Hey everyone!

Time to get some ideas on what may be going on with my 1997 XK8 Convertible.
145K on the car with front end "suspension work" done on it 60K ago.

Seems like every little bump in the road, especially at slow speeds, results in a metal on metal bang from the front end. When trying to isolate it by driving each individual wheel over small bumps (manhole covers for example), I hear it on both sides. Almost seems like (although it's hard to tell) it's coming from the middle front of the car.

The ride is smooth at normal operating speeds with no pulls, vibrations, etc.

Can you give me some direction at where and what to look for under the car. I'm mechanically competent, although not a whiz by any stretch of the imagination.

Thanks and have a wonderful weekend. It's top down weather in Virginia!

Nick

 

Most likely upper shock mounts.

Read this thread https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ailure-200426/

Here is a link to the service manual for your model year
http://www.mediafire.com/file/kuq3r0...ed+in+1997.pdf

 

Nick, Certainly, it could be a number of things, but do check the stabilizer bushings and links as well as the shock mounts. But while you're at it, jack up the front end and shake the tires side-to-side and up-and-down to check for any noticeable play. I just changed out all front and rear bushings, ball joints, links, shocks, and inner/outer tie rods, and was amazed at the difference in quietness, ride, and handling. At 93,000 miles, all of those components were worn but only a little bit sloppy, but the stabilizer bushings and links were in the worst shape. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the tips and advice!
I'll be crawling under the car soon and keep everyone posted

Nick

 

OK guys/gals
The previous owner of my 1997 XK8 is a friend of mine and when I questioned him about what work was done to the suspension of the vehicle, He couldn't remember. So I contacted the shop that did the work and I got all the previous work orders.

The car currently has 143K miles on it. All this work was done in 2008 with 85K on it. 68K miles ago. Here's the list:
Remove and replace front shocks and mounts (Bilstein)
Lower ball joints worn (left); Sway bar drop link bushings worn; Remove and replace
lower control arms and sway bar drop links
Remove and replace upper control arm bushings for both front
Remove and replace right front wheel bearing
Remove and replace rear shocks (Bilstein)
Remove and replace left inner/outer tie rod and left front wheel bearing
(Done at 98K miles)

Considering all this work was done relatively recently in the history of the car, would these parts wear down in 68K miles?

 

Bushings, shock mounts, and sway bar links are usually the most vulnerable to wear-and-tear and the passing of time. Your Bilstein shocks probably still have a lot of life left in them....

Put the car up on jack stands, remove the wheels, and have a good look around as you push and pry on the various components. What are your ears telling you as you drive the car?

 

Ditto on what Jon89 said. The shocks themselves are probably just fine, but you're due for some suspension component replacements. However, before removing the wheels, do check for play in the horizontal and vertical planes. (Any) Horizontal play = tie rods, vertical play = bushings and/or ball joints. With someone shaking the wheel(s) for you, you will be able to see the movement in the worn part(s). No discernible movement? Worn stabilizer (sway) bar bushings and links will generate and transmit the kind of noise that you described.

 

Check the shock tower braces. There is somewhere on this site a Service Bulletin that was released to alert shop mechanics to check these braces if the customer complained of noises from the front end. They are the diagonal bar from the shock tower to the cockpit bulkhead.

 

Thanks guys
There's no play in the vertical and horizontal planes and the noise can best be described as a metal on metal clank that can be high or low pitched. Very noticeable at low speed and over the smallest of road imperfections

 

Was the right side lower ball joint replaced?

I just replaced my right side lower ball joint along with the right side front shock and my loud clunk when hitting a pothole in now gone. There was a very small amount of vertical play in the old ball joint but that must have been enough. The ball joint rubber cover had been missing for years.

Do you get the noise with the brakes lightly applied? My sway bar bushings are as loose as a goose but don't make any noise over bumps.

 

 

Hi,

What is the sound like when it comes to metal mass? Like sheet metal or does it sound like thicker metall? Yesterday I localized and got rid of an annoying metal rattling sound from left front end of my X100 Xkr. It turned out be the brake shield that was causing the sound

Regards,
Higgins

 

some alignments shop have a habit of not tightening the upper control arm bolts. had the same sound and it made me nuts for a couple of months. go for an alignment at a good place and the tech should instantly see from where the noise originates.

 

Like Higgins said. When I replaced the brakes I noticed the screws that hold the brake shields were too small and the too thin metal of the shield was cracked almost all the way around the screw heads. Bigger washers were a temp. fix, but the cracks in the shields need to be welded. When completely loose I imagine it would make quite a rattle. Like so many other items on my XK8, Ive NEVER seen this situation on any other car; ie; Part load breather clogged, coolant tank cracked, timing chain tensioners cracked, chrome wheels corroded, fulcrum bolts corroded, top hydraulic hoses leaking, engine oil leaks on headers, cabin heat not working, antenna drive broken, cup holders broken, brake light switch malfunction, even the air grille vanes in the dash are broken, "decorative" oil and water temp gauges, come on!!! My 45 year old Mustang Mach 1 was a dream by comparison. My Avalon is still perfect with 140 thousand miles. Jaguar needs to go to Toyota School.

Other than the above, Papa loves the Jag the best.
I hope you find the rattle and post it.

 

The right side sway bar bushing under the Airbox. Oil drips on it and it crumbles/cracks to nothing.

 

My front end noise was caused by a loose nut where the shock absorber is fixed to the upper shock mount.
It was only loose by half a turn, but enough to cause quite a lot of noise.
Probably not what causes your problem, but very easy to check.

Good luck

 

Thanks to all
In the event it doesn't rain this weekend, I'll be crawling under the car this weekend to poke and prod.

I'll keep you posted
Nick

 

Have you resolved your front end noise issues yet? Curious because I have mine in the shop now for 2 days and they have yet to determine what is making the noise.

 

My bet is still shock mounts. Especially now that I read about them being replaced 10 years ago and having 68K on them. If an independent shop did the work they most likely installed those crap URO mounts that PartsGeek and others peddle.

Everything will feel tight even when the bushings are pancaked.

Just measure the ride height from front wheel centers to fender arch. I bet you are at less than 15 inches. If so then bingo!

 

With the number of miles since most of the work was done, it's probably time to replace the sway bar mounts again. They definitely can be noisy with just a little wear and the rubber gets hard.