead.
Electric Rack Failure - Again

This is another item that will destroy used Jaguars as it's just too darn expensive to fix. Hopefully as time goes on we will see more electronic module type repair places. We need to repair and NOT replace stuff. There are out there now but can't fix everything. It's not just Jaguars either. My wife's Lincoln had a problem with the dash AC panel. It came with "touch" controls but everyone including me used them as "push" controls. Well Ford did not make the circuit board strong enough so after time and many button pushes. The circuit board cracks and the controls go crazy due to internal shorts. Nothing wrong with the module just the control buttons. Of course Ford has this listed as NLA. A used one is just a failure waiting to happen. But I found a place on-line and $300+ later they fixed and improved the module with a reinforced circuit board for the front panel.

JHendo is your car under warranty?
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Club,

I tend to differ. I often drive the '12 and 575 back-to-back on the same day. As a Test Pilot, it is part of my remit to notice variations between various settings (be it on the ground, or in the air). In my distant youth, I raced motorcycles and I am intimately aware of road feedback.

The HPS and EPS are virtually identical (with the exceptions I noted above).

In my opinion, most "feel" and "feedback" comments relate to the tyre quality (and its age), that you are running.

wombat

 

Not under warranty I'm afraid.

 

Hi JHendo,

Check your front control arm bushings, especially the large rubber bushings in the front lower control arms. With age, the bushings deteriorate and crack, allowing excessive movement in the front suspension and steering play and imprecision.

Cheers,

Don

 

I certainly will. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

ESPECIALLY if they're not genuine JLR or Lemforders...
AND if they weren't installed correctly, only tightened-up after the vehicle weight is fully on the wheels/suspension!

 

I agree with that 100% - these (at least my wife's X351) are (and my wife's is hydraulic-assisted steering) are very sensitive to tire condition (disclaimer - we've only experienced Perellis and Michelins on her XJ).

But as far as feedback preferences & impressions, I think the professional context and general public owner perspective isn't necessarily the same. One is technical, the other is fully subjective.

 

The OE Lemförder rubber bushings are better than most of the aftermarket ones, but they still perish with time. JHendo's car is 7 years old, which is a common age when the rubber shows signs of deterioration.

 

Unfortunately, SDD doesn't work on the later cars, like 2019. He needs the replacement for SDD, which is Pathfinder.

His car isn't the XJL, so it's not a Collection Edition, like mine. Collection Editions were the last of the XJL's, and supposedly 300 were made, but who knows if they really made that many for the US. It was really hard for Jag to sell an XJ by that point, so many of the Collections sat on the dealer floors. My VIN is 22251, which should be later than his.

 

My 2019 XJL 5.0L has 29K miles and the steering is perfectly tight and delicious. You car is very young to have a worn out steering system.

Are there any signs of previous abuse or accidents with your car? Any General Lee markings or Dixie horn upgrades?

 

So to follow up for those who care, thus far I have, upon suggestion, swapped out the aluminum forward lower control arms. Zero change or improvement was noted. FYI I did use Lemforder, and appear that the only difference from OE is the lack of Jaguar being embossed upon them. The originals also appeared to be in good shape, but with some movement when steering with the car on ramps I decided to change them. New ones do exactly the same thing. Worst case I have a new set on and a spare original set now. I have purchased the lower rear steel control arms, as well as the inner and outer tie rods, but from what I can see and what I feel with more wheel time don't seem to indicate those are currently issues. Tracking is perfectly fine, zero unusual tire wear, so I believe all that is good as they would all lead to a bad allignment and should cause scrubbing of the tires.

The more I drive the car though and the more research I do the more I am convinced the issue is in the column down to the rack or in the rack itself. I'm seeing mentions of the bushings that the rack is mounted to possibly being the issue, allowing movement of the rack before movement of the wheels happen, but on the freeway the steering wheel moves several degrees from center in both directions almost completely freely before the remotest bit of resistance is felt and any steering actually occurs. I am seeing where some failures have happened with the u-joint that attaches the column linkage to the rack. I guess I need to crawl under there again to see if I can actually see that joint, and if it is moving before turning happens. If anyone knows of other possible similar joints I might be able to inspect please share, but if nothing else the lower forward control arms have been eilminated as a possibility.