2000 Jaguar XJ8 VDP

Hi, I am trying to fit Mina Gallery lowering springs, 4 new bilstiens, and various bushings. XJ8 SUSPENSION KIT <--- is the link to the kit of bushings im trying to install myself.

Car is currently on jackstands. Have both front shocks off, driver side spring off, and driverside upper control arm off (i think its called).

Next logical step for me is to get the lower control arm off? How do I go about doing that? This is my first time doing this type of work. I might be in over my head but I think I've gone too far already.

Any tutorials out there?

Thanks

 

Yes including pictures. Just start searching with additional words until you find it.

 

To remove the lower control arm you need to 1st remove the springs, which you said you have done on 1 side. Then you have to remove the remove the 2 bolts in the sub frame. To remove the rear bolt you have to remove the 4 bolts for the steering rack. Then have to separate the control arm from the lower ball joint.

If you do not have the special tool to install (and remove) the springs then you are absolutely in over your head. Do not try to put the spring back in without buying, renting, fabricating the spring compressor that locks into the frame. I am speaking 1st hand on this, the correct tool is needed to put the springs back in. The spring is angled and can fly out towards you while putting back in if you don't have the correct tool.

To replace the bushings and ball joints you need a heavy duty press and a huge amount of patience. You will need specific diameter cups and spacers to clear the control arms. This is very difficult for someone to do in their home shop or garage
Good luck!

 

I'm using the spring compresser that you can rent at autozone/oreilys . Will this be significant or do I need Jaguar specific? I already have the driverside spring and upper control arm (wishbone) off the car and also the tie end rod.

Tonight I will attempt to get the steering rack off.

My goal is to get everything off the car and then take it to a shop and get the bushings pressed in. Then put everything back together.

Slowly working on it. Too far in to have a shop do it now.

Edit::::: Do you recall at all what size the nuts are? Thanks a lot

 

I've found ones, where they are replacing just the shocks.

I will continue searching though. Thanks

 

I just finished doing this to my XJ8,it's a little difficult without proper tools. One important thing is to mark the position of the lower arms bolts with some paint or marker, to refit in the same position, to have a safe trip to the alignment shop. My advice , after terrible spring job, go with the arms to someone having the press and adapters to push-out the old and fit the new bushes and ball-joints. Good luck,not the right car for a first time-job,as it have by far the most complicated solutions I seen(to push you going to the dealer).

EDIT:You don't need to take off the steering box,just press the rubber boot when holding the nut with the right spanner.

Have a look here also
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...Bfaq%5D-45248/

 

Didn't have time tonight to work on the car but snapped some pictures just to add to the thread.

Driver Side:


Passenger Side:




Front New Bilstiens (rears still in box):


Mina Gallery Springs:

 

Good job, hope you're satisfied with the results

 

I see that their are lines connected to the steering rack. Do I disconnect those before loosen each set of bolts on both sides? (2 on each side). Which lines do I disconnect if needed?

I tried pressing the boot down but it wouldn't clear the bolt, maybe I have to press harder?

Trying again tomorrow thanks

 

you don't need to undo the lines to the rack, just loosen the rack so you've room to remove the bolt.

 

Hi
I just added a new thread on Front Springs R&I:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...92/#post406840

Jim Lombardi

 

You must to have the boot fully expanded(turn the steering fully to the opposite part you are working on) to have the bolt cleared; you have to press a little the boot, no worry, will not damage it.
A lot of useless work is indicated on some threads, I remember someone described changing the anti-roll bar front bushes as a very difficult procedure,un-bolting the bonnet and other stuff, when in fact it was a 10 minutes job under the car, with a longer socket spanner.

 

Thanks Flay turning the steering wheel to the opposite side and pressing the boot down did the job.

 

Okay now I have both sides off the car. Both upper and lower control arms. Now I need to replace the bushings. I have gone around a couple different shops and gotten quotes from 150$ to 300$.

I believe I can get a press for around that much correct me if im wrong? Can someone point me in the right direction? What tool/machine do I need to get this job done?

Or should I go ahead and have a shop do it for me?

I need both bushings on the control arms and both ball joints.

Thanks.

 

If you have a quote for $150 to replace all 8 bushings and 4 ball joints that is the way I would go. You will pay that much for a hydraulic press and then you will still need to buy all the various cups and sleeves to fit the bushings and ball joints.
I did all of them myself with a 12 ton press but I had to cut a notch thru all the bushings sleaves to get them out because they were rusted in place. Maybe yours will come out easier with an Arizona car.

The upper arms were the hardest because they are 1 piece and you can't fit them inside of the press and align them with the piston. Good luck

 

Okay I went ahead and got the 8 bushings and 4 ball joints pressed in for 140$.

Now I have to put everything back together and then work on the rear suspension. I know im going at a turtles pace.

I do have a question though. Where does this part go? SHOCK ABSORBER BUSH

I have two of these, can't figure out where they belong.

 

Hi
MND2153AA is the front Shock Absorber lower bushing.
I created this JPEG file from the JEPC (Jaguar Electronic Parts Catalog). It has a diagram that shows the front spring and shock absorber componet parts. MND2153AA is shown on the diagram as reference number 6.



Jim Lombardi

 

Okay well that part [MND2153AA] I have is useless then because the shocks already have those included.

Anyways I'm in much needed help! How do I go about putting all this back together?

I have everything off the car upper & lower control arm, shock absorber, spring. brake rotor/assembly is disconnect from both balljoints.

 

First, put the upper arm, there are right and left side, the long bolt will be inserted from the front, put some grease on it, for future removal.Do not tight the nut,you have to move it up and down.The 2 halves of the lower arm, must be bolted together with the torx bolt, and also on the frame, each of them with the bolt and nut. The vertical link,with the hub,disc,bearing,etc, must be fixed first in the lower balljoint.Then, the shock is coming between the 2 legs of the upper arm, bolted to lower arm. The spring, is coming from bellow the car,seating on the spring pan that will be bolted on the lower wishbone.You will need probably a a jack to push it up,to compress the spring. Then, the upper arm will be bolted to the vertical link and all the bolts tightened to the indicated torque.
If you didn't marked the position of the lower arms bolts,the handling will be terrible, go to have the alignment done.

 

Okay so from what I gathered from your post I have to install everything first and then goes in the spring pan + lowering spring from the bottom of the lower control arm?


Right now, I had the lower control arm in with the spring pan connected to it; trying to get the spring on first.