I went and got brand new tires today for the Jag, and when I went to leave they told me I need to replace the Right rear Control Arm Bushings ASAP. I guess that's the reason why I hear a clunking noise every time I step on the gas hard and every time it's about to shift it makes a scratching sort of noise. He said that it's so bad that it's at t eh point of rubbing against the tire itself causing premature tire wear. He said to have this done and then bring it back to have them re-align it. Any ballpark estimate on to what this might cost?

 

They said it's only the lower shocks that need replacing if that helps at all.

 

for example:

http://www.jagbits.com/jaguarcontrolarmbushing.php
15$ approx

labour, no idea, I'd do it myself, so I'm unsure of what the shop thinks it should cost.

 

How long does it take you when you do it by yourself?

 

took me three weeks to do my headgasket & rebuild the head, but much debauchery and my job kind of got in the way a good bit, but compared to that, a few hours. if you're fairly skilled with a wrench & have a repair manual of some sort it won't be too terrible.

 

I wish I could do it myself but unfortunately I'm not very good with cars (yet). $425 seems a little steep to me though...

 

The rear dampers are NOT the control arm. Probably the dampers need replacing, plus the control arm bushes, so your $425 does not sound too much to me. The A frame bushes might also need attention, unless you have already done these. Remember the car is 14 years old, and things just wear out.

 

When i was quoted at $425 they were just talking about the bushings....

 

Bushings are for the lower suspension arms, (the upper arms are formed by the drive shafts). Two outers per side fix the arms to the hub carriers. These bushes eventually wear out. My old XJ6 Series 3 with the previous suspension and hub carriers, (but same principle) had grease nipples, maybe your's is "sealed for life". These bushes used to be taper rollers, but I don't know what the XJ40 and X300 have. Both models use basically the same assembly with minor differences. Whilst one is doing the bushes it's an obvious time to replace the shock aborbers.

Price sounds reasonable for bushes assuming it's both sides and includes parts.

 

Thanks for that info. The price was for only the rear right lower bushing replacement. The price was so high because apparently its a 4+ hour job for a mechanic. I do need new front shocks but am holding off because of the price.

 

I know how you're feeling !! Jag suspension jobs tend to get expensive once things start to wear out. The rear suspension is what gives it the ride quality but it never came cheaply. Fortunately on your car, everything is in steel, so bushes can be pressed out and new ones pressed back in. On the s-Type and current XJ, the rear arms complete, (and made of aluminium), have to be replaced for the sake of a $15 bush and cost several hundred dollars a side

 

All I can say is you shouldn't have bought a Jag if you weren't going to be prepared for large repair bills if you don't have the ability to fix it yourself. Parts for these cars alone tend to be dealer only (especially for the electrical stuff which WILL fail). $450 for a washer switch? Give me a break I got a used one from Motorcars LTD for $185 which is STILL robbery. All I can say is buy or rent a balljoint/u-joint press with some adapters...push out the old bushings and reinstall the new ones yourself. It's not hard...only issue you may have is if there is rust on the steel collars around the bushings holding them in, which in that case you will want to have a torch on hand to supply some heat. MAP gas MIGHT work but I find it doesn't always get hot enough

 

oxyacetylene = best friend

 

I knew the repairs were going to be costly, but as much as I hate paying for repairs, the costs are 1/4th as much as what I was paying for my '96 Infiniti Q45 so this actually seems a lot cheaper. Just to give you an example, it costs $800 to change the spark plugs on that car because of 8 hours of labor and you CANNOT do it yourself unless your a very skilled mechanic.

I called another mechanic that specializes in foreign cars such as Bimmers, Jags, Mercedes etc... and he said you supply the bushings and he'll get it in there in about an hour or so. There's no rust at all on my car, not even the under body.

 

That JagBits.com website doesn't have it in stock. I've looked a ta bunch of other web sites and they don't have it either, any other web site that you guys know about that would have Back Right Lower Control Arm Bushing? The part number I believe is CAC4713. Thanks.

 

www.motorcarsltd.com

www.biritishparts.com

Nalley Jaguar

Hope, those helps

 

Try www.Welshent.com. I've had good luck with them and their prices for OEM and aftermkt parts.

 

Try SNG Barratt USA - they have them listed for $8.47

http://www.sngbarrattusa.com/catalog...&back=y&next=y

 

Thank you cadillac! I ordered it from motorcarsLTD for $10.11 + $8 shipping. I'll keep you guys posted on this thread once the part gets here in and the mechanic puts it in.

 

You're welcome
I am sure you will be pleased with your deal as well