OK so got under and had a look,seems simple enough,the fitting for feed line is leaking although its tight.The cause appears to be a loose caliper bolt causing it to move around(hope its just loose and not broken).I'm wondering if the tie plate can come off with the weight of the car on the wheels.I have her up on ramps because I feel more secure and I get more room than with axle stands.
Les

 

I dunno if the tie plate should be removed with weight on the wheels. My gut feeling is "no" but others will chime in.

Cheers
DD

 

Surely there are still the two long bolts for the inner suspension arm roller bearings which also tie the two sides of the subframe, although I realise the tie plate clamps up the bearing housings as well.

What does the Jaguar workshop manual say ?

 

The central tie plate CAN be removed with the car on the wheels/ramps whatever.

NOTHING will jump out and smack you in the face, done it toooooo many times, for diff oil replenishment, it is just a LITTLE easier to get to the fill plug with the plate off.

The caliper bolts have been known to "loosen up" over time even though they are wired.

I would NOT go for a blast around the block with that plate off, I reckon those inner pivots would get a bit testy.

Never read the manual for this bit, it is only bolts and nuts and to give that plate a good bashing back into shape, and clean it up does wonders for the under car appearance.

 

Thanks guys,I thought it would be OK if I didn't move.I need room to get to the top bolt,it doesn't want to get started...grrrrrr.
The manual does say jack it up and put it on stands but I feel much happier when its on the ramps.
Les

 

OK guys here's where I am now. Mounting bolts are all tightened and WIRED, seems the guy who R&Red my rear brakes 2 yrs ago thought the wire unnecessary...........aaargh. They are wired now. I'm replacing the short brake line from 3 way fitting to caliper with a new piece but the local places don't have the right size so a local mechanic is doing up a piece for me with the correct flare and will use the original fittings.I will pick that up on Monday and then just need to bleed the system.
Moral of this story ......... if a mechanic says he's been doing brakes for 30 yrs.... give him the manual and tell him to read the %$^#% thing!!!!

 

Its been my experience that they don't read the manual anyways...

I photocopied instructional pages on how to adjust glass panels and no one bothered to use it. After the third try they paid me to take it elsewhere. Never bothered to use the manual...not once. Ended up costing them money in the end...

 

Typical, they do it this way because "that's the way we always do it!" Further proof that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon interbred.

 

Just to finish the story,all back together,leak free and working as they should.
Thanks for input
Les