I'm new to the forum and searched the forum for the answers to these questions without much success. Can anyone give me advice on the following:


1. The battery in my '05 XJ8L is original and at 9 years old, I'm going to replace it as a preventative measure. What is the best replacement battery out there for the car? I'd prefer a factory sealed maintenance free unit (like an Optima) to avoid potential corrosion problems.


2. The brakes on my car are functioning fine but lack the performance of some other cars I've had.


(a) Has anyone gone to a performance brake pad that improved braking over the OEM pads?


(b) Is the comparable year XJR brake set up compatible w/o fabrication on my car and is it measurably better. I have OEM 19" wheels on my car and it is unmodified.


(c) If (b) is not a cost-effective option, what aftermarket brakes (i.e., Brembos) are out there that will fit this car?


Much obliged for your responses.


JCH

 

As regards Q1, why not just get the original battery tested. Most battery suppliers will do this free. My own battery is the 2003 original and so far no problems at all. No need to spend money needlessly.

As for brakes questions, the XJR cars originally had Brembo brakes but you'll find it is an expensive conversion, because the rear calipers don't have the handbrake, this is a separate caliper. I'm not sure if Brembos continued to be fitted over the production life of the car. However, as far as I know there is no need for manufacture of anything, so if you can find the brakes off an XJR they should bolt straight on as I understand it, but check with others or wait further posts. It might be better to look at simple bolt-on uprated discs and pads first, as there are several suppliers of performance brakes on the market. No doubt somebody who has upgraded will post shortly.

I have to say I'm surprised you find the brakes inadequate. What do they lack for you, do they fade badly or what ?

 

[QUOTE=jim hughes;1083104]1. The battery in my '05 XJ8L is original and at 9 years old, I'm going to replace it as a preventative measure. What is the best replacement battery out there for the car?

Hi Jim,

Welcome to the Jaguar Forums!

Like Fraser, before spending money on a new battery I might personally wait till the battery showed some signs of deterioration or the car was exhibiting one or more of the odd symptoms associated with low battery voltage. With a Jag, there's always something else to spend money on....

However, 9 years is a long time for an auto battery. You'll find (or should have found) plenty of differing opinions on this forum about which replacement battery is the "best." There are only three battery manufacturers remaining in the U.S., and Varta, which makes the Bosch battery, is owned by one of those three (Johnson Controls). I shopped for a battery with the best specs and warranty and it came down to the Bosch (made by Varta/Johnson Controls) and the Duralast Gold from AutoZone (by Johnson Controls). Since AutoZone had the D-G in stock and is a lot closer to me than Pep Boys, which would have had to order the Bosch, you can guess what I did.


I don't have any experience with the XJ8 brakes, but our '04 XJR has the Brembos and they could stop a freight train. A cursory look at the Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC), which you can download from this forum, appears to indicate that the rear hub carrier varies by VIN, but that the same one is used on both the N/A and S/C cars, so you might actually be able to bolt on the Brembo brakes, but I don't know if the cable for the park brake is interchangeable... And I think your only sources for parts would be either salvaged or new from Jaguar.

My recommendation would be to first check the condition of your pads and if necessary replace them with a good soft OE-type pad (I think the OEM for our Brembos is Mintex). Even if your pads are fine, I'd recommend a complete brake fluid flush and bleed, which may address your concerns.

By the way, please visit the New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum and post an introduction so we can give you a proper welcome and so we can learn something about you and your Jag.

Also, it's a good idea to add your car details to your signature so you don't have to always add it to the title of your posts. Hover your cursor over your username in the upper right corner of this page, and in the dropdown menu click User CP. In the left column of your Control Panel, click Edit Signature under Settings & Options. Add your car's year, model and engine displacement and click Save Signature.

Cheers,

Don

 

Fraser, thank you for your comments. I replace fungible parts like oil, tires and batteries on an earlier of miles v. length of service schedule. While my battery might be fine today, it's exceeded its life expectancy and the piece of mind is worth it.


Re the brakes, most of my driving time in the last few years has been spent in 911s and it may be an unfair comparison given how preeminent Porsche brakes are. You're familiar w/that old expression, "you can only go as fast as you can stop." I'd say the Jag's brakes are adequate but not quite confidence inspiring. Pedal travel is ok but a little long for my taste and the brakes "bite" a little late IMO. That said, before I lay out multiple thousands on a ego brake upgrade, I'm going to fly spec my brakes to make sure they are working optimally. Maybe a fluid flush (done already I've been told but who knows), rotor check to see if they're in spec, and a set of more aggressive pads (but not race pads that don't warm up at street speeds) will improve their feel. As you can tell, I like to tinker w/my cars and sometimes small changes can work significant improvements. Thanks for responding.


JCH

 

Don, Thanks for responding. As I responded to Fraser, the battery has exceeded its expected service life and is a small luxury to replace. I noticed my original Jag battery is manufactured by Varta. Thanks for the recommendations.


As for the brakes, I'm with you on making sure my baseline is where it should be re fluid flush, pads, etc. The brakes are adequate but not really that impressive. I'll work with the existing system and then see how it is. I'd like to keep the car pretty much stock.


Thanks again.


JCH

 

Don, BTW, I did do an intro as requested and am working on my signature.


JCH

 

Thanks for the intro, Jim, and your signature now looks great. Nice collection! If I'd have known you were such a knowledgeable car guy, I might not have said so much in my original reply. Hope I didn't come across as condescending!

We'll look forward to you sharing your knowledge and experiences on the forum.

Cheers,

Don

 

Hi Jim

Well, if your last car was a 911, then the Jaguar brakes may well seem a bit "inadequate" !!

I saw a road-going 911 on the Nurburgring two years ago on the Nordschleife circuit on a long straight at full chat, so no doubt Porsche have to fit brakes that can stop from those sort of speeds (I reckon about 160--170 mph). For me, that only ever gets up to about 100 mph in Germany, and then not for long, the brakes are OK but I can understand how you find them.