Greetings!

I am looking at replacing the front suspension bushings with all polyurethane. My main reasoning for this is to try and rid myself of suspension clunk once and for all.

Not long after I bought the car I replaced the front shocks, sway bar bushings, sway bar end links, strut tower bushings. It fixed my knocking sound for a little while, but now its back. I'm almost positive the culprits were the end links the first time around. Now that it's back I am thinking to replace as many bushings as I can to polyurethane.

Have any of you done the full swap? From experience on one of my past cars it made the suspension quiet, more responsive, at the cost of a bit of harshness which for that car it was OK. How would this swap apply to the XJR? Any first hand experiences?

here are the ones I'm looking at

https://www.adamesh.co.uk/jaguar-xj8...-kit-916-p.asp


Thank you,

 

There's a couple members here who have done swaps using these US based folks... Prothane Suspension Parts - Precision Polyurethane Bushings
Keep in mind, if you go with the one you linked, you have overseas shipping costs and the $ costs is $331.78 non-VAT costs before shipping.
Now as for the urethane bushings, you need to be sure to lubricate them or you will develop the "urethane squeak" after awhile. Unless you have a zerk to maintain that grease, you may regret the application.

 

Things may have moved on since I last looked at them, I think the original kit was for X300 cars. I fitted a front kit then I spoke to the technical chief of the JEC who stated the AR bushes from Jaguar are much harder compound than poly on the 308's. They did squeak but silicone spray cures it....for a while. I switched back to OE when I rebuilt the car, no regrets, for now

 

Lithium grease ? Verify the Shore A rating as they are different for XJ8 and XJR and effect the ride

 

Ahh yes the urethane squeak. That is something to consider. No need to worry about the overseas link. It was just an example Powerflex is an American company based in Virginia. I could just buy them direct.

Is it safe to assume that you will need a press to change out some of these bushings?

 

Bolt and washer combination in free space sucking the bushings out ?

 

I do not remember pressing out any of the bushings. I may have had to use a socket and a couple pieces of 2" wood to knock them out from being seated, but not a press.

 

I had a hell of a time trying to remove the bushings, first using a press, which only sheared the inner shaft out, then hacksawing a slot into the bushing outer body, then chiseling that apart to finally break it free. The biggest problem was a lack of purchase, the bushing body is so thin compared to the bushing itself that you would need a very precise sized mandrel/driver to press on the back of the bushing, as well as slotting the sides on the flanged side to allow for a spot to rest the control arm on the press bed.

That was the large lower bushings though, the uppers would probably be easier, I didn't do those.

 

You need to run a search. Lots of threads on this issue. I have done the neoprene and they clunk when cold. For about the same you can buy Mehle or Uro replacements that are perfect, don't need a press and quiet the clunk.