Someone please clear up some confusion for me. I've located an ad on Ebay for a complete set of Bilstein Front & Rear shocks with Bellows Bump Stops & Mount Plate OEM for my 2000 Jaguar XK8. Looks like 4 shocks, two bellows, two Bump stops, two mount plates, and two Eurospare Shock Mounts for the front left and right uppers. Price for the whole set is around $1250.00 (new). My confusion is that my mechanic's estimate for installation rarely uses the word "shock" but rather refers to "Struts" all the time. Is it the same thing? I don't want to order the set, only to find out I bought the wrong stuff. My Jag is simple, there's no electronic suspension.
Also, I think the bushings and ball joints on the upper and lower control arms have seen their better day, but the cost of putting new control arms on from Jaguar is insane! ...worth more than the car! Totally unaffordable, and my auto shop doesn't want to just replace the control arm bushing and ball joints (especially), for fear of damaging the control arms.
And there seems to be no aftermarket control arms for a 2000 Jaguar XK8. It's probably not a great idea to do the shock/strut(?) stuff without addressing the control arm issues as well. Short of selling the car and getting a newer Jag, any XK8 owner have some constructive ideas? Thanks. Steve .

 

Technically a strut is a specific thing and it means that the car only has a lower control arm and no upper control arm. Our XK8s and Rs have coil over shock (upper and lower control arm).

I have seen where the assembly of the shock and spring together is referred to as a strut, but they really should not be. I ran into this when I rebuilt the suspension on my F150 and it confused me at first too.

There should be no concern for replacing the control arm bushings and there are both OEM and polyurethane options like PowerFlex.

You don't mention which ball joint is bad, but the lower one is not bad to replace. The upper can be done as well and the joint can be sourced separately but requires somewhat more care not to damage the control arm.

Is your shop a specialist or experienced with Jaguars? Your comments suggest that they might not be. I am not from your area but perhaps someone will have advice for you.

 

To add to Charlie's excellent comments. My experience is that each shock costs about $110. Front upper shock mounts, $140 for pair. No experience with other parts mentioned.

John

 

you're missing a few things as the rears have the bellows and bump stops as well. Best thing you can do is get a free SNG Barratts parts catalog but I have included the links to front and rear suspension components.

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#...assembly/10392

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#...assembly/10391

As Charlie mention - no reason you can't replace bushings and ball joints - I have replaced all front end bushings and ball joints my self along with shocks, springs and upper shock mounts (going on time # 3 tomorrow) I also replaced all rear suspension components. The hardest part out of all was the front lower ball joints because the arm is angled on one side which causes the arm to pivot when you start applying pressure - but a 4x4 under the arm will absorb the pressure while giving just enough to get the new ball joint pressed in (20ton press works best)

I would also look at sway bar bushings and links

 

I went through this very same process just yesterday afternoon. Poking around during an oil change I found a torn ball joint boot on the upper control arm. Since I lack the tools to replace and have a fairly long trip planned, I had a local shop take on the job. After finding that it really should have both joints done (and the bushings coming apart on disassembly), we debated new arms against the cost of labour to rebuild and came out on the side rebuilding. Sadly had to pay retail shop rates for the parts and labour but its done in a day by adults instead of me fumbling through it. Pricing was $62 (x4) a bushing and $158 for both ball joints. In the short, drive home it felt better and some the bump steer seems to be corrected as well.