1995 XJ6. 120,000 miles. Nevada. Had serious suspension clunking from worn bushings. Ride height was too low; suspension would bottom-out just turning a tight corner. Inside tire tread was wearing 3x faster than the rest of the tire.

Have removed the following:

1. Front suspension control arms, power steering rack, hubs, coil springs, and shocks.
2. Rear suspension hubs, coil springs, shocks, half shafts
3. Driveshaft from transmission all the way to the rear differential, including the flex coupling between the driveshaft and the rear diff.

Planning to replace all related control arm bushings, tie-rod ends, ball joints, u-joints, driveshaft flex coupling, driveshaft center bearing, wheel bearings and seals, shocks, coil spring pads. A local drive-line shop will handle the work of pressing out old bushing, pressing in new bushings; replacing the u-joints; re-balancing the driveshaft; replacing, seating, sealing the wheel bearings. Will take the vehicle to dealer for 4-wheel alignment after reassembly.

Questions:

1. Is it generally necessary to replace the coil springs? (Those boogers are expensive).
2. When I move the rear suspension wishbone up and down, and try to move it left/right, it feels tight, with very little play. Should I remove & replace bushings anyway?
3. Any brand preference on the ball joints?
4. Any recommended source for parts? (total parts cost is more than $2,000 so far )
5. Any other advice?

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this. Advice, words of wisdom sincerely appreciated!

 

Ensure correct bushing material density as it is softer or harder depending on model as this has a large effect . Press in and out can be done without shop press . Many have done all aspects themselves . Many links and the masters will help . Replace front shock both upper and lower bushings .

 

Is there anywhere I can find a source for the dimensions of the bushings themselves?

Looking for both upper & lower control arm bushings because I want to use Polygraphite, which is gonna mean repurposing ones from another vehicle with more aftermarket support.

As long as I have the dimensions, I have something to work with. But without them, I got nothing.

 

You can recast your own with a DIY plaster mold and release agent and there are post on it . Suggest try and go through the learning curve the easier to get to and cast one of the sway bar front bushings before you dig into the deeper bushings . You will probably need new long bolts on the later arms as the old ones will be hard to get out so plan accordingly . Graphite infused poly my be a gimmick in my opinion as lithium and straight poly may be a solution beyond grease . Some companies offer a free sample or reduced sample size to try it out before you by the larger size . I haven't done mine yet , so I'm not your best source for info but I am gathering info before doing so later . Ensure you use the correct density as it makes a large difference in car handling .

 

Whoops. Wrong thread.

 

Hello, guys. I just need heads up on few things berofe going further with my restoration. So it's red circles time.

FIRST:
Is that correct position for circled part? Flat side on the bottom and bulge at the top?


SECOND:
Lets talk about part number 12. That bush is not symmetrical, it has more rubber poping out at one side than another.
And I cant tell, by looking at this diagram, which way is correct one. More rubber should be inside or outside the assembly? As you can see, at the moment, in my wishbone assembly that bush have more rubber on the inside.

 

Yes that's correct.




I think that's wrong. The rubber should stick out to the outside.





Hope that helps.

 

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/category/jaguar-xj-xj6-xj6r-x300-x306-1994-1997-1849\\

LOWER BUSHINGS ARE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER

UPPER BUSHINGS ARE BOTH THE SAME

ITEM # 1 += # 11 in your diagram FRONT LOWER = # CBC2291 / MMD1361AA





iTEM # 2 = # 12 in your diagram y REAR LOWER = # CBC2301





DIAGRAM IS FOR LEFT VEHICAL SIDE

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.../brand/jaguar/

Number is dependent of your hardness but it gives you a picture of a new bushing

 

Cant find these washers in assembly scheme. Do they help? Should I use them too? Or can they harm suspension?

 

No, don't use washers with standard bushes.

I used Polybush bushes and the washers are part of the kit for those.

 

Beware the saddle bushes. I've had a clunk in the front end for....I don't know.....7 years, maybe? a year or two ago, I replaced EVERYTHING bush-wise up front except the fulcrum bushes - because they were checked and pronounced good by Motorcarman, whom I trust implicitly, and the saddle bushes. I'm not sure what they are really called, nor exactly where they are, but think under the motor mounts. Anyway, when you see them in a diagram, you'll know them. To get on with it, the actual part needing replacement was the left ball joint, I believe, but 200,000 mi + figured it should be all renewed. First test drive before heading to the alignment shop - smooth quiet, and me very happy! Next morning, on the way to the shop, the clunk was back, loud as ever. I'm pretty certain it's those saddle bushes. Me and Motorcarman prised around all over those fulcrums with a large pry-bar and never heard a peep from them. I think the action of tightening and torqueing all the new bits cured it for the initial 1 mile hop down the highway and back, but then it got its groove back.

 

Can you find diagram with those bushes?

 

No bush pic yet, but my recollection is that they go between parts #3 and #1 in this one, cobbed from here: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...4/#post2092739
They are in here (the X300 forum) somewhere...I've seen 'em before. No access to my copy of JEPC til this evening, but they are probably shown there.

Looks like they are called subframe Vee mounts: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...7/#post2211148

Actually, #3 IS the picture, now that the fog of memory-loss-due-aging is clearing a bit with the local DFW skies. That is a floppy, molded rubberish item, IIRC.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...7/#post2211642