I bought my car a few weeks ago (XKR 2007 with 68000 kms) and I'm still testing it. The car has been idle for some time and the tires are not yet completely worn out but they are old. So far I'm loving the car, but I'm a little afraid to accelerate with the car, because when I do it I feel that the car is unstable in the front. I haven't changed tires or gauged the wheels yet. The car has no known history of accidents (at least as far as I know) and a mechanic was inspecting the bottom of the car and told me that everything seems to be with original parts and apparently without any vertigo of accidents. Any ideas about this car's instability? I feel the car very light and unstable when accelerating. Unstable especially in the front, I get the impression that it moves unsteadily to the left and to the right in the front.
Any ideas thankd.

Of course i want change tires next weeks, because they are very old.

 

If the tyres are more than five years old, they should be replaced.

There is a date stamped into the sidewall beginning with DOT then a four digit date representing the week and year of the tyre's manufacture. For example, 2715 would represent the twenty-seventh week of 2015.

Once the tyres are replaced, have a four-wheel alignment performed then report back on how the vehicle handles. Regardless of the number of kilometres, the age of the components must be taken into account when inspecting the suspension.

 

Spot on @NBCat . Paulo did mention 68k Kms. Hopeful the bushings are checked closely as well. And not just the front end.

 

My 2009 XK was a drift maniac if I turned the traction control off, handled fairly poorly.
New tires, different car entirely. Far more balanced.
Sadly, I didn't check the date codes on the tires that were on it so I don't know how old they were, or if they were date mismatched front to rear.(It was the same brand/model front and rear.)

If the tires are old, I'd make that the first step.
From there, alignment and bushings.

If it is just unstable on acceleration but not braking, I'd suspect that the rear bushings are sloppy and not holding proper toe.
That can really get a car squirly as the thrust angles are changing.

 

My front end has always felt a bit light on full throttle and over 100 MPH, to the point that I'd not dare take both hands off the wheel at those times . My old 95 Mustang was near rock solid at 175, so I thought it a bit weird that an XKR would be light at lower speeds.... but it also felt tight as heck on a DIFFERENT road all the way up to 155, so maybe it's some sort of airflow or wind situation at my 'normal' acceleration point (freeway on-ramp near my house). I've thought that maybe a front splitter would help out, and I still may give that a shot.

 

Do think these cars would definitely benefit greatly rom a front air dampener , they can feel a bit light upfront under hard acceleration especially if standard height .

 

After a deep inspection with help from a local mechanic, final conclusion: lower/upper front and rear arms with bushes cracked; tires very old and with rubber very hard, alignment needed; direction arms, and some more rubber rings cracked. Well after some investment (many euros) and 4 months waiting for spares (COVID closed dealears and transports) ..my car it's finally on the road without instability problems (well only one new noise on left front .....)

 

I had the bushings replaced at 70000 km and much of the rubbers etc in the undercarriage and now its all stable again.

 

Sounds to me like loose suspension components. Jack the front end, pull on the tire (N-S-E-W), and look for play. Under acceleration and braking, any looseness in the components will be felt in the steering wheel and seat of pants. If all is tight, take it to a tire shop and have them start looking at wheel balance and alignment.

 

Paulo, "well only one new noise on left front .....)" I find one of the first ball joints to start knocking, is the one on the stabilizer links. Click click!