I am considering a cross country trip in my 2004 XJ8. I have already replaced the front struts after one of them blew out. Any suggestions as to if I should replace the rears as a preventative maintenance issue? Most of the comments on this forum relate to replacing front struts - is rear strut failure a rarity?
Thanks for the input

 

Most threads I have seen on strut failures relate to the fronts. Why this is so is a mystery as apart from the lower fitting to the wishbone being different they are identical. If it were me, I'd not bother replacing the rears. How far is your trip ?

 

I read on this forum that the front struts, bushings and control arms bear most of the strain when braking hard (the weight of your car being shifted forward under braking) and this is why they fail first.....

 

Fraser - Tampa Florida to Seattle Washington State - it must be 4000 miles or so. Crewe eh? My wife is a Congleton girl and I come from Manchester...
Steve

 

My wife is Italian from Rome, and we have driven there twice in 2007 in a Rover 75. Just had holiday near Nuremberg in Germany and did just under 3000 miles. I wouldn't worry about the struts. There are plenty of struts on the net new and used if you want to take one with you as a spare, "just in case".

 

I think it's true to say that most struts failures are on the front.

There will be more weight on them even without the braking effect.

 

This weakens the case for replacing all the struts with sprung units. Only two to replace. At least that is what I intend to do.

 

I can only speak to my personal experience. I have had 2 X350's rear struts fail at about 150,000. On my 2004 (with which I was forced to part company at the point of a gun) the first rear failure was catastrophic at about 145,000 miles. Perhaps that story should go under the thread Do You Still Get Compliments On Your XJ8. The other 3 failures were the usual leaks. None survived past 155,000.

 

I have asked the question of (for example) Arnott, pointing out that the ability to replace just the front Air Shocks with Coil Overs would place the X350's in line with the most up to date X351's (which only have air shocks on their rear wheels) and their reply was that you have to replace the lot or nothing? Presumably, one would need a clever bit of electronics to incorporate this change and at the same time persuade the Suspension system that all was well?

I would imagine that enabling such an action would create a lot of business for (for example) Arnott, but what do I know?

 

Some interesting commentary here. I didn't realize the X351 only had air shocks at the back. My car has only done 70K miles and my suspicion is that the front struts suffered dry rot in the florida heat. If that is the case, then the rear shocks should be just as "at risk". My gut says to replace the rear struts anyway using RMT rebuilds at a cost of $500 or so. Having already successfully serviced the transmission and replaced the front shocks, I will have reduced the chances of a catastrophic breakdown significantly.

I admit to not quite getting the idea of swapping out the air struts with coil springs, particularly when even new luxury cars are charging extra for this technology. It isn't even significantly less expensive over rebuilt air struts. If I can get 10 years out of the rebuilts I figure I am well ahead
Steve

 

My rear air suspension died at the same time my replaced front suspension died the second time. I'd say you are safe for your trip. My rear suspension probably lasted 20-30k more miles than the front.

FYI