Hi, can anyone tell me a bit more about the issues I've heard about withJaguars 'Tramlining'? Ones I've had in the past did seem a bit boaty and wonderered on the road from time to time. Is tramlining similar to this and is it a common issue? Thanks, Dan.

 

No, a "boaty" feeling....that sort of wallowing, soggy feel from the suspension and steering.... isn't the same as tramlining.

Tramlining is the tendency for the car to follow longitudinal irregularities in the road. The sensation is that the car is steering itself. Most commonly it occurs with wide, very low profile tires.

This describes it as well as any other:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

I wouldn't call tramlining a Jaguar trait most models don't display the trait. However, some models....the XJR/6 probably more than any other...are notorious for it. In some cases it can be severe and even frightening.

Cheers
DD

 

Hi, thanks for the reply. How would I get around this issue and is it something the xj6's done from new or something that develops over the years? What about the 'wallowing'? Is that just normal with this type of big car?

 

Blueharrow, I have had a 95 X300 3.2 for 6 months: this is my experience with tramlining.

When I bought it, it tramlined a bit. Then I bought new tyres (at this stage 225/60 x 16 on Turbine alloys). It improved a bit, and rode much better with matched tyres all round. No wheel alignment done at this stage as I was still planning the next bit..

Then I had all the front suspension bushes replaced. The mechanic said the old bushes weren't too worn, but they were all 18 years old, so I wanted to get the ride back to factory-original as much as possible. I stuck with genuine Jag rubber bushes, not urethane ones. It didn't improve as much as I hoped, still tramlining a bit on certain surfaces.

Then I got busy for a month or so, before finally getting an alignment done. It was only out by half a degree of toe-in, but what a revelation! No tramlining with an alignment, new bushes, and a good set of tyres. Lovely to drive.

Then I bought some Asteroid 18" rims from a crashed X308 XJR, had them straightened, and put on good Toyo 245/45 x 18s. It now tramlines a little bit again, but only on certain surfaces, and I can live with it. I love the look of the Asteroids, so this is the price I pay.

In summary - good bushes, good tyres, and an alignment and you'll be fine with higher profile tyres on 16" rims.


My next front suspension move will be to try urethane steering rack mounts but keeping the rubber suspension bushes. I don't like the slight steering vaguaries on bumps at speeds above 130km/h.

 

Al has covered the bases regarding tramlining.

As for wallowing, well, the standard XJ6 is rather softly sprung and the suspension tuned towards luxury so if you're expecting a taut, sports-car like feel.....well, you're not gonna get it.

However I'm not sure that "wallowing" should be expected, either. Not unless the shocks and/or other suspension parts are badly worn.

Maybe it depends on what you're accustomed to. If you're coming out of a Porsche 911 then any XJ6 is gonna feel "wallowy". If you're accustomed to a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, any XJ6 is gonna feel like it's positively glued to the road.

The standard XJ6 suspension can be firmed-up with better/sport shocks, or even upgraded to XJR-spec, if you're willing to sacrifice some of the smoothness/softness.

Cheers
DD

 

I have a 95 XJ6 and have had it for nine years. Has 124,000 miles on it. As far as ride and handling quality I have never had better. It tracks streight down the road with essentially no input required even on less than good roads. Even my wife says she loves the way it handles; better that her 2000 XK8. If I can keep it running they will bury me in it.

 

Haha. Mine, which I've only had a year and done a decent amount of reconditioning and maintenance to get it back up to snuff, has 170,000+ and I've said I'll be buried with mine

 

Do you recall whether it was a half degree less or more than the spec?

 

Plums, here are the results from the wheel alignment printout:

1) Toe was initally 39 minutes (approx .66 of a degree), consisting of 19' left and 20' right.

2) min and max specifications for each front wheel: minus 3 to plus 8 minutes, total allowable for both wheels -5 to +15 minutes.

3) after adjustment: 2 mins left, 3 mins right, total 5 minutes (1/12 a degree)

So improved from 39 minutes to 5 minutes
= 39/60 degree to 5/60 of a degree
so about half a degree, and it made a big difference.

I hope that is helpful

(60 minutes in a degree)

 

Gents,
I think the original xj40/x300 suspension was intended for 15" rims with 215 three which were big enough in 86. As time went on fashion demanded bigger rims and wider. Lower profile three. This ended with 255/45/17 on the xjr6 which is the one that suffers from tramlining. The v8 has revised suspension to cope better with big rims demanded by customers by the late 90's. On my xjr6 I improved it massively by replacing the upper wishbone bushes with polyureathane and thrust washers intended for the xj40. The wheel bearings had also spun on the stub axle causing play that could not be adjusted out. I fixed that with Loctite. Now my car is very good on most surfaces, but would probably be better with 225/55/16 like my old 3.2 sport which was briliant. If you want better handling with a good level of refinement, chose a sport version, but all xj should be nice to drive.
Regards,
John

 

I have a 1997 LWB Sovereign. The handbook gives the tyre size as 225/60/R16. I am currently on cheapo tyres and all seems well. The new full sized spare that I have just bought is a cinturatto, and the next tyre change will be to them.

 

Thanks for the advise guys. I am going to look at an XJ8 later for sale, abs and traction lights are on then go out after a few miles. Any ideas?

 

The abs speed sensors are likely very dirty. They are very easy to cleanup with a bucket of water and your favorite degreaser. There's one at each wheel and they get covered in road grime over time.