I am thinking it may be time for new shocks, I am going to be replacing lower ball joints, sway bar links, and sway bar bushings. I think I should probably also replace the shocks, going to start with the front, and then the back.

I don't really want to spend more than $60 each. I found some KYB Gas-A-Just mono tubes for about $54 each, but I have read these may be kinda stiff?

I really like the OE ride quality. I love the floating feel of it, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on shocks. Has anyone ever put the KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on their Jag? I'd be really curious to know what the ride quality is like.

Thanks!

 

If you don't want to upset the ride buy oem, if you want to save money buy them secondhand - Bilsteins are expensive, but with most things in life you get what you pay for!

There's cars being 'parted out' on here, buy the shocks!

I've read on here that KYB last about 12 months, nowhere near the quality the car requires.

 

^+1. Buy the bilsteins. There are plenty of threads discussing how ride quality changes with alternate shocks

 

Hello,

Yesterday I've installed front KYB Gas-a-just shocks instead of the original Bilsteins (left was 25%, right 35%). Car handles good, I can't see any reasons why not to buy the KYB
Btw. here in Poland KYB costs around 70$ each :/

 

I'd be a little hesitant to buy them second hand, simply because I don't know what the condition of them is, or how long they have been used. I'd like to go with the Bilstein because in my opinion, $150 + each is just a little much.

 

Lots of threads in this forum. AllShocks, a division of Turner Motorsports, has the best deal I could find on Bilstein (go with the Bilsteins!).

Noting your other thread on front end noise and ball joints, it is quite likely you need upper shock mounts as well (again, tons of threads on DIY to buying complete sets $$$$).

 

Tried their site, and they only have ones for the XJ8 listed, not the VDP. Is the VDP and XJ8 compatible on suspension parts?

 

Yes. The R models are more sportier. But the VDP and XJ8 and XJ8L use the same shock.

Confirm by: Call them, their phone clerk is exceptionally helpful and will answer these questions.

Use eBay or Amazon to find the best deal on upper shock mounts.

 

Even without the shocks being "bad" per-say, could they cause squeaking ONLY upon compression going over small bumps? Not any other time?
Would that be an indication of the strut itself being bad or something else?

 

Most likely lower or upper shock bushings. Easiest way is to replace the shocks, they come with new lower bushings installed -- labor is cheaper than removing the shock and punching out the old, dried out bushings, and you get new shocks (although, as Sean has described before, Bilsteins hardly wear out).

You might also be hearing some body flexing . . . Or creaking in the exhaust system. Tracking noise is a labor of love in old cars (or **** retention -- without hearing the noise, hard to say). Or bad V mounts or front body mounts . . . Lots of threads.

I have new (2 years ago) neoprene upper mount bushings: below 30*F they rattled their *** off the last two winters: in the 90s now, dead silent. It's a hobby!

 

Thing is though, a set of Bilstein's will literally break the bank! Haha, I'd be able to do no more than like $60-$70 each NEW... I have seen the KYB Gas-A-Just that I am on the fence about.
What about Monroe?

 

I paid about $90 per for the Bilsteins. The upper mount bushings cost about $55.
Read somewhere here (dig using search) that someone (maybe Old Mike) put Monroes up front with good results. Last car I put Monroes on was a 66 LTD!

 

monroe's haven't always been this way, but in the last five years my experience has been that quality control has gone way down hill.

I worked at a part store, and they got returned ALL THE TIME for failing. Which is kind of amazing, because I get the impression a lot of people would just keep driving on them and not even know they're bad. They just assume "well, i just had them changed" and figure they must be good.

I've only had good experiences with KYB. Some applications were better than others for how the ride was affected, but rarely fail early.

 

You might not want to, but you better do.
Pardon the French, but shocks are important.
Best save up a little longer and buy propper Bilsteins, imho.

 

I found the OEM Bilsteins for my XJR at Rockauto for $86 each. From old Bolstein's to brand new was amazing. I highly recommend them.

 

I would like a little more stiffness whilst driving. The comfort is nice, but at higher Autobahn speeds, the softness is a little "tricky". And as the XJ is an ideal drift car (not kidding), a little firmer would be great What would you recommend?

 

Bilstein Green ones!

 

I imagine the "slightly cheaper" green Bilstein sport shocks would be great, however, I took a bit of a chance and purchased KYB. So far only have the front ones on, and here is what I can report on them so far:

They're stiff/firm however they are very comfortable to drive on even very rough roads. Ever ride in a Buick? They're smoother than that by a long shot (Buick ride quality is mediocre at best anyway).

So far for half the cost of the Bilstein's I really like the KYB Gas-A-Just.

 

I run the KYB gas-a-just monotube shocks in my '98 XJR as well and have been very happy. 2 years later later the fronts are riding just as good as new. The rears were just recently replaced, but the moderately added stiffness fits the car just perfect in my opinion.

 

I found two different green Bilstein shocks for the x308 XJR. Which set is best? The 20-070502, or 24-023726.
https://cart.bilsteinus.com/results?...76998327672829