I've been trying to firm-up the handling on my 1985 XJ6 since I first put it on the road, 4yrs ago. I started with KYB Gas-Adjust all the way around and quickly learned to dislike the control and dampening. The rear floated up and down on dips and felt very mushy. This might be the famous ride people attribute to this car, but it's not what makes me comfortable. After reading posts on this Forum and doing some interweb research, I decided to spring for a complete set of Bilstein B6 shocks. I don't feel any difference, the rear still floats as much as the KYB's (the front seems adequate with either shock).

My next move will be to replace front/rear springs with road springs from Simply Performance in the UK (next week or two). They claim 15-20% stiffer than stock and will lower the ride height 1-1.5". In the front I will re-install the (2) packers and return the pan to stock position. In the rear I will use the current B6's with the stiffer springs and see how that works. If I still can't get some decent dampening (mostly in the rear), I'm weighing my options. At the top of the list is a set of GAZ adjustable dampening/spring perch units, they seem to have generally accepted reviews and they're adjustable. I've read several threads/posts in the Forum and 95% of you have said the B6's are stiff to very stiff......I don't get it??!! I took a little video of me bouncing the rear with my knee, makes me a little sea-sick just watching, but the Forum doesn't like the video file type (MP4).

Anyway....what do you think??

Dave

 

I do think new springs are a good idea, if it is really easy to bounce the rear as you describe, the springs sound as if they are losing their strength, even if they manage to hold the car seemingly at the right height at rest. Shocks will not compensate for this.

If the new springs are not sufficient, Gaz adjustables for sure. Dead easy to get the damping you want. Just be sure to mount them adjuster INWARDS so you can get to it once they are on the car! I recommend starting at about 12 clicks up from softest, which may well be too hard, but a few clicks either way willl do it.

 

Thanks for the tips Greg, I appreciate that. In my mind I have two issues: mushy movement and failure to dampen that movement. We'll see how far I have to go to get the correct balance, probably all the way to the GAZ shocks.

Dave

 

Could be, Dave; if the Bilsteins are still OK you might be fine with no new shockers. However, from what you write, I would guess the Bilsteins have given up because the poor springing has half-ruined them. If the springs are too far gone, the shocks get finished off because they are trying to do their own and the springs' job.