When I rock the steering wheel back and forth the entire unit (within the red circle) moves almost 1/2". I'll assume there should be some sort of bushing in that bracket but I can't find it in the parts manual. Can anyone help? It looks fairly easy to replace.


Thanks, Bill

 

OH yes you need new bushings!
There are 3 to be changed, and you do NOT want PolyU bushings, and you really should remove the rack.

Take a look at this for bushing change procedure:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...0/#post1226209
(';')

 

OMG! And at first glance it looked so simple to replace that bushing right in the car! After reading your thread, I think I'll postpone the job as long as I can. Where can these bushings be ordered so I can have them handy?

 

Admittedly, the hardest part was getting the first one out. All the others came out easily, but there was no "looseness" such as you have. Yours might simply fall right out.

As to where the new bushings came from, I don't know as husband is in charge of Parts Procurement, and he wasn't always diligent about getting the original receipts to me before the Desk Monster ate them.

Google knows where ALL Jaguar parts are though, so merely put in a search for the year of your car, Jaguar Xj6 series whatever and see what comes back. Some of our best successes have been from eBay sellers and Amazon.
(';')

 

The bushes are designed so the rack can move laterally and give that wonderful Jaguar refinement. As well as the bushes there are two snubbers that look like large washers with a layer of rubber on one side. These fit either side of one of the bushes to restrict the movement and prevent metal-metal contact.

Of course if you want to drive round race tracks you need the non-movement, bushes as supplied by Polybush. These make the steering more precise but give a rather harsh feel to the steering.

 

Having used the Red poly bushings, I would not use them again. I like the black ones from Jaguar Specialties... looks like your top bushing will come out easily.

 

I purchased the bushing kit from John's Cars a long time ago, best improvement I ever made to the car, it eliminated the vagueness and lateral play of the rack, steering became positive.

 

Yes! Rather like Herding a cat!
After it's fixed you'll wonder why you waited so long!
(';')

 

I too purchased the bushings from John's, they failed.... just like his motor mounts.

I did like his tool for removing/inserting the bushings and finally donated it to the Jaguar Tool Loan facility.

 

mine are still intact Roger, what do you mean they failed? Polyurethane does not fail.

 

I can't speak for Roger but I've had poly bushings go all soft and gooey. Polyurethane comes in different quality/durability formulations, it seems.

Cheers
Doug

 

yes I was talking with a friend-restorer of hot rods about that and he stated the black poly bushings are as soft as oem rubber and deteriorate as rubber, he told me to stick with reds.

 

Upon further investigation I now see that there is two sets of bushings on the driver's side. And one on the passenger side?? Left hand drive car. I have circled them in RED. The upper right hand parts list circled in BLUE. Is that all the stock bushings and washers, etc.?

 

Yachtmanbuttson

Yes, you are correct about the quantity... the one in the middle is the one that controls rack movement the "most".

Jose

Mine went all soft and gooey.. have not had that problem with the black ones from Jaguar Specialties and I just had all kinds of PS fluid leaks...

 

After going to LnrB's threads and pictures on her replacement of the bushings, she scared the B'Jesus out of me regarding how big a job it is! I was hoping to accomplish the job with everything in place on the car, but how naive I was!

 

yes there are 4 bushings, 4 thin washers/spacers, 2 long bolts, and the bracket/shield on one side is to prevent heat and fluid from deteriorating the rubber.

Roger, I installed John's Cars kit in the mid 1990's and they are still ticking. I also replaced the front shocks' upper bushings with red polys last year.

I understand some people don't like polyurethane, being stiffer than rubber, but I had not heard of polyurethane bushings deteriorating into mush or goo.

 

if you have a hydraulic jack, place it under the rack for support, after you have raised and supported the front enough for clearance;

remove the two long bolts and then lower the rack, you might have to smack it with rubber mallet from the top to release it from the front member brackets or "ears".

then the fun begins, inserting the bushings and washers and aligning the bolt with the rack holes, all that while pushing and holding the rack up,

If you have three or four hands, it's easier. using the hydraulic jack helps.

make sure you have properly supported the weight of the car, these cars weigh around 3,800 lbs., most of it in the front. Keep your cell phone near.

 

Do I have to disconnect any hydraulic lines?

 

no, you lower the rack just enough to clear the "ears" / brackets. You might have to punch or pry out the old rubber bushes, (do not score or scratch the inner bracket surfaces, use a tool from the opposite side).

 

I like the poly bushings, but there are good ones and not so good ones... my black Poly bushings are still in great shape... about 8 years now... the other Red poly bushings from John's lasted about 18 months or less... his rubber portion of the motor mounts lasted about the same time... fortunately replacements are available at Napa that has lasted for years now ('72 XJ LT1/700R)