Hello all - forgive me if I am asking a question already answered. I am learning these cars and am not always sure what to search for. I am experiencing an interesting sound/ clunk in my front suspension. Here are some facts:
- Car has 70K miles on it
- The front end makes a clunk sound when I hit bumps - can hear it and feel it through floor panels
- More pronounced on smaller bumps than larger ones - especially lots of small bumps in succession
- More pronounced if front tires hit bumps under one wheel at a time rather than both at the same time - seems to be worse with alternating wheel travel
- problem exists whether in sport or regular mode (to be honest, I don't see a lot of difference between the two modes, maybe a little softer ride)
- getting worse with time - obviously something is wearing
- I recently had outside tie-rods bushings replaced (which firmed up steering but did not address this issue)
- mechanic has car now and can't see anything obvious other than wear to the passenger side strut insulation / bushing (not exactly sure I am accurately recalling what he said)

Any ideas on what we are looking for? Also, are their any aftermarket shocks (like the bilsteins I put in my classic land rover) that firm up the ride and make it feel a little more sporty?

Thanks in advance

 

Your most fruitful search would be to search on "clunk" using the advanced search rather than the quick search, and limit the search to the X308 section.

There are quite a few possibilities in the front end. Once you find the threads, you might see described symptoms that closely match yours.

 

The most likely culprits are also the easiest to replace. Worn sway bar bushings and links cause a lot of noise but may not appear worn out . Plenty of suppliers to purchase these from - I would change these before any other front end suspension parts

 

Also check the upper / lower shock mount bushes and subframe bushes.

Broken engine mounts are a common failure and can clunk but usually on humps and dips, you know, enough to lift the engine

+1 on using the advanced search.

 

+1 on the sway bar bushings. Very cheap to buy and easy to install and they cause the exact symptoms you describe. "Low speed clunk."
Vector

 

Anyone have a link on the sway bar bushings? I need to do this next

 

+1 on links. I want to go ahead and get the sway bar links and the upper and lower shock tower bushings. The bushing on my front right shock is very cracked. I have the CATs system if that makes a difference. For my own knowledge, is replacing the shock bushings a significant project for a mechanic or a small job?

 

I have the CATS also, and you can do it yourself, just be VERY careful on tightening the top bolt. Needs to hold the shock in place with an allen wrench so you dont twist the internals of the shock. I learned that $800 mistake the hard way.

 

I had a clunk in the front of my 02 XJR. I have 63k miles.

I'd feel it when I went slowly over uneven surfaces in a parking lot and when going over speed bumps, especially if one wheel went over the speed bump before the other wheel. The rocking back and forth motion caused the clunk and I could feel it in the steering. It's been driving me crazy!

Based on my research on this forum, I concluded it was my my sway bar bushings and links. My mechanic replaced them and the old links looked okay and the old bushings were a little worn. But the clunk is gone! I'm a happy camper! ��

 

Here is my post on the rears: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...s-pics-130442/

I replaced the sway bar links front and rear too, total cost of all parts was about $150 or so.

Jim Lombardi has some great step by step instruction on how to do the job for the front and rear, I have attached the set for the front and rear.

One note, the front bars are about three times the size of the rears and lot harder/heavier to handle.
Vector

 

You know I have a 2000 XJR also with a clunking sound in the front suspension. I went by a local British car service and the first thing he mentioned was the bushings in the A arms; he said its a very common problem. But now this has me thinking about the sway bar bushings. I guess when we lift it and see whats going on we'll find out

 

When my mechanic originally looked at my sway bar bushings and links he said he thought they looked fine. I told him to replace them anyway because of what I read on this forum. I'm glad I did because my clunk is gone!

 

It really is surprising how much noise can come from those little sway bar links. I had one on a Citroen that drove me nuts.