I have a 2004 xj8 and every time I hit a bump, the front it sounds like plate clanking

 

Any odd tyre wear on the front at all, like on the inside edge of both tyres ? Is the general handling OK

It might be time to inspect the front lower wishbone trunnion bushes, especially the front ones. The fronts can get so bad that the wishbone arm can contact the subframe on bumps and braking.

Actually, I'd get all bushes and ball joints inspected !

 

#1 easiest thing to check/replace first are the sway bar endlinks.

 

I had the same issue when I had a 2004 and it was the sway bar end links, very easy fix.