Well I decided to get an extra set of vertical link/ hub assemblies for my upcoming front wheel bearing change. I figured I can collect the parts, bring them to a shop, and have them in my hand before taking my car out of service for a quick swap in my driveway rather than a protracted stay on the jack stands for the old cat.
What I'm wondering about is I've found the parts but they came off of an XK-8. Ebay's fitment application assures me the parts will work on my 99 XJR but I'm wondering if anyone frequenting this board knows whether this might be true. I thought the XK's had a different front suspension but I haven't actually seen one in person.

 

I'm far from sure, but here are links to parts diagrams and part numbers for each, maybe just compare them?

1999 XK8
https://www.jaguarmerriamparts.com/p...iagram=4730195
1999 XJR
https://www.jaguarmerriamparts.com/p...iagram=4721190


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If you follow the links posted by Carnival Kid and use the search block for wheel bearing you can see the difference between the XK8 and XJR is the wheel bearing the XJR will have the retainer ring grooves and the XK8 doesn't use retaining rings. I also believe the XJR is a couple MM difference in sizing. When you do a parts search at SNG Barratt's web site it shows that the vertical links are also VIN dependent.
With the new bearings on hand it should be very little down time to change out the bearings in the existing vertical links.

 

The vertical links (as well as the bearings and their circlips) are the same on XK8 and XJ8/XJR. The only thing to take care of is that the early models, both XK and XJ, had 76 mm OD bearings and the later models 80 mm OD bearings so the vertical links were different early-late but not different XK-XJ. The changes 76 mm to 80 mm took place, in the case of XK-s, from VIN 031303 and, in the case of XJ-s, from VIN 853936. The changes were made some time in 1999.

 

The suspensions are very different, but the vertical links (hub/spindle) are the same. The early XK8's 96-98 used smaller front wheel bearings, but if from a '99 XK8, it will be the same as a XJ8/XJR. If you had a Later XJR with Brembo brakes, those would be different than non Brembo (threaded caliper bolt holes), but would be the same as Brembo Brake XKR's.

 

OK so I found some spare knuckle assys on ebay. They arrived today along with the bearings I picked up on amazon. I got the little torx bolts out of the splash guards so they'll be free once the pressing starts. Now I want to break the ABS tone wheel free before heading to the machine shop for the hard stuff. I've found a few threads mentioning a 12 pt socket being an acceptable substitute for the special tool but the one thread I found mentioned a 2" socket. It seems like my 2-1/8" socket is a better fit on the wheel. I think I'd have to pound the 2" socket into place which doesn't seem right. With the hub in my vise I've been able to exert quite a bit of force (not 330 N-m yet) but then the vise starts letting the hub start to spin. Since I don't have the ability to hold the hub from spinning in my vise while I'm applying force thru my 3/4" ratchet I'm planning on letting the PB blaster I soaked everything with work overnight and tomorrow I'll take the spare out of the trunk and use the inertia of the wheel against my impact driver and see if I have any luck. Does anyone remember if that 2-1/8" socket was the one they actually used? It's loose but seems to grip the wheel so I think it will be ok but I thought I'd check and see if anyone remembers from their job.