Hi everyone. This is a follow-up to my post some months ago re the loud rattling noise my 2004 XJ8 makes when I drive over bumpy road surfaces. This noise has coincided with deteriorating yellow material pushing up into the area where the right front strut mount meets the wheel well.

At the time of my original post, Fraser and Sean W thought it might be some foam that a previous owner may have sprayed in to plug a leak, although the Jag dealer says it’s from a rotting bushing.

At any rate, the estimate from the local Jag shop (30 miles west of Chicago) is more than $2000 to replace the one strut. They also say that the bushing is integral and can’t be replaced separately (i.e. using the same strut).

Thus, my questions: 1) while I think it’s correct that the yellow bushing is integral, does anyone have information to the contrary? 2) if I (or my talented nephew, who wants to do it) take out and replace the strut (or I replace only the bushing, assuming that can be done), will doing so mean that I will be disrupting the CATS? What I don’t want to do is engage in a do-it-yourself strut repair or replacement only to discover that the car’s computer-controlled levelling system doesn’t work because of something I did. (I approached a local indy shop last autumn, and they said they couldn’t replace the strut because “we don’t have access to the Jaguar codes,” which makes me nervous.)

Thanks for any input!

 

Isoruku san;

Using documentation on the forum I was able to replace both front airsprings on my 04 XJR without disturbing leveling or CATS. You can expect to pay on the order of $1k for a new Bilstein B4 airspring. I suggest you study the following posts and determine if you have the tools/experience to perform the work. There are many posts on this topic but I found the following useful.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ng+replacement
Post #13 from Steve11 was the procedure I used to avoid disturbing the ride height sensors.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj6-xj8-xjr-x350-x358-28/how-change-your-front-air-struts-end-drama-137478/

Best Regards, William

 

Hi Isoruku,

The Jag shop is correct that the top bushing/seal is integral to the air spring and cannot be replaced separately. The shock absorber lower bushing is pressed into the lower control arm and can be replaced separately.

Your talented nephew can definitely replace the front air spring/shock absorber with a little research and the correct tools.

However, from your description of a rattle when you drive over bumpy road surfaces, is it possible the cause is your anti-roll bar link or bushing? These are known to perish and cause rattling sounds. A few members have reported failing shock absorbers producing a "knocking" sound, but no one has described it as a "rattle" as far as I can recall, but I may be wrong.

Cheers,

Don

 

As Don says the ARB bushes should be eliminated first but I do recall a strut failure being

described as rattling "broken glass".

 

Just sent a set of stock front's, in to R M T, to be rebuilt, then sent back, for $505 total price. With a lifetime warranty, as well as keeping the C A T S system intact, it seems like my best bet. The shocks were just sitting around, from when the 04's were replaced with Arnotts. Nice shocks, but always wondered what the difference would be, if the stock shocks were new, or rebuilt, compared to theArnotts. Guess i'll find out

 

Wingrider - If you do install the stock rebuilt air shocks on your 04 car, I would love to know your comparison between the two brands! :-)

 

The stock 04 rebuilt air shocks will be put on the 07 V D P, as they are the same shocks. Or so said R M T's phone person. The ones on it hold air, but squeak, & rattle a bit, they feel like shocks with 98,000+ on them. Still they are very similar cars, 5" longer with a little extra weight. The 04 is a very nice ride with the Arnott's up front, it handles great, feels as stable as a stone. As for the CATS system have no idea if it will ever have to lower the car as the roads around here are in no shape for such speeds. The roads further south are some better but have little towns looking to pay their police dept, as well as other local services, with traffic ticket fines. Was pulled over for 14 over, given a ticket for no seat belt, & a warning (no points) for the speeding. 15 or better seems to be the line at where the tickets start, unless you've pissed the cop off. Am very hopeful the rebuilds will be as good or better than the Arnotts with a lot less outlay of cash