Good afternoon,

Wondering if someone here can help me. I am the proud owner of a 1991 Jaguar XJ6 sedan. *this is a non-sunroof XJ6, hence no hydraulic rear end.

I just replaced the original shocks in the front and rear (51k original miles). My beautiful Jaguar ride that I have enjoyed for 16 years is now not so beautiful.

First off, the car sits about 1.5"'s (noticeably) too high in the front making the front wheels/tired bow inward like too much positive camber. My trusted technician is stumped and we can't figure out why. We pulled the shocks out and the car sits just right on its springs but, reinstalling the shocks produces the same 1.5" too high raise to the front end!

Additionally, the car seems to be 'bouncy' - much like how bad sphere's in the rear feel like on British cars when they go bad. But, as I mentioned, my car does NOT have the hydraulic rear end so, my technician and I are stumped as to why this is occurring as well.

Please, any advice or solutions you could provide me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you SO much in advance! Car is on the rack right now, 12:30 pm Friday 3/25.

 

What kind of "shocks" are they ? Different brands have completely different characteristics. The answer isn't "Jaguar shocks" its something like KYB, Boge, Bilstein. I have seen multiple debates about shocks on this board. I was "frightened" of Bilstein shocks because of things I'd read, but then when we got totally stuck and could only find Bilsteins, I fitted them....... and they were great on the back...... but not on the front.

Is your technician a Jag guy ?

I would quickly put the old ones back on and see if at least the ride height returns to normal.

 

It sounds like you have a XJ-40, aka Series 4 XJ-6, unless it is a 12 cylinder Series 3 body style.

 

If it is a XJ-40 this is the wrong forum section for your car.

 

Thanks for the feedback gents.
Yes, my technician is a Jag guy of 40 years.
Yes, its an XJ40 4.0L 6cyl
Sorry, guess I'm in wrong section (new to the Forum).
We've ordered 2 new sets of different front shocks. Going to try each one to see what happens.

 

The issue of Ride: in the Series 3 XJ-6, -mid 1979 to 1987- the factory shocks were made by Girling UK, the equivalent of a Monroe USA shock more or less. Performance shocks like Bilstein, Koni, and even KYB will give a hard if not harsh ride in the XJ. I would try the Monroe Sensa Track shocks. Cheap but decent for that factory ride. And cheap enough so you can replace them when they wear out. I am not sure but the XJ-40 factory shocks were made by BOGE UK, another equivalent to Monroe, in which case the Monroe is better.

 

Sounds not like a "bouciness" issue, but one of shock travel.


Front end too high? Shocks too long in ride position. If so, does the
olden shock test allow the car to go down on application of pressure to the bonnet".


Too long, seems the answer to me...


Mix and match has gone astray....


Carl

 

Im with Carl here, sounds like shocks are too long, do they compress to same length as originals?