Hwllo ALL.

It's been a few years (but not many miles) since the front end was checked out. I have an independant shop that can do it and is very familiar with the model. So, I've read (maybe here ?) that a front end alignment on an XJS is not necessarily a 10 minute job. Currently, it feels right. Just want to have it checked out. Anyway, is there anything special you guys can educate me about getting a routine alignment ? Thanks for any comments.

Rick

camber , castor and toe ,

camber and castor wont need to be checked if not been touched for mechanical reasons ( component replacement etc )

toe can be checked periodically as road use can effect the settings,

i would also get the toe carried out each time you get new tyres on the front for performance and to prolong the life of the new tyres,

other than that, no need to mess

BB

There's nothing to check on the rear, since none of it is adjustable.(You'd need special shims to adjust rear camber)

Only the front two wheels are adjustable. On top of that, a shop will really only adjust toe.

a. In order to adjust camber, you need to play with the shims behind the upper control arm.
b. In order to adjust caster, you need to play with the shims on either side of the upper ball joint.

No regular shop is going to go through all the trouble to play with the shims.

Well, I just had new tires installed less than 300 miles ago. The tire shop recommended a front end alignment for the reasons mentioned above. But I wanted to have it done at a shop that is familiar with the car. Thanks guys. Just the simple information I was looking for.

Rick

Jaguar camber, as B said above, never changes unless you bend the subframe in a shunt. Toe in/out is worth checking BUT the garage must proceed as follows:

1. centre the steering rack (there is a small grub screw or sometimes a rubber bung that allows access to an indent in the rack with a thin 2mm probe). When the rack is centred the probe just goes into the indent, you can feel it go into it as the rack is slowly moved side to side.
2. Then each wheel's toe setting is adjusted independently using the track rod/steering ball joint threaded connection to set each side separately. Set the toe to a cumulative 1/2 degree toe in (i.e. each wheel 1/4 degree toe in).

Do NOT let the garage try to adjust the castor, as this is also does in a unique way on the XJS. It can only be adjusted by moving shims each side of the top wishbone upper ball joint. Again, unless your car has a failed upper ball joint or been in a shunt, this will not need adjusting.

Technically speaking, proper alignment requires use of Jaguar-specific tools to fix the suspension at xxx-ride height before adjustments are been made. The absolute necessity of this procedure has long been debated. Personally, I don't think it is needed. Some alignment shops won't touch a Jag because they don't have the tools (arguably understandable) and/or they simply don't want to be bothered with a car that is unusual in any way. They've become convinced that this task on an old Jag is somehow exotic and mystifying. This gets passed down to customers who then tell their neighbors and brothers-in-law.Next thing you know everyone thinks that's there must be some sort of magic involved. There isn't.

Ride height tools aside, the actual process of making the adjustments on the XJS, when needed, is simple. It's just a matter of swapping shims around and, for the toe setting, adjust tie rods as you would for any other car. That's it.

A lot of high volume, franchise-type tire/brake/alignment shops grind out wheel alignments all day long at $69.95 per car or whatever. In most cases they do a decent job but the business model doesn't encourage anything unusual. They'll do what it takes to come "within specification" and then move on to the next car. If you want a more optimal end result, no matter what brand of car, you'll need to spend more and find a shop that is willing to take the time.

To a point the front suspension can be realigned to compensate for some normal wear of parts or age related sag and, IMO, there's no harm in doing so.


By all means.

I would suggest a specialty shop, however. I do most of my own work but, when turning to an outside shop, I've had best luck with shops that cater to the performance car/hot rod/old car crowd. I've found them more willing (sometimes even excited) to work on something a little bit odd....even if the supposed "oddness" has been overblown.

Cheers
DD

Gentlemen: Thank you all very much for the additional - and very useful - information. Much appreciated. I've learned so much from this great Forum. Thanks again.

Rick