So as I just posted my 98 xj8 (120K) has a tranny issue.

Since she is already down I am going to do the tensioners. There is a bit of a strange rattle in there. I've had 4 xj8's and this is not a normal engine noise.

My question is that everything is running great. I found the whole kit (seals, followers, ect) on fleabay for about $650. Do I need to go this route or can I just replace the tensioners?

 

I would do the lot while the car is in pieces...the noise is probably a chain rattling on a worn chain guide in any case....at 120K I would do them also.

 

If you are going to rebuild the car for the long haul I would agree to fix the entire front end of the engine. The vast majority of folks only do the upper tensioners since that seems to be the only weak link (pardon the pun) in the design.

 

thanks for the input, I bit the bullet and ordered the whole ball of wax today