So been driving my 2004 xjr for a couple months and just had a question. When I drive over small bumps or rough road the car always gives me the sensation that the back end is shifting slightly to the side. I don't know if its really shifting or it just feels like it. I have 20 inch sepangs so I was wondering if it was the shortness of the tire wall or something else. I don't know that I have ever felt this sensation in any car I have ever driven before.

 

It's called tramlining. I hope you get an answer... I have exactly the same issue that has developed over the past few months. Have replaced the lower control arm bushings and upper control arms; All helped but did not completely cure the problem. Tires are next on my list. Car did not do this before recently. Mine is bad even when merging over painted lines on the road.

 

You'd be happier with a set of 18" wheels. The 20" make the ride harsh and also you can get serious tramlining too.

 

Well I am not sure its quite the same thing because when I looked up tramlining it was talking about the car following ruts. I am not feeling anything from the front or the steering as far as I can tell its just feels like the back. If this is tramlining and its simply being caused by the 20" inch rims then I can live with it. I have never had a car with this short of a sidewall on the tire.

Edit: Reading some more on tramlining it does kinda sound like what I am experiencing. Not as bad as some of the descriptions I am seeing. I will think about taking it to a shop but it does sound like it might just be due to the 20" wheels.

Anyone with 20" sepangs that does not experience this? If so I know that I can fix it.

 

I have a 2004 XJR with 20" Sepangs. I do not have this problem. Drives like a dream and corners beautifully. I live about 1/4 mile up a gravel road, so going over bumps is not a rare event.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'd say something is going on with yours.



.

 

Not bad news at all. Means that it can be fixed. Thanks for the info. Will take it to the shop.

 

My 05 did this when I first got it. That feeling like the rear end is kind swaying to the side after a bump at speed. I replaced the rear lower control arm bushings (they were completely shot) and in the process found one was so bad it had been riding on the bold and ended up cracking the arm itself. So check those out. I had to do this to get a safety here. It made it much better but still had the issue. While they were doing the safety they also checked the alignment. Guess what, the rear drivers wheel was toed way out and the passengers one was toed way in! So the rear was trying to drive to the left all the time. I guess it had been aligned at some point with the shot bushings. After I set up my home-made alignment rig, I re-did the toe on the back and front and problem solved. So, don't forget to check the alignment too.

 

So I took it into the shop today. They did a road test, visual inspection and then checked for any computer error codes. Said everything was normal and thats just the way it feels.

 

Alex,

Did you have the alignment tested? The comment above from WinterJag looks to me like it could be right on the money. I hope you can get it resolved to your liking.

 

This kind of fault doesn't usually show error codes. Apart from the upper and lower wishbone bushes there are two stabilising link arms that are used to adjust the rear wheel toe settings. The joints at either end can fail.

 

Comments made here on worn bushes and alignment seem sound to me.
I would try another shop, yours doesn't look that competent...

 

So to follow up.

Original shop did not do alignment as its not an alignment place. I had been meaning to take it in to get an alignment but procrastinated. Year later I needed some new tires so I get the alignment done by the tire shop. They told me the rear end was pretty far out of alignment, and that was not with me pre-warning them about the issues I had been experiencing. After the alignment and new tires I think the problems I had have gone.

 

Good news.
And thx for the feedback, good to know.

 

Take it to an alignment shop and have it aligned. A good shop will pry on every ball joint and visually check the bushes and the toe adjusters. They also can twist them.
If everything is tight they will then align to factory settings. They will be able to see slop during this process.
The rear lower bushes are very failure prone. One of mine was arm on the bolt also.