My Jag now has 2 new front air struts and 2 new upper wishbones and I still have a loud front end rattle !

I have had a look at the front sway bar and have driven around the block (carefully) with the end drop links disconnected
and the rattle is still there.!

So it's not the sway bar?

The sway bar is not loose but just moves up and down when connected to the suspension the way it should.

Very fustrated

Any one have a similar experience?

 

Many have had this problem and there are many threads about it here. There is no clear answer, you need to check and eliminate potential causes. I wrote about it a few threads below: check the tightness of the rear bolts of the front subframe, knocking noises may be a direct cause of the frame moving, or the buzzing may be caused by loose nuts of these bolts in the pockets behind the shock absorbers. They have their own groove in the body and rattle against the walls. People replaced the entire suspension because of this and were left with the problem. There was also a rumbling crumple zone somewhere that had to be re-riveted to the chassis member, this is also considered a good clue.

 

In my case it was solvd with new sway bar bushings.
I know that you said that you drove around with the end drop links disconnected, but I believe that if it is the sway bar bushings, the rattle could still be there even with the end drop links disconnected, as the sway bar would still move due to vibrations or when hitting bumps, and if there is some play in the bushings you woukd hear it.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Thanks for your replies.
I have had a mechanic examine the Jag and said it is
not a suspension noise so the search continues.
I will post any results if there are any.
Cheers

BTW He said it was a 'difficult one' and not the usual suspects.

 

Checked the brake pads?

 

Meirion1, I wait with bated breath...Have the same non-suspension rattle!

 

Wingrider, when you say check brake pads, to check what,please?

 

That they are being held in place by the proper factory type brake hardware.
Not retained, so they rattle against the brake rotor.

 

After checking the restraints in the engine bay and removing one of
the long plastic undertrays I am now convinced it's one or both
of the new Chinese made air struts which I have fitted.
I have told people on here that if you can't find the noise it will be the struts!

Bought from MaxpeedingRods
As for E bay and PayPal garauntees..........................forget it

This why I am asking about Aerosus !

 

OK chaps I have given my front end a'good looking at' and this
is what I have done:

LIft the bonnet and stand at the front facing the windscreen
Now pump the front end with both hands up and down as hard as you can.
If there are two of you even better.
When I did it there was a noise from the right hand side, not loud but we know
that noises can be greatly amplified in the cabin.
The noise was present every time I bounced the front end.
When I say 'right hand side I mean the same side as the compressor.

I will now put it up on axle stands and examine the compressor mounts (again)
then remove the offending strut.
Watch this space.

 

Ok offending strut removed and an used strut fitted (original factory fitted) to the Jag

I can easily compress the new strut by hand andit is very noisy.

I cannot compress the old strut at all after 120,000 miles

I am hoping that the old strut will keep going until I decide what to replace it with.

The rattling noise has gone but I worry how long the other new strut will last.

Faulty strut has only been fitted for a few months.

 

Sorry to hear about your substandard Chinese struts.
Sometimes you get lucky with the inexpensive stuff.
Decided to bite bullit, & with Arnott's, about $500 each.
After trying rebuilds from RMT.
So far i'm pleased with them on both my XJ8's.
Good Luck with whatever you choose.

 

Thanks Wingrider

 

Car wizard trick... two persons one wggling car by open door up and down pushing . Listening then feeling the different pieces of the suspension with the hands