Hello everybody

I have a 2000 xj8 and it has 150,000 and I am completely stumped on my car without taking it to a mechanic. The issue i am having is when i hit any kind deep cracks in the road the car will jerk left or right depending the way i drive over it. When it jerks i will try to correct it and i will feel resistant and then it jerks again. I lost control yesterday on the highway and spun the car. when i hit 80mph the dash starts to shake. and sometimes before the car jerks i will feel the back start to wobble. The things i have done to the car is new tires, tire rotation, balance, and alignment. Is there anything that i am missing to check or do i need to start checking suspension and steering column? Or do I just need to take it to my mechanic?

Thanks for any help or opinions

 

Based on your symptoms and for the purpose of protecting your life, you should have the suspension checked out by a competent mechanic. I am surprised that you weren't told of needed work when you had the Jag aligned.

 

+1 get it checked by competent front end guy: sounds like a bad ball joint (s) or spindle. You could get killed or worse yet, kill someone.

 

Hi Chris,

+1 on having your suspension carefully examined by a good mechanic familiar with Jaguar suspension design. There are many rubber bushings and other components in the front suspension that deteriorate over time and are directly related to the stability and control of the vehicle. It sounds as though you are fortunate to have only spun the car. It could have been far worse.

Off the top of my head, here's a list of components to check:

Wheel bearings
Tie rod ends
Inner tie rods
Ball joints
Control arm bushings
Anti-roll bar links and bushings
Subframe rear pivot bushings
Steering column U-joint

It's impossible to check the condition of the subframe Vee mounts without dropping the subframe, but you can check to be sure the long bolts that pass through the Vee mounts to secure subframe to the inner fenders are torqued properly.

You can view parts diagrams of your suspension at jaguarclassicparts.com


Please keep us informed.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks you guys for the input I will get it to my mechanic and get it checked out. I will post back after i get it checked and let everyone a direct cause. Thanks again.

 

I saw the title, and thought this was going to be another Prius driver thread.

 

Also make sure to have your tires checked for uneven wear/tread, for mismatched tires and possible bends in your wheels, maybe on the inside so it wouldnt be obvious to the naked eye. I was having similar issues as you and had it thoroughly checked out. Nothing in my suspension need replacing, but I did end up going with a 4 wheel alignment and a 4 wheel balance. Its better, it aint perfect though. Good luck, will be interested to hear what your issue turns out to be.

 

LOL.

I drive the PA Turnpike every day from its eastern terminus to a little west of Valley Forge...and the number of brain damaged individuals behind the wheel who have no concept of where they are (putting on makeup while glancing in the mirror speeding in traffic running at +10 over the posted 10' from the bumper in front of you...) or what they're doing. It's endemic, and Darwin's theory takes too long to work...

But the smug, self-righteous hybrid drivers are the worse. They're either cruising at the posted in the hammer lane...or puttering along, death grip on the steering wheel, in the far right.

 

Interesting.... the Prius drivers are exactly the same on this coast. Do yours like to merge at 35 mph?

 

No...they race down the acceleration lane, swerve in at the last minute, then step on the brake to slow down when they're in the right travel lane.

Sometimes wish I had a photon torpedo launcher mounted on the front of the car...lol.

 

Im always surprised about how generally despised PRius owners/drivers seem to on every automotive forum I belong to.

 

Jeremy Clarkson doesn't think to highly of them either, and he's got 300+ million people watching the boys every week...must be a common thread (Lotus owners generally think Prius owners are self-righteous poseurs, too...)

 

To be fair, I dont think very highly of Jezza either I find him to be a pompous ***, and every car he drives is either the best the world has ever created or its a child rapist. But yeah, most Miata forum folks also seem to hate Priuses and their owners too. I wouldnt mind one as a 4th or 5th car, I think theyre pretty neat in their own right. But they definitely dont inspire hatred in me, though at times they do cause some eye rolling. A buddy of mine a few years ago bought a brand new one and once on a road trip, he was doing 80-85mph on the highway. I was surprised such a meek, gentle guy drove that way so I told him man I love your driving style. His answer though was "yeah man, and Im still getting 55mpg". I didnt have the heart to tell him no, youre not

 

He's not, but I am. 55 mpg at 80 mph. Genuinely.

 

Please stop replying to my thread about stupid Prius. if you want to talk to someone about electric cars do off my post and thread. I keep getting notifications every time.

 

Stop posting on my thread about a Prius. if you want to talk to dboyel about electric cars then go somewhere else.

 

How about we just post about any old thing then?

What's the weather like?

 

Turn the notifications off then.

 

But, while we have your attention, did your car get fixed? What was wrong.

BTW: i agree with your point, keep opening the thread hoping to learn . . .

 

so a rabbi, a prius, and a minister, walk into a bar.....