1981 XJ6 Series 111 - back tires rubbing on panel
 

Team Jag,

Just got back from 1,200 km trip in my old 1981 Jag XJ6, to the Gulf Islands in British Columbia. It ran great, til 5 miles from home, it started making an intermittent groaning sound. I'm pretty sure, not the engine, not the brakes, not the transmission.

After I parked, I could see the back of the car was almost lowered onto the back wheels.

I literally can not get my hand on top of the back tire, because there is no gap there. There is almost no clearance. It THINK the groaning sound is the tires rubbing on the body panel above it?

Any diagnostic ideas? Cheap? Expensive?

Guy

Jack the car up remove the wheel & look for rub marks on the inside of the panel & on the tire. That's the 1st thing i'd do.

Mine was doing similar at bottom of hills or cornering at any half decent speed, new shocks sorted it. look at the pic of the two series 1's, mine sitting slightly lower. maybe only 1/2" to 1 " but it made the difference from rubbing tyres.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...6881435a9f.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...b026d53e69.jpg

A wheel bearing may of colapsed

I would look at the four coilovers and their mounts


And, the rubber that isolates the chassis from the IRS cage.


And, the forward facing control arms and their mounts.


Oh, how much "detritus" is in the boot. A loaded boot and a full
fuel load just might do that.


And one or more of the foregoing together.


Carl

It doesnt really look too different to mine, i cannot fit hand between tire and fender, but theres plenty of room above the tire, can you bounce the car at all??
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...3208c20e0b.jpg

thank you, great advice, appreciate.

Thanks to all for the help. This gives me a good starting point for further diagnostic work.

Thank you! The car does bounce up and down okay when I press on it.