I rebuilt the front suspension on my 1999 XJR, all new bushes, ball joints, shocks etc. Since the rebuild I have noticed a creak/clunk on left or right turns. Similar to what you hear if the sway bar bushings are worn except the it only happens when turning, I have double checked everything is tight and torqued correctly.

I was under the car today and noticed that the font subframe rear bushes (the large round ones MNC2370AC) are moving left to right in the subframe. They can be moved by levering with screwdriver. I now recall when I fitted the bushes they went in easily (probably too easily!) I did not think anything of it at the time. However now I think they are moving when cornering causing the creaking noise - the movement may even lead to the subframe hitting the mount on the body.

My question is two fold:

1) Is it possible to lower the front subframe enough to get these bushes out without removing the whole suspension, shocks, springs control arms etc.

2) Would it be reasoble to use high strength loctite to hold these bushes in place to prevent any movement? Or should I replace the bushes - they came from a reputable vendor but were aftermarket parts.

Thanks for any help

 

A forum search yielded results.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...source-281436/

 

Ah my favorite topic! Looks like motorcarman beat me to it and linked to my original thread. Though it's interesting to read URO's response on the bushes with regards to part numbers, their info is a bit confusing... MNC2370AC is a supersession of MNC2370AB (so intended to be used in the same location I imagine), and MNA2370AA is for x300 or XJ40 from what I can tell (don't quote me on this last bit, but a search shows it showing up in some previous generation subframe drawings).

Anyway, the way I see it, since OEM is NLA and there's only one aftermarket vendor available for these... There's two approaches I can think of.

1. Do what I did and shim the bushes. Probably the more reliable approach, though kind of a pain. You need to fully drop the subframe for this, and to use a press to install the shimmed bushings. No way around it that I can think of, unless a ball joint press would have the force and clearance needed to press these in... But then you're fighting upside down underneath a car with a directional bushing + shims + tiny tool. Unfortunately that's just how it is, to "do it right"...
2. Try a retaining compound (or epoxy??). I have no idea how well this would work, can't make any promises it would hold up over time or at all. With this approach you *may* be able to get away with by only lowering the subframe, but I think by the time you're at that point you're 90% of the way to having it out anyway. If you're planning on trying this, I would strongly recommend checking out "Loctite 638", it's a loose-fit retaining compound I've used to great success for fixturing dowel pins into oversized (slip-fit clearance) holes without any movement. Just wash your hands thoroughly after handling it...

 

Motorcarman - thanks for the reference to the thread. I had found that but not reading the wholw thread I did not see the reference to undersize bushes. note to self: read the whole thread!

My plan is to drop the subframe and try the green loctite 638 as suggested by nilanium. It is on order and should be here tomorrow, If that fails I will try and locate the upgraded Uro parts mentioned in the thread

 

I suppose you're not out anything to try the loctite, but I don't think it's going to work. When I did mine several years ago I was lucky enough that they were still available from Jaguar, so I removed the subframe and took it to a shop to have the bushings pressed in. Having the correct fit will ensure that it works long term. I think you need to go with nilanium's other suggestion and use shim stock. Otherwise you'll be back under there doing it again in short order. The other option is to reach out to URO and see if the new design is available. If it's not yet available, I would shim it. Don't wait on a promised availability date from URO that may never happen. That's my $.02 anyway.

 

I dropped the subframe and “glued” the bushes in place with Loctite 638 plus the activator. They feel very firm and on the first test drive the clunks and knocking are gone. Will monitor this to see how the loctite holds up.

steering wheel is slightly off center now, subframe must be in a slightly different orientation. Will adjust the track rod ends tomorrow.