What are the wise folks here buying for replacements?
I'm after a good aftermarket piece to install along with fresh shocks. The rears I bought come with a bushing kit, the fronts not.

 

Common answer of late is to replace the bushings in the upper shock mount yourself. Welsh Enterprise sells them cheaper than anybody else -- bought mine from Motorcars LTD for $85. From dealer or any other supplier already installed on the carrier expect to pay $275 or more per side!

Look for a thread from Old Mike about two weeks ago, crystal clear instruction on how to do it yourself or print and give to your independent tech.

Search engine will provide loads of instructions on replacing the shocks and the mounts.

 

I'm talking about the rubber donuts on the top stem of the shock.

 

haven't completely woken up yet, huh? Find the thread I just mentioned -- I could count down from this thread to exactly where it is, but so could you. There is detailed information including an excellent photo set that shows you what to do.

Yes, the red donuts on top the shock mount (and underneath it).

and need some more coffee . . . .

 

This thread has the complete story

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ushings-90367/

 

Thanks Jim, I found the thread. That's the bushings all right. Do you mean to tell me those stinking things are $85 dollars?
JHC I hate this car!

 

De nada.

Actually, about $55 from Welsh. But you could also go to your hardware store or auto parts store and find some rubber, neoprene, or poly bush for about $3 per (need four) and grind and drill to match. Seemed easier to just order on line. Easiest is to go to the dealer and tell him to do it (but if you have those kinds of bucks, you don't need this forum).

Useful tool herein is thanks button (some of us old farts need a hug).

 

Formal gratitude extended, consider yourself hugged.
I've been through this on other brands that seem to think their tiny bits are precious.
$85, $55, HA! We'll see. I'll be finding a suitable replacement and will post my findings.
Anyone have answer before I go looking?

 

Welsh, I just bought a pair 55.00.

 

I couldn't find the bushes on the Welsh site, if anybody can post a link from the site it will be perfect.
I just measured mines today and they are 52mm exterior diameter, 15mm interior , 18 mm height, maybe somebody can fabricate them.I can't find any shop selling these in Europe.

 

Welsh doesn't have the bushings on their website, I don't know why. If you call them you can place the order for part number "KIT MNC-2168-69-K" which is called "KIT SHOCK MNT UPPER BU" for US $55.95 plus shipping. I have no idea what you'd have to pay for them in your part of the world, I'm in the US. The number I called was 1-800-875-5247. Good luck.

By the way -- they call it a "kit" but all I got were the four bushings (two for each side) and an instruction sheet.

 

Installed the bushings yesterday and they are a little thinner than the originals. Everything went together nicely. Upon inspection my old bushings were really not that bad.

Yes Welsh does not have 1/2 of what they have on inventory on the website, just do it the old fashion way and pick up the tellly

 

As I couldn't find those bushes in Europe, I found somebody making this kind of stuff, and today I received the first 8 pieces (for me and a friend of mine). They are made of rubber, no polyurethane.
Tomorrow I will fit them, a lot of money saved.

 

I found a thread in a Google search that looks very similar to the previous post. I found 1-7/8 - 2" Expansion plugs at the local Advance Auto for 3.00+ each (about 14.00 for a set of 4). After I pulled the Mounts and the Bushings, I used a grinder to reduce the thickness of the rubber pieces. There's an obvious mark on the center post of the bushing mount- I ground the two pieces down so they were the same size and and combined were the thickness of the center post to the mark (thickness without the mounting base included) - I did this to make sure I didn't get them too thin on first fit and it worked great. I then took a 1/2" drill bit and drilled out the center hole. I had to bevel the leading edge of the hole and shoot a little silicone on the center post but once you get it started you can take a deep socket and tap the rubber down tight. To reset the top washer cap I set the whole assembly up on the anvil of a bench vise - centered up the top washer and used the large socket and a hammer to press it back on. I knew it was set when it cut a nice clean little rubber ring. Took about 30 min. each side once I had the mount off the car. The expansion plug is a bit more rigid than the OEM but same composition as the replacements I found on Ebay and other places.