I was looking at purchasing the front end kit from SNG Barratt. It includes:

Upper and lower wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar bushes and upper and lower ball joints. I'm going to add tie rod ends as well. Let me know if I should add anything.

First off, do you guys like the quality they offer? Also, how many hours do you think a reputable (but not Jag specialist) shop would take to install a kit? Just trying to get a frame of reference.

Thanks!

 

Fit some polyurethane bushes to the steering rack, better than the standard rubber ones.

 

You do realize, don't you, that you'll have to drop the whole cross member and remove the springs to get the lower wishbone bushings? Meanwhile suspending the engine on a sky hook? (You can ask me how I know this.)

You might want to consider rack bushings while you're at it.

If your mechanic is good, as well as fast (allowing for dropping the cross member), if he sticks with it and has nothing else going, barring any unforeseen problems (like wrong parts, lack of correct tools, etc.), I would say 2 weeks is reasonable.

Clarke (o1xjr) would have it finished in a week (with the help of a couple friends), but I don't know if anyone is as driven as he is.

Welcome to our playroom from ElinorB.
(';')

 

Sounds like it might be worth holding off on those lower wishbone bushings!!! Don't think my mechanic is looking to earmark 80 hours. The bushings appear fine and make no noise, but they came with that kit, but based on that assessment, I'll just do:

Ball joints upper/lower, upper bushings, sway bar bushings, and tie rods. The boots are torn and the swaybar bushings split.

Again, this is very helpful!!! Thanks!!

 

Tie rod ends alone can make a Huge difference in handling. The rest of your plan will also give you great improvement. Just be aware that *Eventually* you will be forced to address lower wishbones.

I wish your car a speedy recovery.
(';')

 

I've replaced several sets of lower control arm bushings on Series III cars and, though not a pleasant task, never had to drop the subframe.

The springs need to come out, of course, and steering rack needs to be lowered out of the way so the great big shaft/bolt can be driven thru, though. And, sometimes, it is seized....which adds a new dimension to the job. But nothing that a Sawz-All can't take care of

Ball joints and upper bushings are easy. if you've done similar work on any other car you can do it on a Jag, no problem.

Cheers
DD

 

SNG has a good reputation so I doubt that they sell junk....but it couldn't to ask.

Quentin-Hazel, Moog, and Lemforder are known good names for suspension stuff.

Since the lower bushings are labor intensive it would pay to seek out premium grade. I've seen 'em for as little as $5.00 each....which really makes you wonder what you are getting.

Of course, with all the label-engineering and global manufacturing we have these days even going with a known brand name isn't an absolute guarantee any more

Cheers
DD

 

Mine took about 12 hours to do the complete job, every bush and mount was replaced. The wishbone pivot shafts were rusted in the cross member after 40+ years,doubling the time the job took. And the mechanic had to make a spring compressor for the job.

Not all parts fitted are in the picture, some bushes were sourced by the shop as the job progressed.

I was quoted 5 hours by a friend,but ended up paying for 7 hour labour.
Would have done it myself usually, but with the offer of 5 hours labour I had to take it. He had done a few of similar vintage over the years so knew what the job involved.

 

Well, alright then! I stand corrected (well, sit corrected, actually).
I was being quite generous with time estimates, remembering how long it took to do mine.
(';')

 

Part of the kit for a Jaguar shop in the old days when the old-type XJs were commonplace was a thing called an "engine support bar". This was a bridge that took the engine weight using the engine lift lugs. It was located on the car in the channels each side of the engine compartment. I made my own up using some Dexion (remember that stuff, anyone ?). Once the engine was hanging on that bar, you could remove the front subframe complete with the suspension attached for a rebuild.

 

Like this one?

Husband found this at Harbor Freight. But he had to ask at the desk as they weren't on display.
(';')

 

Yes, same sort of thing. So these engine support bar things are still around. My DIY bar did the job at the time, and of course was dumped when I finished the rebuild job.

 

Just got the car back! Did the lower bushings as well. The only thing I added was the steering rack bushings in poly.

In total, I was billed for 10 shop hours for everything. I thought that was pretty reasonable, especially from a non-Jag mechanic. Didn't drop the cross member, although he did take the cat off when removing the driver's side pivot shaft.

Front end feels tight and fresh!!! That plus the new tires really transforms the car.

He kept the parts for me. Surprising after 30 years, the lower bushings were still in good shape, uppers were OK, sway bar bushings cracked, ball joints sound, but boots completely disintegrated. Steering rack bushings were basically missing!!

 

That's Great!! I would have liked to have got mine done in 10 hours!
How did he change the lower wishbone bushings without dropping the whole cross member? I didn't know that was even possible!
(';')