Just bought a 98 XJ8L with 142K on it. Generally in good shape and just put new top shock bushings on the front as the ones on it had turned to dust. However, there is no spring travel on the front end that can detect. The car sits low in front (even for a Jag), and if you try to bounce either front fender, it acts like it's sitting on the stops. I can't find any stops, probably because I'm new to this car. The car supposedly sat for two years. I'm wondering if the shocks are locked up. Hard to believe that the front springs are so dead that they have no rebound whatsoever. When driven, the car just bounces along like the front end is screwed down. No jounce whatsoever. All opinions welcome.

 

Welcome!

I've moved your post out of the X351 XJ section and into the X308 XJ8 section. Your '98 model is an X308.

Can you measure the ride-height from the center of the wheel hub to the inside edge of the wheel arch? In milimeters?

 

I have been there and done that right after I replaced both front upper shock mounts. What happened is the constant spinning of the actual strut rod when you tightened (or whomever) down the 17mm or 19mm nut on top of the shock mount damaged something inside the shock cylinder. Just replace the shocks and problem solved.

 

With appreciation to the Moderator for putting this question in the right category. . .the distance you asked for is 362 mm. Also thanks to Addicted2boost for this suggestion. I was going to replace the shocks next, but didn't want to if it weren't necessary. I did the bushings myself and probably didn't spin the shock rod much more than one turn before putting a vice grips on top of it to hold it.

 

My suggestion would be to take the shock top plates off again. Then you can see if suspension travel is restored when the shocks are disconnected, and you can also try compressing the shocks separately, to see if they are siezed.

 

Removed the nut at the top of the shock shaft on both sides, which I certainly should have done first. I can grab the fender and now get good suspension travel, as Mark suggested would happen, until the collar on the shaft hits the bushing collar and then it stops, telling me that the shocks are internally stuck or frozen. As addicted3boost suggested, a new pair of shocks should solve the problem. Will be back in touch if this doesn't work. Many thanks to all.

 

The front ride height on an X308 XJ8L should be around 385-389mm so if you have 362mm then it is definitely a little low. Does the car have aftermarket springs in it?

 

I am sure it does not have aftermarket springs. I'd guess that an 18-year-old high-mileage car is going to sag a little. I measured after disconnecting the shocks, and it's improved a bit to 368 since the shock isn't restricting the travel. I've read that the gas shocks will provide a little lift, so that might help a bit. I suppose it would be heresy to suggest putting a spacer in between the coils?

 

Replaced the shocks, and the suspension height has returned to 389 mm or better. Car rides and drives like it is supposed to. Old shocks, which I suspect are original as they were black and marked Jaguar, were totally frozen.