Does anyone know what the standard diameter is for the rear sway bar? I remember reading some where that there was 3 different sizes and I'm about to pull the trigger on some poly bushings from PowerFlex but want to make sure the bushings for the stock bar are the right diameter (17mm)

Jaguar XJ6, X300 & X308 (94 - 02) Rear Anti Roll Bar Bushing 17mm

 

I thought I had read somewhere that the stock "rubber" XJR rear sway bar bushings were actually a higher durometer (harder) than poly

I can't confirm that though....

I recently bought some OEM replacement rear sway bar bushings, and another interesting observation was that the interior of the bushing has some sort of patterned 'fabric' impregnated into it that almost looks like carbon fiber. Have to wonder what that is about?


If you end up getting some, might be interesting to check and post your results.

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Al, I actually just went ahead and ordered the bushings so hopefully by next week I'll have them.

I'll be sure to post a picture of what they look like and hopefully they're for the stock bar..

 

Great, although you probably don't have any scientific way to compare the hardness, it may be interesting to hear your subjective observation of which is a higher durometer the OEM or the new poly units.

Did you find some way to re-lubricate the poly bushings so they don't squeak?

XJREngineer also has on his to-do list to look at improving the performance of the rear bar, akin to his front bar solid end links. But I don't know that he has had the time to really get very far. So that should be interesting too.

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Got the new bushings installed today. Didn't get a chance to do the front lower shock bushings but I was able to install the rear anti-sway bar and the rear link bushings.
I've uploaded pictures trying to show the durometer of the old bushings and the new polyurethane bushings.
Each picture showd me trying to squeeze as hard as a could. Not sure if this would show the same results with brand new OEM bushings as the sway bar bushings were badly cracked.

PS Ignore the rust. This XJR is still a work in progress

 

Thanks, will be interested to see how easy/hard it is to replace the front lower shock bushing, getting it out of the wishbone, and getting the new bushing in.

I've seen several threads covering the install of the front shocks, but none I've seen covered replacing that lower front shock bushing.

So, after replacing the rear sway bar bushings with poly, notice any difference?

There's still that one rubber metalastic bushing integrated into that sway bar end link top eye, so I guess the only way to really eliminate that would be to switch to heim/rose jointed links. You'd have to fabricate those yourself though, which wouldn't be hard, just trial/error.

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The handling improved a little bit but haven't done any hard driving with it since my front sway bar bushings are in need of replacing also.
As for the lower shock bushings, getting them out with the wishbone still on the car and without a press will be tougher than the rear lower shock bolt in my opinion. I'm thinking about taking a torch and just melting it off.

I'm not sure if anyone makes poly bushings for the rear end links either but I'm planning on installing new ones in a few days anyways so I'll see if I notice a difference between these old ones with the new lower bushings and brand new end links with the new lower bushings

 

What diameter did the bar end up being?

 

The front sway bar for the XJR is 25.5mm (The only option from powerflex were 25mm but they fit ok) and the XJ6 sway bar I think is about 23mm.
The rear XJR sway bar is 17mm

 

Thank you AlbBolivar! Did you do the front control arm bushings with Polyflex yet?

What about the Polyflex rear subframe mount impressions? Mine are on the way..

 

The front control arm bushings I haven't gotten them yet. Maybe getting them when I decide to get the lowering springs since the springs come out when doing the lower control arm bushings. As for the upper, I'm planning on purchasing the end links and upper control arm bushings from Andy (XJREngineer) once I get my car running in top shape.

As for the subframe mount bushings, the day after I got them installed I hit a boulder up in the mountains testing them out. So I've only driven on them hard for about 30 minutes but the car was firmer in the corners and less body roll. On the way up the I was right behind a 240SX and if it would've been safe, I would've been able to overtake but the roads were too tight.
Comparing the XJ6 with stock rubber bushings and firmer sensen shocks, my XJR handles almost like a go kart. My buddy behind me in a little miata could barely keep up in the corners.