DIY XKR-S GT - raid the junkyard
 

So what makes an XKR-S GT such a handling machine?

Short answer, the F-Type... quite a lot of the rear suspension of the XKR-S GT are off-the-shelf F-Type components, and some other pieces are borrowed from other Jag models;

Rear subframe = F-Type
Rear upper wishbone = F-Type
Rear lower wishbone = F-Type
Rear hub carriers = F-Type

Front vertical links are unique to the XKR-S GT, presumably in order to fit the carbon ceramic brakes... £7000 each! (that's not a typo!)

Front lower front wishbone = XF
Front lower rear wishbone = unique to the XKR-S GT (£700 each!)

Steering rack = F-Type

Front upper wishbones are standard X150 items.

Front sway bar is from the XF, rear is a unique item to the GT for £1000

Front strut assembly (spring + shock) unique to the GT £3300 each
Rear strut assembly (spring + shock) unique to the GT £3500 each

The brakes... well actually they're all the same carbon-ceramics as the F-Type...

To accomodate the wider rear track the GT uses the rear driveshafts (halfshafts) from the X351 XJ SuperSport, with the standard XKR E-Diff

All this is very interesting to me, you could in theory take a wrecked 2014/2015 F-Type and transplant a hell of a lot of it into an XKR...

Hmmm....

The XKRS GT rear wing = 10.000.-- Euros ;)

I was under the impression that the XKRS-GT was developed and sold prior to the market introduction of the F-Type. If that is the case then is it possible that the F-Type components come from the XKRS-GT instead of the other way around. Just wondering which came first , the chicken or the egg.

Interesting
 

Thanks for the interesting find. It would still be alot of work to even strip a donor wracked GT and install everything on a XKR.

I like everything on the GT except for the huge wing.

It may be that the GT was the development car for the F-type.

When the F-type came out I was disappointed with it. I was hoping to see a more innovative super car design similar to the X-C75 with AWD. I bought my second XKR, 2013 XKR, after seeing the F-type. Now if the X-C75 was produced in some form I would be in line for one.

The F-Type was on the market before the GT (by some months), and the F-Type was also a few years in development before that as well.

In the parts catalogue you can see those shared parts have F-Type part numbers, so it's F-Type production parts on the GT.

C-X75 Now Available!
 

DGL,

You're in luck, and it's affordable - only $250! It's available now, just in time for Christmas! Target : Expect More. Pay Less.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...477d8730e8.jpg

You might need a shoehorn... :icon_clapclap:

Stuart

Damn, that was just nasty. You had me so excited. I read the thread before seeing this post.

DGL,

Well, you did say that " ... if it was produced in some form I would be in line for one." I just gave you the opportunity to fulfill your wishes.

Bottom line is that you have to be careful about what you wish for. As stated a long time ago by my favorite 20th century philosopher who is still living: "You can't always get what you want. .."

Stuart

Well this thread is worthless now, thanks for dragging it way off topic...

LOLOMA!

Ready to be parted...

http://images.copart.com/website/dat...099466_02X.JPG

Where is this car? I would love to buy the wheels & brakes.

Back on topic...
Something I've been wondering about, & looking into, is the differences between the front and rear subframes between the DEW98-based Jaguar models (i.e. S-Type, XF, XJ X350/X358, XK X150, F-Type). I know there's compatibility between them as far as the suspension components, but the subframes are another matter. Logic dictates that the subframes would be very similar since so many parts are both shared & swapped between the models by repair facilities and even JLR themselves. So far it's all been theory, since getting a bunch of different subframes together to compare the critical measurements isn't really feasible for me at the moment, but if they are swappable, that would potentially open the door for some enterprising person to modify their car with the best factory-designed parts available, or modify their existing parts to match the specs. Just my thoughts...:icon_shrug::icon_denk:

I don't know about compatibility but for sure the subframes on the different models you mention all have different part numbers.

It's somehow odd that the rear subframe of the F-Type and the XKR-S GT are the same part, none of the other vehicles I checked have the same crossover.

There are some other peculiarities, for example the XKR Portfolio has a unique rear subframe which is different to the other X150's...

The XFR-S has a different rear subframe than the other XF's

I guess a lot of that is determining what Jaguar considers "unique". The main difference between a Gen 1 & Gen 2 S-Type rear subframe is the mount for the electric parking brake actuator. I've read that the XFR-S rear subframe is supposed to be of a thicker tubing, but the hard points have to be the same since most of the other stuff is the same. The upper & lower A-arms, axles, & differential mean it has to be able to physically fit in the same space. Model year changes prove that out too.

Well in the case of the XKR Portfolio I really cannot guess what makes the rear subframe special. If it was the Alcon brakes then it would be listed for the 2008 XKR-S as well, and many other 4.2L XKR were also fitted with the Alcon's from the factory, so I don't think that's it...

I thought it was the hubs that were specific for the Portfolio, to fit the Alcon calipers. As far as the other stuff, there are some precedents to Jaguar making initial changes with a specific model & then just making rolling changes across a whole line. Like the SC stamped parts for example

So another interesting bit of info I just stumbled across.

The regular XKR-S (not the GT) also has a different steering rack to the XK and XKR.

And it goes further, the limited edition 4.2L 2008 XKR-S (the black ones, sold in Europe) also has a unique steering rack which has a faster ratio than the 4.2L XK & XKR.

A report from autocar.co.uk said that the 5.0L XK got the faster ratio rack from the 2008 XKR-S as standard, although the part numbers don't confirm that.

And then the later model XKR-S has a different rack again, presumably a faster ratio still? There is something special about them...

The prices of the racks are a bit nasty though...

4.2 XK/XKR rack is £2000
4.2 XKR-S rack is £2700
5.0 XK/XKR rack is £1600
5.0 XKR-S rack is £2700

Damn... who wouldn't want a faster rack, but at those prices... ouch...

Ironically, the regular F-Type rack (as per the XKR-S GT) is "only" £1270, and you can guess that is the one to have, since they put it in the GT...

So rack out of an F-Type up to 2015MY is probably a nice upgrade on the X150's. Presuming it's a direct bolt-in, which it appears to be based on the XKR-S GT...

Although there may be some issues with this idea...

The XKR-S GT is reported to have a wider front track than the regular XKR (52mm more in total, or an inch each side), and the tie rod ends / ball joints for the GT are listed as F-Type parts. So could be that there isn't enough adjustment in them for the narrower XK/XKR track. The regular XKR-S tie rod ends / ball joints are the same part for the XK/XKR...

Chris Harris banged on about the steering in the GT...

Pardon my ignorance and I have not looked at the ratios for each iteration, but wouldn't a lower ratio be desired for more precise steering input?

Are the racks interchangeable without modification for all MYs?

I never said higher or lower?? Just faster... less turns lock-to-lock...

At this point in time I cannot tell regarding the interchangeability between model years (actually it's just a cutoff point, the 4.2 and the 5.0)

Although there is also a crossover into the XF as well, the XFR-S and the XKR-S have the same steering rack.

EDIT

OK i've been informed that all the XK racks are interchangeable. And that it's a typo in the JEPC about the 4.2 XKR-S having a different rack.

Sorry I misread faster ratio as higher ratio which would be the opposite of what I would want, I would like a lower ratio to make the steering a bit heavier but quicker to respond.
So if they are all interchangeable, then does that mean the GT one from the F-type would work on the 4.2?

The information I got today was that the racks are interchangeable between the 4.2, 5.0 and GT X150's... so the F-Type rack (i.e. the GT one) will also fit in a 4.2.

Very interesting. So basically the whole front suspension subframe assembly from the F-Type went into the XKR-S GT, with the exception of the height-adjustable shock/spring setup. Is there anyway to know if the rear floor pan is different from the regular XKR?

Any idea what the various ratios are? So far I have found the 2008 XKR is 17.1:1 and the 2014 F-type is 14.6:1

I see a couple of different part numbers for the F-type steering rack though T2R1327 appears to be the one I would want, there is a T2R1327E for around $1K USD and also T2P1051 with 3 variations as well.

Didn't Jaguar switch from hydraulic to electric steering at some point?

2016

Wow that's quite a difference!

T2R1327 is the LHD rack from the XKR-S GT / F-Type.

The T2R1327E is an exchange/rebuilt version, there will be a surcharge on top which is refunded if you give them one in exchange.

T2P1051 is the RHD rack from the XKR-S GT / F-Type.

Found something interesting about the front vertical links "steering knuckles" in one of the technical manuals...

NOTE: XKR-S vehicles use specially designed wheel knuckles that provide increased camber and castor stiffness to improve the accuracy and weighting of the steering for greater levels of feedback and precision.

Attachment 140667

There are also different wheel alignment specifications for the XKR-S and those cars fitted with "Dynamic Pack", for both 4.2 and 5.0 cars...

So the 2008 XKR-S and XKR Portfolio's have a different alignment to the regular 4.2 XKR...

EDIT

I have not been able to find any images of the steering knuckles of the XKR-S GT, however this is a good explanation http://www.philip-james.co.uk/portfolio/project/ they are machined from billets of aluminium

Is that a difference that I would notice to justify going through the process?

Thank you for the clarification on the part numbers. I found a company that sells remanufactured steering racks for a considerable savings however they can only tell me it is for the LHD F-Type 2014-2015 they can not confirm the part number. Would you consider that too risky?

And finally, are there any other bits and pieces I would need for the installation or is just the rack enough as I can probably reuse the links.

There is more to it than just the rack ratio, the XKR-S has the different steering knuckles as well, there are probably some other differences to the front end as well, I haven't been through every little detail yet.

It'd be nice to know what the ratio's of the regular XKR-S models are as well. I'll see what I can find.

There is only one type of hydraulic rack on the 2014/2015 F-Type, so it should be pretty straight forward. If you can get some pictures of the tag on the rack, it might help to confirm the version.

There is one specific item for the XKR-S GT listed, the lower steering column shaft/swing link. It's a unique part number, not the same as the XKR, XKR-S or F-Type.

Item #2 in the drawing;

Attachment 140691

Why it's different for the GT is unclear to me.

Also for the regular XK models there are different versions for different VIN ranges, without supercessions.

I would think that the end links from the XKR would fit straight on to the F-Type rack.

You've gotta remember, no-one outside of the factory has done any of this stuff, so there's no how-to-guide...

I asked them about the stamped numbers on the rack but they claim they were removed during the re-manufacturing process, specifically after it is media blasted, that is what has me hesitating. It has all new seals, dust covers and anything else needed and fully inspected, measured and tested to meet new spec. Price is under $800 shipped and comes with a 3 year warranty. They guarantee it is a genuine Jaguar F-type rack for 2014 & 2015.

I know the R-S has more substantial knuckles but I am not clear on how much of a difference that would make with regards to steering feel and if any to the ratio.

What difference would the column shaft make on anything?

If they guarantee it, there's not much more you can ask for I guess....

The R-S vertical links / knuckles provide "increased camber and castor stiffness to improve the accuracy and weighting of the steering for greater levels of feedback and precision" I don't think they would go to the expense of creating special parts just for bragging rights, especially since it's never mentioned in any marketing literature, just buried away in a technical manual.

I really don't know what the story is with the steering column on the GT. The bottom universal joint (#1 in the drawing) is not listed as being a special part. But there are different versions for regular XK and XKR-S. And there are also different versions by VIN range. Actually for one of the VIN ranges the XKR-S has the same knuckle #1 as the X351 XJ and the X250 XF...

I have no doubt of that but how much of a difference to be that appreciable v. cost & effort? I mean increasing or decreasing the amount of air in the tires can also have an impact on steering response. And are the knuckles even available?

OK the story of the steering column is that the XKR-S GT got a different version because of safety reasons, in case of a high-speed impact, it collapses in a slightly different way to the regular XK ones... there is no difference in the compatibility of the steering column, physical dimensions are the same.

As for the XKR-S knuckles, yes you can buy them, the part numbers are valid, they cost about $100 more each than the standard version. I don't know how much of a difference they make in real world terms...

Now this is interesting, got hold of the wheel alignment specifications for the XKR-S GT, when you compare the settings to the regular XKR-S, they definitely set it up with the track in mind, not street driving...

Whereas the regular XKR-S has assymetrical camber settings depending on if it's a LHD or RHD car, the RS-GT has symmetrical settings.

The data in order to make a sensible comparison between the settings of the XKR, XKR-S and XKR-S GT is spread out over 6-7 pages, i'll see if I can get it all into one spreadsheet.

Quick show of hands, who would be interested in an XKR-S GT bonnet?

You would have to cut/weld the vent panels in to an XK bonnet

Attachment 141390 Attachment 141391

I'm talking with a local supplier about having the vent sections made up, but the tooling costs a bit, so need to know how many people would be interested.

Assume it to be $700 plus shipping for the pair of panels.

No rush but have you had a chance to put this together?

I do have the new GT/F-Type rack in hand and will be installing it as soon as I sort the EPB issue.