Front Passenger Side

Tools Needed will be.
17mm wrench , deep socket , quick wrench
18mm deep socket
16mm short socket
tire iron
2x jack stand and Jacks
pry bar and screw driver flat head and Phillips
breaker bars
vice grips



Jack car up and place on stands
Loosen the lug nuts before lifting tire in air.
jack up under the spring pan
place jack stand under jack
remove tire











Option to Move Power Steering Reservoir For Clearance
if you choose to do this you will remove the 3 screws for the
plastic over window washer reservoir and the 2 screws for the
plastic that hold extra fuses.






DO NOT UN SCREW LINES TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR , JUST SET OUT OF WAY
now remove the the nut in the band around reservoir
and the 3 screws under the res



Now if you did this clean the res and other parts






Now Loosen the Top Not
BUT DO NOT REMOVE JUST BREAK NUT LOOSE
I first use a long wrench to get better leverage
then i use a fast ratchet for fast removal ( when we remove)
I also try to use a ratchet + socket for fastest removal (when we Remove)






Remove Lower Stabilizer Link Bolt






Remove Lower Shock Bolt & Then Top Bolt
MAKE SURE THE JACK IN UNDER THE SPRING
MAKE SURE THE JACK IS HOLDING THE SPRING PRESSURE
JUST JACK THE CAR UP ON THE SPRING ALITTLE


now that the top and lower bolts are remove
compress the shock down and pull up and out



Prep New Shock for Install and Install
There are 2 TOP BUSHING PER SHOCK AND 1 LOWER
place the metal piece then bushing then metal on top like in pic

slide the shock back in the way it came out

make sure there is 2 top shock bushing!!!

now that we got the shock in place
screw in the bottom shock bolt but do not torque yet
Now take the last top shock bushing and get it started on the threads



now torque the top bolt and bottom bolts
torque down the stabilizer bar link
install power steering reservoir
install the wheel and lower





Driver Side
Remove the Trim so you can Move coolant reservoir
DO NOT DISCONNECT COOLANT HOSES
Unplug the connector







do same to this side to remove shock as the other


PLEASE LEAVE ME THANKS

AND STICKY IN FAQ

 

Excellent tutorial , thanks for this write up , needs FAQed

 

Great write up!

 

Are those sensen shocks you installed?
I just did the same for my x300 and it rides so much better.

Great write up also.

 

yes they are cheap sensen shocks

i will be getting my shocks with the sports mode when i choose to do the rear ones


they improved my car so much so they are well worth the price

i paid $45 for the PAIR

 

I got all 4 shocks for $120 off of their APX website. For the price, they're great. Even if they only last 10k or 20k miles it's still worth the price. I like how they're a little stiffer than oem also.

 

wow - a very detailed tutorial !!!

This should be pinned up.

Thanks !

 

Thanks vandenplas408!


The pictures and instructions were great.


Used you tutorial to change out the front shock bushings as I could find any better during my search!


Cheers,
Ken

 

A great piece.. I liked all the pics. and the method info.. Very detailed. I'm planning on changing mine very soon. I have a 97 X300
BigBoss in Dallas

 

Thanks Vandenplas408 for the great write up and pictures.. I'm about to replace the front shocks this weekend and your write up will really help me get it done. BigBoss in Dllas TX

 

$45 a pair? Where? How?

 

Hi
A good question... check this post out by JTsmks


JTsmks
Senior Member
Garage is empty, add now



Just two weeks ago I replaced my stock Jaguar front shocks on my 97 XJ6L with these from Rock Auto...the price was $48 a pop + I googled a discount code for RockAuto and saved an additional 5%. These came with all bushings and hardware (yes the yellow foam ones) and while I don't judge ride/handling like a cigar taste tester like some here seem to do, I really like the way the car drives, turns, handles road bumps with these on. My factory Jaguar shocks had 73K on them and one wouldn't extend once compressed and was making a racket even after new top bushings were installed. I'm happy, my wallet isn't too much lighter and while they don't have hints of leather or orange peel they do seem to provide the ride/handling Jaguar intended for my car. YMMV

More Information for MONROE 39016




I hope that helps


BigBossRadio Dallas TX

 

I saw that post, but $45 for the pair is insane! I gotta get me some of that...LOL

 

Hi Mgb4Tim


I tried replacing my front shock today but ran into a problem after following all the procedures laid out by Vandenplas408......... I simply could not compress my front shock to remove it........... Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong? I noticed that my replacement shock takes significant effort to compress......... How did you manage to do it?




BigBoss in Dallas TX

 

Hi a quick update
On Sunday I tried again and succeeded using some advice from AllenG. I undid all the nuts top and bottom... Then I tapped out the lower bolt and then slid short screwdriver into the lower bolt. With every thing jacked up correctly including a jack to compress the coil spring, I then set about fashioning a tool to compress the shock downwards from the top.


I took a small diameter socket and attached it to an extension bar. Then took a 6" length of 2X4" of wood and drilled a hole on the center about 1/2" deep with 3/4" drill bit. This allowed for the top of the extension bar to sit in snugly. I then took the top shock nut turned it upside down and screwed it back in just enough to allow it to catch under the wheel arch, I took a chair and stood on top and placed the tool at the top of the shock and pressed downwards slowly as the shock compressed and allowed the nut to pass through the opening till I could get the top nut to catch under the wheel arch.. Once that was done I was able to grab the shock and pry it outwards. I removed the screwdriver at the lower fork allowing me to remove the whole shock. I have posted a couple pictures here of the tool I put together to do the job.


I hope this helps someone else faced with this task. Installing the new shock was simple.


BigBoss in Dallas TX

 

I've seen gas shocks with a cable/strap/something around them to keep them compressed. Install the bottom, cut the strap, aim the top to go into it's locating hole.

 

That is an interesting idea........ a "jock strap" for a gash shock..... LOL
But I will look into it it may be the way to go


Thanks
BigBoss

 

Just ordered my own "lifetime warranty" Sensen shocks - $52, shipped, for the pair on Amazon.


Now, let's get a rear shock tutorial

 

MGB4tim


sounds like you have a busy weekend coming up. I believe Jim Butterworth posted a tutorial on the jaglovers forum some time back.


good luck with the work keep us posted


Bigboss in Dallas

 

I don't think I'll ever get caught up. So much to do, so little time.