When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi i have a '95 xjs 4.0 which in my opinion is too low to the ground. i really have to brake hard before i run over a speed bump, its a bit embarrassing actually. i wonder which suspension struts it needs, if i would want to replace them. i think somebody put some lowered struts on it in the past. any model numbers???
It won't be the struts (or shocks in your case), it will be the springs.
What sized tires are you using?
The XJS, especially the facelift with that front spoiler is indeed low.
If you take a measurement at each of the wheel wells, measuring the distance between the ground and the bottom of the highest lip on the wheel well (ground - past the wheel center cap to the underside of the fender's wheel arch), perhaps we can tell you if something is unusually low?
pimmow, like was said, odds are, after 25 years of sitting on the springs, the springs have sagged a little bit and now the car rides say an inch lower than it did when stock. The fix is getting new springs on all 4 corners.
Hi Vee, thanx for your reply, the height of the wheel arches are 65 cm, and I'm using 225/60r16 tires...
looks cool like this but I don't like all these people laughing at me when I hit a speed
bump again...
thanx!
Originally Posted by Vee
It won't be the struts (or shocks in your case), it will be the springs.
What sized tires are you using?
The XJS, especially the facelift with that front spoiler is indeed low.
If you take a measurement at each of the wheel wells, measuring the distance between the ground and the bottom of the highest lip on the wheel well (ground - past the wheel center cap to the underside of the fender's wheel arch), perhaps we can tell you if something is unusually low?
I was once told at a mechanic shop I went to the first time for a quick oil change a couple of years ago that my car was “lowered” . I immediately left since he he clearly had never seen what an XJS looked like ever in his life.
As said the facelift is lower but yours looks about right to me.
For comparison, my 1990 pre-facelift had a broken front coil spring. Front ride height prior to replacement was 25.75 inches (OS - broken spring) and 26.5 inches (NS). On replacement of both springs OS was 26.75 inches and NS was 27.25 inches. That was 4 years ago and the shop said they would settle a little with time.
The break in the spring was near the top and could only just be seen with the car jacked up and wheels hanging so if you get a significant height difference each side check the springs.
Speed bumps - I hate them. Several of the ones near me in 30 MPH limits have to be driven over at 10 in any of my cars to prevent damage. People with 4x4s and company cars drive over at 30+ because they don't care. More speed cameras and less speed bumps is what we need.
Hi leep, thanx for your answer. My tyres were changed last year; and I noticed them being less high now, although they had the same sizes mentioned on them. When I made a slow sharp curve with the old ones; I could hear them scrape something in the back wheel arch. I think the last owner also didn't like speed bumps so he put the largest size tyres on them. I liked that more also.I would indeed like it to be a tad higher from the ground. But I think all springs are good so I'll have to live with it I guess.
Not Hi-Jacking a thread, just throwing my tuppence worth in for my benefit.
1983 HE.
Front: Height from arch to ground 25 1/4 inch
Rear: Height from arch to ground 23 3/4 inch.
I have always thought the rear was too low, it bottoms out when it shouldn't. Gaz shocks (me no likey) are either too firm or too soft, no happy medium for my liking.
But if the springs are the wrong ones fitted (or lowered springs), then the ride height would be much lower.
Been told they were not lowered intentionally and were OEM spec.
(I bought a new phone, I have let it drain down, now recharging it or I would pop out and take a pic of the gap between the tyre and the wing. ( I hear you, use a camera..duh!))
This I will edit tomorrow with a picture for your perusal and opinion.
Cheers.
Ps, Night off tonight. Myself and Stella are being acquainted again. Stella Artois.
Last edited by Geewhite; May 23, 2021 at 09:04 AM.
Reason: Addition
For comparison on my 89,
Fronts are a little high at 67cm/26.5 inches.
Rear is good at 65cm/25.5 inches.
When I replaced the front shocks with Bilsteins, I left the spacers. Once I get in there and drop the springs again, ugggghhhhhhh, I remove the spacers and all will be good.
It's difficult to see but I think the car is running fractionally low at the front. The ground clearance on a late facelift XJS at Gross Vehicle Weight is 123mm. Your measure seems slightly lower than that.
Another measure is how much clearance you have between the top of the tyre and the lip of the wheelarch. With 225/60 tyres and springs and shocks in good condition, you should get 2-3 fingers when measure in a direct horizontal plane.
Checked mine after standing all night (car not me!).
I get very similar figures to Pirk:
Front 26.25 inches (OS); 26.5 inches (NS) - 4 year old springs.
Rear 25.25 inches (OS); 25.5 inches (NS) - 8 (approx) year old springs.
That is for a 1990, 3.6 coupe (pre facelift). Interesting that nearside is 1/4 inch higher. I think I read somewhere that Jag set the cars up to be slightly higher on NS to offset the UK road camber and keep car level although this may all be just a coincidence in my case.
XJS is very low
