Did the front brakes change in 1997?
 

I've been shopping for some new rotors for my 1997 XJR, and noticed that the front rotors for that model year XJR are a bit harder to find than an XJ6 of the same year, or front rotors from a 1995 or 1996.

In fact, NAPA doesn't even carry a front rotor for a 1997 XJR at all.

Checking front brake rotor part numbers at Carquest (for example):

1997 xj-6 Part Number: 34183
1997 XJR Part Number : 34322
1996 xj-6 Part Number : 34053
1996 xjr Part Number : 34053
1995 xj-6 Part Number : 34053
1995 xjr Part Number : 34053


So clearly something changed in 1997 with the front brakes. Any idea?

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Bigger front brakes in 1997 for XJR?
 

Well, in an attempt to answer my own question, here is some info gleaned from the Autozone website for the front rotors:

1997 Jaguar XJR 4.0L EFI DOHC SC 6cyl
Part Number: 70015

Weight:26.786 lbs
Bore Diameter (mm):73.8Orientation:Non-DirectionalDiscard Thickness (mm):30.0Initial Thickness (mm):32.0Rotor Material:Iron AlloyOutside Diameter (mm):355Overall Depth (mm):49.4



1997 Jaguar XJ6 4.0L EFI DOHC 6cylPart Number: 34053
Alternate Part Number: BR1862


Weight:15.43 lbs

Initial Thickness (mm):28.4Orientation:Non-DirectionalOutside Diameter (mm):290.8Overall Depth (mm):66.8


1996 Jaguar XJR 4.0L EFI DOHC SC 6cyl
Part Number: 34053
Alternate Part Number: BR1862




1996 Jaguar XJ6 4.0L EFI DOHC 6cylPart Number: 34053
Alternate Part Number: BR1862

Wow 27lbs. Wonder what a carbon rotor setup would be like. Aside from expensive.

No clarification on if the 1997 XJR front brakes use a larger rotor than 95/96?

Some auto supply houses show the smaller brakes as appropriate, while most show the "one year only" larger brakes.

Hate to order the wrong part. Also just curious if this was a performance upgrade in 97 that went unpublicized.

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Not sure what's up with the aftermarket listings but, as builit, all X300s used the same brake rotors.

Not sure which of the aftermarket ones is correct among those you've mentioned

Cheers
DD

There are plenty of wrong listings for aftermarket parts for x300 xjrs. All US spec XJR6 use the same brakes as an XJ6. Just went thru this in a new brake job.