Hi everyone. I am the proud new owner of an XJS in St. Andrews, Scotland. I am living over here for a few months, and may bring the car back to the States with me. (My permanent home is in Upstate NY).

I was hoping you could help me diagnose the source of a strange banging/clicking that happens when the car is on a pitched road (i.e. the front is lower or higher than the back) and the road surface is rough. I have taken a video which I hope allows you to hear the sound. The best example comes at about 30 seconds into the video:
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I have read other posts that diagnosed a bad upper shock bushing, but the funny thing is that this banging does not usually happen on a perfectly level road, even when going over rough pavement. Moreover, the banging really sounds like it is closer to the dash than the shock tower over the wheel. However, you can definitely hear the banging from the outside. It's pretty loud. It almost sounds like something is loose behind there and swinging and hitting metal.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Does it sound like something jingling a bit like loose change ?


I had a similar problem on mine and it was the washer rubber things on top of the front suspension struts.

 

I would be paying some serious attention to teh 2 strut bars under the bonnet.

They run from the inner guard to the bulkhead, and if they are loose (even 1/2 turn) that is the noise you will hear.

Failing that, I am thinking steering rack mounts, OR, the rack mount brackets that are welded to the cradle have broken loose, quite common.

 

Thank you for your suggestions. I will take a look!

 

My transmission support bushing (at the rear of the trans) was gone and the noise it made sounded like it was coming from a bit farther forward. At first I thought it was shocks, too.

 

Sounds like the transmission mount Bush to me too

 

Thanks again for the suggestions. If it is the transmission mount, can I wait to repair this for a couple thousand miles? Or is it doing a lot of damage? Unfortunately, I have to drive over a couple miles of rough pavement every day, too and from my son's daycare. Ideally, I'd like to fix the mount myself this summer, once I can get the car to the States.

 

Here are the parts drawings of the Auto, and Manual trans mounts.

I would be very cautious driving it too far IF that is in fact the noise, as with all those components involved, some serious damage could be getting done.

Doubtful the thing will actually fall out, or break up.

These transmission mounts are "loose and floppy" by design, so until it was dismantled, actual damage would be hard to spot.


Auto


Manual

Item #7 in both drawings is a foam buffer, and possibly the culprit.

 

Thanks for the information. I drove the car again today and it really sounds as if the noise is coming from the extreme right of the car, and not, presumably, where the transmission mount sits. I am leaning towards a problem with the suspension on the right side, or the steering rack, with the the noise somehow being transmitted "back" to the cabin. I checked the braces you mentioned in the engine and they are good and tight.

The noise itself can be very clickety-clackety (rapid fire) when traveling over a rough spot. And then sometimes, it disappears completely for a while before returning. The noise does not happen when the car is at rest despite how much I bounce the car by hand. Taking it to a mechanic tomorrow to be put on a lift, to see if anything is obviously amisss with the suspension.

 

Add anti-roll bar end links to your "have a look list". The bushings might be disentegrated.

Also, in my experience, the lower shocks bolts have to be *very* tight, tighter than you think...or they'll make a racket as well.

Cheers
DD

 

It sounds just like my problem. I thought it was a problem with the right wheel. As I drove over a bump it sort of rattled with a tinny sound.


I believe it was part 5 .


http://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/uk...ront-3-6-litre



Ps...


Considering importing a car into the U.S.? You may want to read this first... - Newark Classic cars | Examiner.com

 

The problem was diagnosed as bad shock bushings. I will get them replaced (along with new shocks) on Wednesday.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I felt much more informed going in.

 

WOW.....l was right....lol

 

I'm going to revive a little bit older thread because I have a question about this.

I have the exact same issue. Upon further inspection, the front shock bushings are completely SHOT!!! I have a question though. It looks like there should be a bushing under the fender and another bushing or mount in the engine bay on top of the fender.

One side of the car has nothing but the bolt from the shock sticking up and its the side that makes the worse racket.

Here is a pic (it turned sideways)


I've been looking online and I found THIS part for the upper shock bushing:

I'm just confused because it looks like i need 2 bushings. One underneath the fender and one above in the engine bay.

Any advice for parts?

 

Sorry here is a link to image:

View image: Photo May 08, 5 42 22 PM

 

 

Yes, you need two bushes, one above one below the inner wing metal. You also need TWO special washers to hold the bushes and locate the assembly in the wing hole, and TWO flat round washers to go the non-wing metal side of the bush. Here is the diagram from JCP, you need parts 4, 5, 6 7:
Shock Absorber and Spring-Front-5.3 Litre - Parts For XJS from (V)139052 to (V)179736 | Jaguar Classic Parts UK



Greg