Well... I thought I was smart enough.
I pulled the front wheel hub to replace the bearings and tried to drive the hub out of the steering knuckle.

I got the knuckle off fairly easily and got the tone ring off with no problem. I was sure that would be the hard part, but driving the hub out didn't go as planned.

All I succeeded in doing was mushrooming the back side of the hub.
Now, the hub won't slide through inner bearing.
I have successfully killed the hub. I am going to have to ge out the rotary tool and cut the back end of the hub off just to get the hub out.

Back to the drawing board. Anyone near Dallas have a hub just laying around?

 

Hi bigcash,

I have moved your post from the forum for the X350/X358 to the forum for the X308, which is the Jaguar factory project code for your 1998 XJ8. Here you will have a better chance of reaching knowledgeable owners of similar cars.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks-
Sorry, I didn't realize I'd posted it in the wrong place.
-C

 

post the last 6 your VIN, or the ID of the hub - some of the 98 x308's used a different sized hub with a smaller(?) OD bearing (or some different spec there), which I think was changed after VIN 853935 according to the parts listings.

I'm not sure how cross-compatible the two hubs are, you might be able to get away with getting a newer hub, as long as you get the right bearing, and it looks like you'd need the newer spindle as well. Again, don't take my word for it, but I'd keep it in mind.

Reference: https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...-vertical-link

 

My spindle was destroyed on my right front. I read the number off the hub and bought a whole hub+bearing+spindle for like $70 shipped on ebay. Then I pressed out the bearing and just to be safe, I measured ID/OD/Width and compared to the 2 part numbers at NAPA in person. I paid like $25-30 for the bearing at NAPA for an SKF bearing (2 years ago).

My sister was borrowing the XJR for a month and didn't realize the noise in the back. She complained about the ABS and Traction lights and the dirty wheel. I was not thrilled. THe bearing was seized. The actual axle at the universal joint near the wheel was cutting the aluminum hub every rotation. That's how far gone things had gone. The rear brake caliper bracket was being eaten by the rotor. The whole brake+suspension corner was floating all over every rotation and really messing stuff up per bump. I bought a used corner on ebay again for around a hundred, bought all the bearings, then found how overpriced the bracket was and bought 2 used loaded calipers with pads and brackets for $50 shipped lol. Fixed everything and never let my sister borrow it again. I mention this so you feel better about your predicament .

You'll find some interesting stuff over time owning a 98, I definitely have! There were unique to 98 and unique to XJR parts and if I recall, unique to 98 XJR parts lol.

 

97'-98' XK8's and 98' XJ8/XJR are the b@stard years. If you can, get both knuckles off a 99'-03' X308 that have the larger wheel bearings and replace them both prior to installing.

 

Done. 2000 steering knuckles installed and new bearings in place.

 

You saved yourself a headache later on by getting those installed. Good deal.