Just about to receive my new poly rack bushings from Moss. The S3 service manual says the rack needs to be centered and lowered to change the bushings. Having no access to the car right now, I cannot peek underneath to figure out how to do this. Can each bush not be removed one at a time to avoid all that work?

 

How would you know for Sure you're working on a Classic Jag if you didn't have a few needlessly complex operations to perform??
(';')

 

No. There is a bracket that the rack goes into, it's impossible to access the bushings without lowering the rack. I never bothered with the centering, but do get a wheel alignment afterwards. You'll also need the special tool to press out the old bushings if they are the steel and rubber originals.

 

Iramphal,
by "centering" it means to start with the front wheels in the straight-ahead position.

Then raise the front of the car.

then release the pinch bolt at the rack tower.

then undo the cross bolts at each of two "ear" brackets. watch carefully for thin spacing washers falling.

hold the rack with one hand or it can hit you hard on the head.

the old bushings can then be pushed out hitting them with a socket. I don't recall a special tool or steel bushings, they were just rubber turned into chewing gum.

 

Here's the tool that was referenced. I bought one years ago when it was about half the price it is today. For $60 I'd find some sockets and a piece of threaded rod.

 

I've done this job on an XJ6 and an XJS and needed that tool or a homemade version to press out the bushings each time. So best to be prepared. Here's a good write up on the job: https://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/...ckbushings.htm If your current bushings are shot, it is a significant improvement you will notice after finishing.

 

As we didn't know about any "Special Tools" and wouldn't really have seen our way clear to spend $60 on something that would be used Once, we did it this way.
(';')