Post a pic of the install when you get a chance.

 

Removed the entire front suspension and subframe to replace all the bushings / joined the Jaguarforums looking for moral support

 

Welcome to the forum. did you find the round bushings were bad? Were the front ones split?

 

As requested.

 

I tore it apart to replace the front two V block mounts which had separated, but now that i have the subframe out i found the two rears bushings are torn and need replaced too. I suspect the failure of the front two mounts was what killed the rear too as they had to do a lot more work.

 

Edited: Nice combo!

 

Changed the SC oil. Thanks to the prior instruction on the forum I was able to get everything I needed ahead of time and the process went smooth. Only 60k on the car and the fluid was already nice and dark.



Removing old fluid





All of the old fluid out





In goes the new!

 

Finally got my step-brother lined up to tackle the Vee mounts in my car tomorrow, so today I washed it, hosed out the underside a little, and impressed a kid riding in his dad's 2nd gen Camaro.

Short story to that, due to the temps here, I haven't hooked up my hose, so I go to the car wash, rinse the car and fill a bucket I bring, using my own soap, and then hand wash the car. Then I put more money in, and rinse it off, then microfiber it dry. So this guy and his teenage son hesitate, and then pull up behind me as I'm almost done hand-washing, and I'm thinking "that's cool, maybe the guy's going to teach his kid about proper washing techniques and such." Nope. He sat there, got impatient after about 20 seconds, revved his engine a few times, backed up and went over to the next bay. By then, I was rinsing mine off, and then pulled out and up to to the side of the lot to dry the car. Finished the same time they were getting ready to pull out themselves, so I drive up the road. Mile up the road is a red light, that I was slowed down for in line, when they came up behind me, passing me on the left to go make a turn. Dripping wet, so obviously no care for water spots on otherwise a pretty decent looking car. And the kid? Hanging out the passenger window looking at the Jag as they went by. I laughed.

So tomorrow afternoon is the vee mounts, upper shock bushings in the front, and front sway bar bushings. That should take care of my rattles. Then going to take out the Nav and CD Changer, and list them on e-bay. And still debating on which new radio, though that might be just a regular single din in the meantime, and then I'll upgrade after I get back from vacation. Gonna be a fun Sunday.

 

Eric,
I can appreciate and acknowledge we all have our varying opinions on what looks nice but I have to question why you felt the need to voice your negative one? The install was a 45th birthday present from my husband and daughter and it makes me happy. Why bring a negative vibe to my giddiness? Some people are purists and want to keep everything original. Some of us aren't. We all are free to do what we want with our own jags. You don't see me contradicting the purists and being rude.

 

I apologize if you feel it that way, it was not intended.

E.

 

I saw the edit....thank you Eric

 

I'm pondering having the bezel on my double din install covered in veneer once my new burl shifter knob arrives. I've found the perfect weeping willow to suit the rest.

Looks clean Jen, also Happy B-Day !

 

Well, what did I do? I noticed my Jag had a weird noise which I related to tire wear. You know, that "wopwopwopwopwopwopwop" noise a tire makes, when the profile has worn irregular (aka sawtooth). Thought I'd changed the front tires to the rear in order to see if the noise moved with it...

Didn't need to do any more than jack it up at the front. The driver's side (left): tyre looks fine. No bad marks. The passenger side (right): tyre looks fine to. But then I stood up and the wheel went "clonk". Compared to the driver's side: no clonk. So the wheel bearing is "a little bit" bad... See the video!


So, tool and parts buying time! Yay!

 

Isn't the used SC oil up their on "world's most foul smells" list?

 

Oil change completed, on my way in a few to tackle the bushings. Beautiful day to drive, but I'd rather be rattle-free first! Will report back tonight with progress.

 

I actually didn't find it offensive at all, and it had a faint smell to it, nothing strong. It was nothing like old differential fluid. That stuff is horrible.

 

So true, i remember opening the diff from a 71 BMW 2002 i was restoring, that was THE worst smell i have ever experienced.

 

Replaced thermostat housing somewhat in a rush, it was leaking when under pressure... Thanks to suggestions on this forum I already had aluminum housing waiting to be installed.
It turned out to be quite a PITA... had to bend two 8mm wrenches to unscrew bolts in the back.
Broke one of the plastic connectors - the one between small line from expansion tank and piece of rubber hose that goes to the top of the housing. Thankfully I was able to insert line with the broken piece inside into the hose and tighten the clump on it. Hope it holds while I find the replacement.

To get coolant out (through the housing after removing the cap) I inserted the hose from one of those small siphons for gas , good 2 feet went in and I was able to get out enough coolant to do the job.

The whole thing took me good three hours...

 

Finally dropped rear suspension subframe on XJR

 

[QUOTE=Count Iblis;1422266]Finally dropped rear suspension subframe on XJR

Eagerly awaiting whatever cool thing you're about to do..... I don't know what it is you're about to do, but I know it's going to be really cool and referenced years later by Jag enthusiasts.

Hey Count, have you heard of that company that is offering aluminum-ceramic brake rotors that cut 60 % + off the weight of of carbon steel rotors? Looking at the rotors on your rear end made me think about the effect on a XJR if you were to remove that much unsprung weight.

For auto applications, I think they were quoting 45 lbs total? On motorcycle they were dropping rotor weight by 3-4 lbs.

I first saw the story in Gizmag and then found and have been researching, the motorcycle division they spun off the parent company, as an alternative to carbor fiber wheels (which still cost exactly the same price since the last time i looked at Dymags for my old Kawaskai Eliminator build. (Can't do $2,500 for 1 wheel).

The price for the hybrids ($300 or so per rotor?) wasn't close to the horror of full ceramics but the weight loss was. Seems like bikers have 3 + years of street and track use and haven't seen any signs of wear yet.

Ceramic bearings seem to also be removing enough drag that they are seeing small improvements on a rear wheel dyno and that doesn't show the drag loss from the front wheel. The ceramic hybrid bearings weren't horribly priced and both seem to offer improved wear resistance compared to steel.

Have you had any experiences with ceramic and aluminum composites? Sorry to get off topic, I saw your rear end and thought of how easy it would be to change out everything with it pulled.

Have a terrific day,