Hello All -

I recently picked up a 1997 XJ6 (300) with 70,000 miles. Looks and runs great - but I did notice a rattling noise from the front suspension. Didn't feel bad, but rather more noisy than annoying. I thought upper and lower bushings, but the garage I use (good guys) said the car had the original shocks in the front and should be replaced. They priced out a pair of KYB (Bilsteins were more) and quoted me about $640 for the pair and all installation costs. Does this seem high?

I also had them replace the alternator and AC belts - total fee of $120.

I know the Jags can run up some higher maintenance costs but this seemed a bit much...

Any thoughts?

 

Replace your front sway bar bushings first along with the shock top bushings. Both cheap parts. I bet that will stop the noise. That price seems high with pos KYB shocks.

 

OWRltd - thanks for your input. I thought it seemed high too for shocks. I did check out the upper shock mount bushings and they had been replaced with a poly and looked pretty good.

Any idea about the belt cost? $130 for two belts.../

Chris

 

The cost of the 2 belt is around 30 bucks at rockauto. to change to ac belt its actually very easy takes no more then 10 mins, alt is abit annoying since you need to turn the 2 nut on the rod to adjust but its doable overall an easy job.

 

For a shop to charge that much even for higher end Bilstein shocks is way too high.

The two front shocks should take no more than an hour of labor. The hardest/longest part of the job is removing the wheels and removing part of the intake assembly to tighten down the nut for the bushings.

For both my XJR and XJ6 it took me about 30-45 mins to replace both front shocks

Now that price seems fair to do the rear shocks...

 

Show us a picture of the top shock bushing. I don't think a bad shock will make a knocking noise. Still...sway bar bushes and end links.

 

Hi cames101,

Welcome to the Jaguar Forums!

The best way I know of to check the front shock top bushings short of removing them is to jack up a front corner via the jacking point so the wheel hangs free, which will allow the shock to pull downward and the top bushing to compress under the weight of the suspension and wheel. Then look inside the wheel arch for any gap between the lower top shock bushing and the underside of the wheel arch. See photo 2 in the album at the link below. The photos are of our '93 but the principle is the same:

Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page


The poly bushes generally last a long time, but they do make for a harsher ride than the OE foam bushes the Jaguar engineers used when tuning the suspension.

Also, since we're a friendly group, please visit the https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/n...-intro-must-5/ and post an introduction so we can give you a proper welcome and learn something about you and your Jag.

Cheers,

Don

 

I recently spent nearly the equivalent to 200 USD for Boge front shocks. I could get KYB for a little less. It is easy to find prices in the internet.
Good luck.
Jorge

 

I paid about $350 for Bilsteins on the front installed this summer