Hi all. Just wanted to confirm that it has struts in the front and shocks in the back...correct?

Thanks!

 

You're in the wrong forum. Try posting in the X308 forum, the one for your car. This forum is for the aluminium saloons from 2003-2009

 

Hi Paulpop72,

I have moved your post from the forum for the X350 to the forum for the X308, which is the Jaguar factory code for your 1998 XJ8L.

Regarding your suspension, the front is a shock absorber or "suspension damper," Part 5 in the diagram below, with a separate road spring that is mounted in a curved orientation that is common to many Jaguar saloons:





The rear suspension has a shock absorber that fits inside the road spring but is replaceable separately. You will either have Part 7 or 18 from the diagram below, depending on whether you have the adaptive damping suspension or not:







I grabbed these diagrams from jaguarclassicparts.com, the parts service of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, which is a great place to view parts diagrams and part numbers for your car. You can also download the Jaguar Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) from this forum so you can view parts lists and diagrams on your computer. See the instructions in this thread:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...uctions-48194/


Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks so much for info! Sorry about posting in wrong area.

 

So it takes shocks on the front end?

How many hours should be charged to do front end only??

Thanks again!

 

The front shocks are very easy to change. 30 - 40 minutes per side tops. I recommend you replace the upper shock mount bushings at the same time. Rebuild kits are available from vendors on this forum so you don't have to buy the entire upper sock mount from the dealer. The lower shock bushing comes with the new shock

 

Thanks, Rock! Are the upper shock mounts the same as the frames??

Any idea how long the total job would take?

My mechanic says ball joints are about 4 hours labor BUT they're still in good shape and he says they don't need replacing.

 

Your mechanic is going to use a rate manual times his labor rate. Parts will cost more unless you buy from most affordable vendor. If replacing upper shock mounts with new (not rebuilding -- expensive) and new shocks, less than an hour per side. In my driveway, more time lifting the car and removing roadwheel. If he rebuilds the upper mount and has a press, maybe another hour more.

Not that it matters: he will charge the rate manual, and good ones will show you. Often, as not, that is really a good deal. sometimes Old cars and old bolts will take longer to remove than the rate manual suggests.

 

This is the entire upper shock mount (steel frame and rubber bushings together). You can buy just the rubber bushings, remove the old ones, and press them into the existing frame. This saves hundreds of dollars vs. buy the frame/bushings together from Jaguar.

 

He quoted me:
$390 for the 2 front mounts
$240 for the shocks
3.75 hours of labor.

Pretty sure I can find parts for much cheaper. But is that ok? I could prob get away with it because I've been a loyal customer. But I'm sure that's usually frowned upon.

 

The price for the front mounts sounds like entirely new upper plates (that will have new bushings in them). You only need the bushings and you re-use the plates. Do a search on this forum for " upper shock bushings kit".. There are also several detailed posts on how to install the new bushings into your existing plates

 

Concerning If you don't want to go to the length of pressing out the bushings yourself, Coventry West will do it for you :

Front Upper Shock Mount Bushing Kit 1998 2003 XJ8 XJR P N MNC2168 69KIT | eBay

This is a mounting plate with the poly bush kit installed. Oh I see it's already been linked to above. Well, twice won't hurt.

 

Thanks for your help, guys!

The mechanic will do the work. It's just a matter of me bringing him the parts. I know I can't do the job.