I'm in the process of removing and rebuilding the rear brakes on my inboard xjs brakes and while I'm doing all the hard work to remove the rear cage, I will have new seals installed in the differential, they are starting to leak. After reading about replacing new seals in the differential and having to use some special tool (that I don't have) I decided to remove the diff. and take it into a jag. shop to have them replace the seals.
I checked around and this one foreign car shop came highly recommended. I went to talk to the mechanics about what I would need to give them for the install and to get a ballpark price for the repair.
I was told they would gladly do the seal install, but they didn't have the special tool and I would have to buy the special tool for them to use it to install the seals. I would get the tool back with the differential when completed. I asked the shop owner, if he would split the cost of the tool with me and they could keep the tool when done and use it again. They said no, cause they don't work on xjs much and cause I'm bring the differential in for service and I'm not letting them remove the diff. themselves (at a very large removal cost to me)
Does this sound right to you?. Why should I would have to pay for the tool that they are using to install my seals, when they are a foreign car repair shop. If that's the case, I could just buy the tools myself and attempt to install the seals myself. Also, the tool/tools, they need 2 different tools cost more then the labor to install them.
Does this sound normal when dealing with jaguar repair shops or am I just being unreasonable.
I almost feel like trying the install myself after hearing this, but to be honest, I do want it to be done correctly the first time, cause I have no intentions of removing the diffenetial a second time.
Any thoughts on this issue.

 

I don't think this is unreasonable.

If they buy this tool, that they don't believe they'll ever use again, they would in fact be servicing your car at a loss.

I don't know what the specifics are regarding cost, but if I was charging you $1,000 for this service plus I had to buy a specialty tool for $600, I would be losing money on the deal. Assuming a shop make a VERY generous assumption of 25% profit, remember they have salaries and rent to pay, They would be doing your job for $250. Subtract the cost of the tool and there you have it...

I'd be curious to see if anyone would take the other position.

 

Which tool exactly? Just wondering.

Anyhow....

I agree. If the shop has virtually no probability of using the tool again then there's no return on their investment....unless they try to pay for all in one fell swoop: by padding the charges on YOUR differential :-)

Of course if it's just a $20 tool, well.....that might be different.

Cheers
DD

 

I have resealed Jaguar diffs from MARK VII to 2003 XJs and I don't remember needing special tools that I could not find in a well stocked toolbox or find a 'work-around' idea.

What special tool is needed to replace pinion and output shaft stub axle seals?????

I have used large deep sockets or a lenghth of pipe to drive the pinion seal, but that is normal for almost any diff.

bob gauff

 

Thanks for the posts. I will be removing the rear cage this weekend and will get a better idea of what is involved with installing the seals. I did read the jaguar manual and they do recommend using a special seal install tool that jaguar sells, but I've found with other cars, all the manuals seem to recommend special tools to use with their model cars, but usually a good hammer and block of wood gets the job done just as well. The only difference with this job, is,if the seals do leak, it is really a major job to get the rear cage out again. I only want to do this once!!!
For those who were interested, the shop was going to charge me $150 for the tool and $130 for the labor and then the price of the seals. They estimated the job at around $450-$500.
I may still have to have it done at a shop, but I'm leaning towards doing it myself.
Thanks

 

You wouldn't walk into a restaurant and ask them to split the cost of a waffle maker so that you could have the special waffles that they might not ever make for anyone else, would you?

I don't recall needing any special tools to do what you describe.

 

Why do you need to remove the 'rear cage'??????????
I have replaced dozens of diff seals and have NEVER had to drop the diff to reseal the pinion shaft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The bearings are another issue. That would require the assembly removal.

bob gauff

 

I'm rebuilding or placing the complete rear end area. Brakes, calipers,rotors, etc, new diff. seals, brake and fuel lines, shocks and whatever else I find that needs replacing. Plus, I'm going to degrease and repaint the cage, axles, etc. I've read up on it and most articles suggest just to remove the whole cage. I figure on doing this area once and not worrying about it for years (hopefully).

 

I would say if they don't have the tools to do this particular job then how much experience do they have with this particular part to do it "right". If your not doing it yourself find another shop that has done this before.

 

Well if they don't have waffles on the menu and you demanded waffles, they should. No one is forcing the restaurant to serve something not on a menu.

As for the tool, I am kinda surprised that it's only a $150 tool. For that money, if I was the shop I'd have put the money in hopes of retaining you as a return customer.

I'd look elsewhere. Eventually you're going to run into some problem you can't do yourself. You may as well find some shop that's properly capable of servicing your car.

I'd hate to think you start a project and get stuck halfway...

 

There's some question as to a special tool *actually* being needed to begin with.

But for the moment let's put aside tools and capabilities.

Ideally every town would have a Jaguar specialist with all the special tools and Jaguar-specific expertise. However, we're not likely to ever see that and, quite the opposite, I think we'll be finding it *increasingly* difficult to find a shop even *willing* to work on Jags, especially older ones....ESPECIALLY V12 XJSs with inboard brakes :-). I hear this quite often. In fact I do some Jag repair for a few people because they simply can't find anyone else who will go near the car.

Others have found good non-Jaguar mechanics who are willing to work on their cars because they (the Jag owners) provide the repair manuals and support (that is, research) to help the job along. If both sides walk away happy, all's well, eh?

Cheers
DD

 

That's a point worth considering...but tool availability and the skill of the mechanic are not necessarily tied together.

Some might say that any monkey could install the seal if they have the special tool but it takes real talent and experience to do the job without it :-).

Cheers
DD

 

I would, too, if I was trying to cultivate Jaguar business. I sense that the shop in question isn't in that category :-).

Besides, our original poster obviously favors DIY work and the shop obviously knows this. The shop probably isn't seeing much "return customer" potential in this case.....or at least not enough to justify the purchase investment of the tool in question.





A good Jag specialist is a true asset, no doubt about it.

Cheers
DD

 

Doug,
You are correct, I am a DIYer and that is one of the reasons I purchased a Jag, was to learn the mechanics of them, plus they are just beautiful cars and mainly to enjoy the drive. I also know there are repairs to Jaguars that may require the service of a reliable shop with the proper tools, but if this shop doesn't have a seal install tool for a xjs, I may have to keep looking around for a different shop. Anyways, I removed the cage today and will be removing the shocks, brakes etc. within the next couple of days and once I get to the diff. and check the seal install, I will see if it appears to be to complicated for me and if not, I will do it myself.

 

sorry if you have already decided one what you are doing I didn't read every post just wanted to throw in my .02

90% of "special" tools I have ever seen are not necessary and really just make something EASIER. only time I can remember one being necessary was a scooter me and my dad worked on, had to fab a little tool up for it.

figuring out how to do things is half the fun of working on cars imo. Everything is a puzzle that many times has more than one solution and its up to you how you will solve it