I wanted to check with folks on this forum to see what they thought.

I took my 1998 Jaguar XJ8 in to my local mechanic (who has been able to handle jobs like tires/brakes in the past) because my front driver's side was seemed to be making noise. He diagnosed the problem as a front coil spring issue, and also mentioned that he thinks I need to replace my 2 lower ball joints, but said both jobs would need a tool he doesn't have. He suggested I contact the dealership to get the work done.

Despite having the car for about 7 or 8 years now, I've never had to take it to the dealer before. I live in the U.S. and am somewhat dreading the bill (it is a 24-year-old-car now, and I've been thinking about getting a new one, even though it is in good shape and only has about 85,000 miles on it).

Should I try a couple more mechanics in the area? I know a couple more I've had good experiences with. Or should I just assume he knows what he's talking about (I'm sure he does... but a second opinion never hurts) and take it to the dealer.

Thanks for the advice,

Karl

 

Removing the front coil springs does take a special tool to compress the springs, or some skill to make your own tool. He wasn't lying about that. As to whether he knows what he's talking about, you're on your own there! I think there are threads on here about what people have done as a work around instead of using the special spring compressing tool. Someone will probably weigh in. I used the special tool when I rebuilt my front end because it seemed the "safest" way to go!

 

The more likely wear points on the front suspension are :

the upper shock attach point donut bushings which you can see yourself to know for sure ( common )

You can very easily see the air gap on this as the donuts wear

The shock lower attach point bushing you can look through the bolt and see daylight if you have a light on the other end

You can have other wear points and 85 K miles is still in it's prime with much life left

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ol-arm-255139/

 

You may find that the dealer is unwilling to work on your "old" car. But there are bound to be foreign car shops in your area that can do the necessary repairs. Many of the members of the forum have replaced the shock mounts and bushings, and will confirm that it's not difficult. Spring compressors are not specialty tools and are used on almost all cars. Your mechanic is not much of a mechanic.

 

There is a special Jaguar spring compressor, but there are similar universal versions that will work just as well and any shop that does suspension work should have an array of spring compressor tools, one of which should work. What gets expensive is the parts or labor for renewing the bushings and/or ball joints if that's really what it needs. Jaguar just sold the whole control arms as a unit (assuming the parts are still available) and were quite expensive last I checked. At some point, what happens with old cars is the whole unit part number becomes obsolete and your only choice is pressing bushings and ball joints (and that may be what your mechanic was afraid of). The bushings and ball joints themselves are available separately for fairly cheap in the aftermarket, but I could see a mechanic spending hours and hours grinding the flanges off the old ones, figuring out how to mount the odd-shaped control arms in their hydraulic press and rummaging through an assortment of press sleeves to find just the right sizes (which are not included in most universal ball joint/bushing tool kits). And then after all that, they're rusted in place anyway and the only method remaining is to burn out the old rubber and then cut the sleeves with a hacksaw. That's why Jaguar just sold the whole control arm as a unit, because they'd wind up charging you more in labor to press the old parts out and the new ones back in than to sell you the whole control arm. I suggest to call the dealer parts department and see if they can still order the control arms with the bushings and ball joints already installed, then most any shop that does suspension and alignment could install them. I'm sure you could find an independent shop that could fix it either way, but yeah, if it needs bushings or ball joints, its not going to be a cheap repair. However, it is a safety concern so if they are sufficiently worn, then you need to bite the bullet. Good luck.

 

I was going to suggest a Jaguar specialist garage rather than a dealer, but I notice you don't seem to have that sort of thing your side of the pond (perhaps because there are less Jags?).

But I agree with what people are saying above, any car will need a spring compressor, so it's not just main dealers who would have the tools to do that. Perhaps try a few more garages.

With regard to the bushes, I think these will be readily available for the X308. I think the problem with pressed in bushes only occurs with the X350 models (I might be wrong...). These are the ball joints which seem to be pretty cheap if they are the same ones (JLM1098) your mechanic means?

JLM1098 Jaguar track rod end | British Parts UK

 

I would disagree... a mechanic that accurately assesses the problem and says he doesn't have the resources or the expertise to address it is a mechanic that is prepared to give you honest advice rather waste your money. It's no different than those who do their own work to a point but recognize that after that point additional resources/expertise are required to do it right. In my books, that's one of the hallmarks of a good mechanic as opposed to those who will happily keep throwing someone else's money around randomly until the problem finally gets fixed...

 

I see you are in mass I have a good mechanic Here in Rhode Island would be a lot cheaper than the dealer. Also there’s a mechanic in mass that I know PM me I can give you there phone numbers

 

Hey kbxj8-98,

What we most commonly replace for noise in the front is the front upper shock bushings, part number CBC225455 and it takes 2 on each side so four total. If you look that part number up it will come up as bushings for an XJ6 but I can 100% guarantee those bushings are correct for the XJ8. My parts guys at the dealership passed this information on to their techs and were blown away that they work but they do! We keep about 12 in stock year round because we see those bushings fail after about 100k miles. It may also need MND2153AA front lower shock bushings. Just something to consider! Hope this helps! =)

 

The upper and lower shock bushings mentioned above you can visually see if worn

 

That link to the spring compressor thread is dead on. It is the same on back to at least 88. the outside clamp on compressors wont work as there is not enough room for them. I made my own tool and successfully used it (and then later got a "real one" at a swap meet). Check the xj40 area for further corroborating threads. As far as your mechanic goes, i am surprised he doesn't have or wont make one to use for you, but as stated above, give him some credit for being honest. there is not much that "pushes my button" more than a guy who says he will when he cant but doesn't have any idea how anyway.

 

It's been a while, so I may be confusing with another vehicle. In addition to special spring compressor, I recall that I had to remove ball joint from control arm on my hydraulic press. You may as well just rebuild the whole arm. Including the bushings. I did the entire front end in one shot since "while you are in there". This included shocks, ball joints. Bushings, even the front wheel bearings. Perhaps a bit excessive, that's just me.

 

The suspension work can be thought of in 3 levels A , B , C

A would be the easiest like ball joints and other things

B would be shocks and other things

C would be a full job including engine V mounts

So you would have to think on approaching a level and addressing things while you are there

 

Interesting. Back to the original post, I'm afraid I can't agree. Where I am located, the dealer runs about the same cost as the other Jag specialist shops. There are jobs I take the vehicles to the dealer for... and some jobs I don't/
The jobs that I want a oem solution and those jobs where I want to 'play about' a bit. Or ask for a service that I know the dealer will avoid.

 

Hey Guy!
Here in Atlanta I know that Hennessy Jaguar and Land Rover's labor rate is $189.95 a hour where our shop rate just went up to $140 a hour. We honestly thought it would help us not have customers that like to "price shop" but we still stay two weeks ahead of time booked out. Of course, people still are shocked when I tell them how much our labor rate is but cost is going up everywhere.We have specialized in Jaguars since 1993 and my father, the owner is a Master ASE mechanic specifically for Jaguars and Cadillacs as he's been working on these two car makes since the early 80's. Would you mind sharing what the labor rate is in Canada, I am just curious? Thanks!

 

While i now do most work myself, my experience has also been that, with exception of routine maintenance, the "independent specialists" are no less expensive than the dealer. Years ago my series III died and I towed it to a very well known independent. After two weeks, he could not get it started and finally suggested I have it towed to dealership. In the interim, I went over to shop, I popped the hood and noticed distributor was pointing the wrong way. Turned the distributor and it started right up. The independent then wanted to charge me several hundred dollars because of, "all the time he had into it". That kind of crap has never happened to me at a dealership.

Your best bet is to shop around, both dealers and independents.

I recently had timing belt and water pump replaced on my Touareg along with related tensioners, etc. I called several dealers and price disparity was over $500 between those. Specialist shop would have saved me maybe $100 dollars, but they were using aftermarket parts rather than genuine VW.