Is there anything special about replacing the upper shock rubber washers.

The ones on the car are deteriorating. They don't looking very big, but yet I see places online wanting to sell a $100.00 kit for 5 cents worth of rubber.

I don't need any metal or anything else.

Any ideas?

tia

 

Easiest scenario is to get the full mount from Rock Auto. You can get both for around $80.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/j...ock+mount,7572

 

Why would that be easier than replacing the rubber?

 

Unless you can find foam that fits, the full kit posted earlier is the way to go. I've installed the poly bushing kit you can find on eBay, it's a bit cheaper and not unreasonable to do, but it's noisy and I'm planning on replacing with oem style when I get to it.

 

To echo the above: The marginal cost of replacing just the bushings, with the labor to do it is easily worth just the extra few bucks for a bolt-in replacement. I, like many here, thought the same thing initially, only to go with the kit and be plenty happy.

 

Lots of threads on this subject: bottom line, it is much easier to replace the whole mount with the right foam. Quicker, no need for a press or a big hammer; and in really cold weather the right foam products will not rattle. The rubber repair kits, including cutting down rubber washers to fit, get very hard and rattle when they get cold. Done it both ways: go with the replacement mounts.

 

Looks like just the rubber is the way easier way to got, one nut to remove.

 

lol

 

There's another bushing underneath the mount plate, you will still need to take the entire mount plate off no matter what you do. It's not too bad, you can do it without lifting the car up, you will just need to fight the shock when pushing the plate back down.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...s-pics-103540/

 

It is not as easy as it looks.

You have remove the mount to get to the "rubber" then remove the "rubber" with a proper press or a large hammer (BFH) and the appropriate sized sockets.

Then press, or whack the new bushings back in place.

If you don't have the correct tools, you may damage the mounts or part of the bushing retainers and then you have to replace the entire assembly.

Before the mounts were available aftermarket with new bushings in place, the only place to get them was the dealer for $300 or so per side, so we just bought the bushing kit and took the mount to a proper shop to R&R the bushings or banged away at home with a BFH and took our chances.

The old way:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...cs-how-128562/

Now that the mounts with new bushings are so relatively inexpensive, it is just easier to swap them out.
Vector

 

Well, since I already read many times about the black poly bushings being the source of rattling when cold (and as I definitely have that rattling), I'm considering going back to the OEM orange foam bushes.
As already stated in the posts before, it's quite more favourable to replace the whole mounting plate, since there's almost no monetary benefit to buy the bushes only.
Does this work for my CATS shocks too? The CATS mounting plates are very very expensive and the corresponding orange foam bushes aren't available separately. That's the reason why I got the poly bushings, which were much cheaper than one single CATS mounting plate (even with postage from US to Europe and customs duties).
Does anybody already went through this and can share his experiences?
Thank you very much!

 

The CATS shock shaft is larger in diameter, but you can just replace the upper shock bushing.

See this thread from post #12 on:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ailure-154517/

And this thread:
"the sleeve and the washers that hold the bushings in place for the upper shock mount are a larger diameter than the non-CATS to allow for the thicker shock rod on the CATS shock. The bushings in the replacement kits will fit either sleeve and washers. Just re-use the existing sleeve and washers"
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ension-121883/
Vector

 

Just installed all new shocks and mounts.
It's much easier to buy the mounts with the bushings already installed.

 

I wouldn't say the rubber bushings were that hard, but for very little price difference, there is no question I would do the Uro mounts next time.

 

Hi !
I just posted a method I used on my 1999 XJ8-VDP using a bearing puller in this forum.
You will need a 9mm sized bolt head and a 2-1/2" long bolt with a nut to compress the
bushing holder back together.
A bench vise is a nice tool to hold things steady. But, you can do it without one.

No violent BFH method is required with my method.

Regards and POR - Press On Regardless.

 

I see, got it. The assembly is only 37.99 at Rock.

 

Hence my reply, I'm a stickler for efficiency therefor I'd never recommend something if I didn't find it the best route for myself lol.

Godspeed on a smoother ride sir.