I have long put off getting the upper shock mounts replaced in my 2005 XKR. The car has really been too low in the front for quite some time but it was mostly just an annoyance with the underside of the bumper scraping the wonderful streets here in LA area. Anyway I went to the local shop I have been using forever and he said it would be a waste to do the upper shock mounts without also replacing the shocks. He said you needed to disassemble the shock which was a pain and since I have 61,000 on the car the ride would end up much better with new shocks. I am tending to agree that might as well do the entire thing. Is this what most others here have done as well?

Doug

 

I would expect the shocks to still be good at that mileage barring any unusual happenings.
Have you visually checked the condition of the foam components of the mounts? Those that have gone bad are normally easy enough to spot and bad shocks will not affect ride height to any noticeable degree.

 

I would do the shock replacement at the same time, as well as A arm bushing and ck ball joints too.

the labor costs not much more to do it all at once

Z

 

The foam has long been history--not sure why you would even use foam in a part like this. I suspect the shocks still have life and they are the CATS models so a bit pricier. The guy said the entire job would end up about $1,500 hundred give or take with about $1,000 of that just for the parts (shocks plus mounts). Funny thing is he was saying it was a pain to fool around and remove the mounts from the existing shocks by disassembling (need to compress the springs) but wouldn't he basically have to go through the same spring compressing thing when installing new mounts to new shocks? Either way I can't see avoiding fiddling with the springs unless there is some assembly (mounts+shocks+springs) that comes complete and ready to slip in.

Doug

 

Just a guess, but the technician was probably thinking it would be penny wise and dollar foolish to refurbish the old shocks with new bushings etc as they are already half or more worn out. Thinking that you’ll be taking the whole thing apart in under 20,000 miles to do a shock replacement. And in essence paying double the labor.


Z

 

A closer look at cost is in order. The cats shocks will cost ( at a minmum) over $1500.00.
Shock mounts from 100~400 depending on type and source + labor.
at 61k miles I would get Wayne's upper shock mounts, check other areas of wear, get it repaired and aligned. This will probably give you another 40k miles before a more comprehensive sus rebuild is needed.
You asked, that is my opinion.
WJ

 

One thing needed before you waste a lot of time and money.
Check the height of the front end by measuring the distance between the center of the wheel and the highest curve area of the fender arch.
Worn mounts will give you in the range of 15 inches but when you get in the 14.5 range it's a combination of springs and mounts. New mounts and a spacer can get you back
to near specs but will not solve the problem if you don't end up in the 15.5 range on the inner tire wear.
Give us a measurement and lets see what we have at the moment and observe the condition of the tires.

 

If you can get the shocks AND top mounts all in at $1500 you need to grab that deal ASAP. THAT’SA GREAT DEAL. Just make sure that price includes the correct CATS shocks as they are $$$. Like the other comments said, you should also get the ball joints, upper A-Arm bushings and drop links done at the same time since it's all right there (and the cheapest part of this job).

 

I’d like to see a link for the CAT shocks advertised much under $400 each .

 

A few answers to things. First of all center of wheel to fender arch lip is about 14" so obviously low. When the guy mentioned about including shocks as well as mounts I pointed out that I had the CATS with the wires connected and he say yes, those were more expensive and then threw out about $400 each. Are there some aftermarket (Bilstein?) or something he was thinking of that are compatible replacements? I think I had done lower ball joints at some time already but have to look through my receipts. Regardless I have put this aside long enough so just need to bite the bullet.

Doug

 

Re the shocks, many people just forgo the CAT Bilsteins and put on “regular” Bilsteins @ a cost of about $100 each.

the reports are that the downgrade to the $100 Bilsteins is acceptable for most people use of the car.

Z

 

I wouldn't have a problem with that but do you get all sorts of error messages if you don't have the CATS installed?

Doug

 

I’ve on this forum read where people simply disconnect the appropriate module (in the trunk ?) and that takes care of the messages.

I don’t have direct experience with doing that since my shocks are still the CAT type.

Z

 

Doug, if your car sits level, then somewhere in it's life, someone installed lowering springs. IF NOT, you need to look at the front end and if it's in a dive position, you need new springs. 14 is really low and the shocks have nothing to do with that amount of collapse.
Looks like the money you are saving on the cheaper shocks will be well spent on new springs. Don't let the garage charge you to put in new springs, other than the cost of the spring, it's all part of replacing the mounts and shocks in any case.

 

See what the lower shock bushings look like but (assuming nothing seems wrong with how they ride and no leaks) I would be disinclined to replace the shocks at such low mileage (especially if CATS). Your upper shock mounts will fail again long before the original shocks will wear out. I had my non-CATS front shocks replaced around 90k and i’m not entirely convinced it was actually necessary.

 

I say keep the shocks, replace the bushings, mounts and springs. Inspect everything else. That should get you back up to safe ride height.
my .02 TM

 

Maybe not typical, but the original CAT shocks on my 2002 XKR were replaced at 114,000 miles with the correct XKR CAT shocks by a previous owner. (Thank you God). Along with the associated bushings, etc.


So far my ride height is 1/4” under specification and the problematic Jaguar branded uppers look to be in solid condition. Current mileage is right at 180,010.


Z

 

I have replaced the front springs and upper mounts once - probably around 60k. I recently replaced the upper mounts again to restore correct ride height and alignment. The car is approaching 100k and the CATS shocks are just fine. Those upper mounts are sub-nominal. I was going to say they're crap, but that sounds so declassee. I kept the old parts and am planning to experiment with a urethane replacement of the short-lived foam.