Jahummer like yourself I have also owned numerous car brands and have found jaguar's bushes to be the worst when it comes to suspension reliability

As you not only said there is numerous post relating to this subject on the forums and also the fact ebay has rear end kits available leads me to believe this is now a very common problem

Lastly as. I'm only able to view the forums on my iPhone I don't get to see anyone's signature so I wasn't sure which cars you have/had

 

Since this topic has been brought up, I decided to take a look at mine. They were all replaced in 2012 and now about 4,000 miles later I am seeing the outer rear left toe link bushing is starting to discolor and dry out with small cracks developing. It is serviceable but no doubt the rubber will fail not too far down the road and the grease will begin to leak.

So, mileage is certainly not a factor, only time and possibly climate.


Here's a good comparison for bushings and what to expect with a poly swap out:

 

Should last lifetime of the vehicle is a huge selling point for me I might look into this as opposed to going OEM

 

Just remember the oil filled rubber bushes Jag use are like mini shock absorbers and equate to the smooth ride they provide. Poly bushes are highly recommended for track cars as they increase road surface feedback and help keep the suspension in control with little flex. Poly is typically not recommended for road cars or daily drivers since they perform best on a track which has a perfectly smooth surface.

 

Well said.
Before making a decision to go with poly bushings (and note that there are different qualities with different characteristics) keep in mind that Jaguar engineers spend millions of pounds and countless hours finding that compromise of handling and refinement. When you choose aftermarket parts like this the refinement is ... well..."compromised". Do you really want a harder ride than the XK already has? And do you want to have it for the rest of your ownership? I speak as one who learned this lesson early on in the Jaguar obsession.

 

I'm not always a fan of the company spent millions developing a certain component , when you take in consideration that yes it is a business and cost cutting takes place it doesn't always mean the quality will be there in OEM

I have used some fantastic aftermarket parts in my life time that have stood the test of time

 

Totally off the subject, but every time I see the Title for this thread I am reminded of my first wife.

 

Ouch !!!

Was this pre jaguar days

 

Yes, many, many years before.

 

I'm not always a fan of the company spent millions developing a certain component , when you take in consideration that yes it is a business and cost cutting takes place it doesn't always mean the quality will be there in OEM

Due to accounting practices GM religiously sources their products from whomever provides the cheapest parts, rarely the best or even with a lot of concern with QC. Yes price should be a factor but not at the expense of quality/consistency... that is where most of the Japanese mfg's shine.

 

Very true Leeper ....at least the leather we get in our xk's is decent quality !!

 

+1

If you get the opportunity, drive a car with poly bushes first. The harshness cannot be overemphasized. Not to mention the wear and tear on the rest of the car now... Bushes are a cheap replaceable part. A small price to pay for our wonderfully handling cars.

 

sorry about the double posting. I have no idea how this seems to happen to me.