Ever since I got the car it drives floaty. Anyways, I looked under the car and I saw the rear sway bar links were shredded. I suspect the front control arms are the same way, since I hear a clunking noise.

My question is,

What are the most common parts to replace or which bushes are the usual suspects? I looked at doing the entire suspension and it looks like a very expensive and involved job so I am leaning towards replacing the links and control arms and hopefully nothing else requires attention.

Thanks,

 

You need to search. This is extremely well documented.
Mine was terrible. All rubber was bad. It did have new curved arms on the front. These must go first.
It was squeaking after driving a few weeks. Thought it was antiroll bar links. They had no rubber. The squeak was a lower rear bushing that had completely come apart. One rear toe adjuster was about to come apart.
Replaced bushings on front lower arms,complete front and rear uppers,complete rear lowers, sway bar links, front and rear tie rods, and sway bar bushings. Dropped sub frame to change sway bar bushings and inspect the body bushings.
Ford parts for control arms and toe adjusters. Used Trw front tie rod ends, Raybestus links, and Internet sway bar bushings.
I hope Lemforder changed the rubber used. But coated all the new rubber with a thick protectant prior to install. Hope it adds a couple years to the life. Maybe a couple weeks anyway.
One telling fact, we have a 2005 Audi A8, 2006 XJR, and 2007 BMW 335i. All have Lemforder suspension parts. The only cracked boot or seal was on the Jaguar. And it was every boot, seal, and bushing.
A friend had a Lincoln LS and I told him my Jag used the same parts and I had just replaced them all. He had his inspected and sold it after hearing he needed 5000.00 of repairs to the suspension.
Another friend moved away driving a Ford T-Bird. It squeaked and rattled like my XJR. The S type suffer this issue also.

 

Hate to say it, but you may have the same issues in the rear too.

 

BlacXJRCat, Panelhead

Sounds like the high Texas heat has taken care of the rubber parts of your Cats early on. Good part is that you have no rust issues like drivers in the north. I suspect all your hoses and belts need to be checked as well for wear.

I have non of these issues on my 2004XJR in NH, yet and fortunately.

RyeJag

 

You might want to get under to look. The previous owner of my car did not know how bad the rubber looked.
My wife's 2007 BMW has been in Houston heat for nine years. The rubber looks new. These are also Lemforder control arms and bits.
But I hope it is heat related issue. Makes me feel better.

 

Well, turns out the front looks good. The only parts that need attention are the links. The rear is all gone. I'm not sure what's better, new poly bushes or to replace everything with new parts.

Looking at Partsgeek and eBay.

 

I have heard of squeaking issues with the poly bushings. Also have seen several lubricants mentioned to address this issue.
If you can find new lower arms for twice the price of bushings it is better. Pressing the old bushings out and the new in will cost something.
When I purchased mine they were less than 300.00 each. The uppers were around 120.00. I definitely would replace uppers to get new ball joints.

 

Its usually the the 2 smaller bushings on the lower rear arm that go bad...The larger bushing rarely fails...The Lincoln LS control arms are the same but cheaper...Pressing in new bushings is cheaper...My shop cracked one of my arms and said not there problem...Tie rod ends were shot too...My uppers bushings were good...New Jag arms are 350ish on ebay...

 

I'm starting to see the rubber failing on my 2006 XJR which was a Houston car. No rust in it, but the rubbers are starting to go on it at 80k miles.