So, I was doing some work on the XKR this weekend, when I noticed the right side sway bar link is in bad shape. Is there any reason for this to fail with only 23k on the car? Replacement appears to be straight forward from just looking at it. Is there anything I should be aware of when attempting to replace these links? Anything else I should check out while under there?
Thanks, Aaron

 

The boot might be bad, but what makes you think the sway bar end link has failed? Is it loose or rattling?

Sway bar end links are really inexpensive parts.

 

 

No, not really. Jaguar for some dumb reason chose to specify really crappy boots for the suspension and they have all rotted and fallen apart. What that will allow is grit to get into the joint and wear it faster than they'd expect. The dealers condemn them, then use it as a great opportunity to make money and I think torn boots fail the MOT test in the UK. IMHO it should have been a recall issue due to faulty materials from the OEM. The boot isn't even decent rubber, it's thin silicone looking stuff. It's not a mileage thing, more of time and crap design. I would not replace the joint unless there was excessive looseness in it.

All of my rubbers look like that but I did not notice any looseness when I did my bearings last year. There are sources of boots on eBay and I plan on inventorying mine this coming summer and replacing them. PITA because the sizing is all over the place.

 

Compliments of Fraser Mitchell on the X350 forum.

http://www.balljointboots.co.uk/index.html

And another I found:

http://www.suspension.com/universal-dust-boots.asp

 

Good find and it would be helpful to have a sticky with the part numbers that folks are using for replacement.

 

Agreed. The second link has a quick video on how to measure. Once folks start refitting them, then it makes sense to have a sticky.

 

I second Ranchero's comments about time and design causing wear despite mileage. I had to replace mine at 24k or 25k miles last year.

Same with the upper front control arms: the rubber had deteriorated in the bushing. Thankfully, there is a Ford Motorcraft equivalent for the whole arm that is comes from Jaguar and stamped as such. Big cost savings there as the entire control arms can be had for $135 each. You can replace the bushing alone but it may not be worth it depending on mechanical skill and or machine shop rates.

Thanks, Sean, for posting the ball joint boot link. Very helpful!

 

Actually you can thank ZF Lemforder for that but yes this has been an issue for for nearly 20 years (and still is), Ford even used some of the same bushes on the Thunderbird and Lincoln LS.

Replace those links with thicker Moog ones.

 

I had the same issue.
I was looking under my car a few months ago and noticed that the K member was corroding where the plastic pan touched it in the center and also noticed that my
rear end links looked rough after 30K miles.
The dealer thought I was crazy until they actually looked at it and realized that it needed to be replaced. Fortunately this was all done under warranty.