I am back working on the Jag after a break of around 9 months. Rear end all in with new mounts, brakes etc, and fuel tanks pulled out, inspected and re- fitted (in not too bad condition for a 45 year old car.)


Now into the front end and about to purchase a front suspension kit for $330.


Q - should I look at fitting the XJ40 bottom joint instead of the original type?
Any difficulties to this fit?


Also I will be pulling the springs out and am off to the hardware to pick up some 3/4 threaded rod to build a spring compressor. The front springs were replaced some 20 years back and now the ride height varies by 15mm one side to the other (612mm/627mm) Hoping I can fix this with some spacers.

 

Yes on the XJ40 ball joints.

When you remove the originals a circular seat remains behind, pressed into the control arm. This seat is simply knocked out and discarded. What i do is carefully slice thru the seat with a hack saw or Dremel tool and then collapse it with a hammer and chisel.

I prefer the four-threaded-rods method for springs but that's just me.

Cheers
DD

 

Where have you sourced the "front suspension kit"? Is there such a kit for a 1985 SIII?

 

When I fitted the XJ40 Lemforder ball joints in my old Series 3 (owned 1988-2002), I found that the ball seatings in the hub carrier of the old design were very easy to knock out. A tap with a not-too-heavy hammer had them out, then it was a simple matter to bolt in the new Lemforder joints that last so well, and need no maintenance.

Don't even think of fitting the old 1955 ball-joint design ! Things really do move on for the better...(sometimes !!)

 

Suspension kits are available from JagDaim in Melbourne Australia, also from UK dealers where they start around 70 UK pounds.


I will have to ring the supplier to see whether he will include the later type ball joint. Do you still have to shim it?

 

The XJ40 ball joint is a bolt on and forget it item, no more shimming one poster suggested prying back the boot to inject a little bit more grease in but I never bothered when I replaced mine.

Here are photos of my home made spring compressor;