Greetings everyone,
Please excuse my XJS 5.3L V12 ignorance here . . . but can someone tell me what the circled part is in this photo (the rusty drum looking part). Part of the rear differential? Is the black U Joint connected to it part of the inner drive shaft?
Many thanks,
Charles

 

Looks like it's just part of disc brake. The dust covers around the union (the u shaped thing attahced to the brake disc) is missing in the picture

 

Thank you.
My initial reaction on seeing this photo before posting was that it was part of the disc brake, but it just didn't look like a standard one from all of the diagrams of brake parts I have been looking at for a facelift XJS.
Charles

 

Facelift XJS has outboard disc brakes. Pre facelift brakes are at the diff,

 

From model year 1993 (after VIN 188105) the brakes moved outboard, i.e. at the wheels, this is the earlier style where the brakes are inboard next to the differential.

 

Yup its the brake disk. The silver thing is the caliper. Its a fun time doing the brakes.