Last ditch attempt to find someone who can shed light on this problem.





This is my 9th Jaguar and has lots of lovely plus points, but I cannot resolve an issue with the steering/suspension. - 2006 MY 2.7 TDVi Sovereign

I have SSD and have had it looked at by the indy I use, main dealer (useless and not interested really) and a Jaguar specialist outside London.

It has had new tyres (it did the same on the old tyres), rear lower arms, rear discs and pads, new track rod ends in my ownership.

The Jaguar specialist noted it had had several new bushes at the front and everything is tight and good.

However on driving - at most speeds - it has a tramp/wobble at the front end - a bit like bad balance, but at all speeds. On a very smooth road no problem, but hit ANYTHING and the steering wheel wobbles badly and the - seemingly worse on the passenger side - and the suspension seems to 'tramp' - again on the passenger side. Sometimes it is better.

If I pull a sensor off a shock and force a CATS error it is rock hard, but the wobble is significantly less.

I have reset and leveled with the SSD. there are no error codes (apart from the ones I create).



It has had:
a compressor
I have replace the air valve block.

Hellllpppp!

 

First off, what miles are on the car ?

Are the wheels all OK, like no dents on the inner side ? Full alignment check shows all OK ?

Pulling off a shock lead produces a CATS fault and has the effect of putting the shocks to "Hard" so can you confirm the state of the lower front shock bushes ?

Other thing to check is maybe the anti-roll bar links and bushes.

 

I'm trending towards a worn lower ball joint and or wheel bearing. Ive seen more than once parts check out, it comes down to the mechanics testing methods. Bearing will give the noise, ball joint wobble.

 

Take to an alignment shop. They will see the loose components when adjusting. I had the shimmy and it went away. I think it was tires.

 

HI

I have had 4 wheel alignment - nothing found.

3 different mechanics have checked it - including a Jaguar specialist.

I swapped one of the front wheels this morning for a rear - seemed to make some difference, but still there.

the are no rattle or clunks

It improves with any steering angle - ie in a straight line dreadful - bit of lock much better - almost like it is the steering rack - but every forum i go to has no mention of rack issues. - maybe it is the anti roll bar drop links

thanks

 

sounds like classic ball joint/track rod end. Did you have the steering rack checked out?
Steve

 

Hi

So progress has been made, and I now know why is has been so hard to diagnose.

I bought an endoscope camera from Amazon and threaded it through the engine bay so I could film the suspension.

After a few runs and various positions it was apparent that the Shock Absorber was knackered - not the airbag - the actual shock absorber element.

I order a second hand unit from EuroJag which arrived next day.

I ordered a new lower bolt and bush from SNG.

In theory it is relatively simple to change the shock - the lower bolt, the drop arem bold, the upper wishbone bolt and the four mounting bolts. Everywhere i read warned of the seized lower bolt, so i asked my Indy to do it. However he could not so so for a week, so i figured that i would test the water and see if the lower bolt came off before doing anything. Amazingly it cam straiht out, so i followed the Arrnot instructions on their YouTube video and it came away easily just on Axle stands.

Refitting was a little hard - especially at ground level - I used long cable ties to support the shock whilst maneuvering into place.

Total Job time was 1 hour 45 which was not bad considering i spent 15 mins looking for an Allen key as my other tool kit was in my wife's XC90.

Reconnected the battery and the reservoir pumped up the shock. Interestingly it was to the correct height, so i have not re-leveled yet with the SSD (though i will to be sure).

Went out for a drive and the difference was apparent immediately. BUT it also explained the issue with the diagnosis. There is still a slight wobble on some surfaces, which I am sure is the anti-roll bar drop links (easy and cheap enough) but also movement from the rear which I think is the rear gearbox mount - again easy enough.

I think that the wrecked shocker was sending vibration throughout the whole car making all the other issues much more apparent. Also i think that the 'anti-ripple' part of e-cats was going into overtime due to the wrecked shock.

A quick spin down the M6 showed much impoved handling and much better cross wind stability (classic shock absober issues), and actually on a smooth road it is back to being a Jag!

So next up are the anti-roll and the rear mount - then hopefully all will be well!!

thanks all

 

You were unlucky inasmuch that usually when the strut fails it gets noisy which people can't locate
and eventually change a strut and the noise disappears.