Front strut mounts done!
 

When I took my 97 xk8 in for inspection, my right tire was worn on the inside. I measured the distance from the center of the wheel to the wheel arch peak and I was 14.5 on the right and 13.75 on the left. I bought a strut tool, and I ordered two front upper strut mounts from Welsh and they showed up today! Not a horrible job really, with the right tools. The mounts were both shot, but the left one surprised me! The hole the strut rod goes through had shifted to one side! I guess that would make the difference between the two sides! Ride height is bow back where it should be and everything seems good!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...694e1706ba.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...7c078a2b7e.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...f284960763.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...c5cdd0dc69.jpg

Glad to see that things are getting better.

That strut tool surely made the job easier. Wish I had one but I am too cheap to pay for it.

Remember to get the alignment checked. If you can find it, buy a lifetime alignments deal. It is worth the extra expense.

I've got a couple more things I may go ahead and do before getting an alignment, however it will be done before too long. Im cheap on stuff too,but I figured having the ability to do struts now, fairly safely, was worth the $250 I gave for the wall mounted unit! There was absolutely no drama, and went smooth as silk. I'm definitely happy with the investment 😊

The compressor is impressive. Where did you buy it? I am getting ready for overhaul on my XK8 front end.

I actually found it on Facebook marketplace. There were a few on there. Mine was the cheapest of the style though

Do you have any experience installing a loaded strut like KYB or Monroe?

If you mean like the "quick struts" I have used them before on another car

Strut tool
 

The "strut tool" is basically a spring compressor, right ? I'm cheap too, and my walls are already cramped !

Yes sir it's just a "professional grade" spring compressor.

Were the new strut mounts made of poly? My wife's 2003 with 74k miles are worn ... at least they measure only 14.5".

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F311509183326

This is what I bought. They are urethane

Yup, that's Welsh's ebay listing. He bought the good stuff.

Yeah that was actually why I bought those. I had heard good things about the Welsh ones

That is the same spring compressor I use at work. Now that you replaced the spring mounts get a alignment. Change to ride height changes camber and camber changes toe so you are no longer aligned correctly

It is in the plans for the near future, I just have to find out which Jaguar dealership to go to. They are about 30miles away in two different directions smh

I will need to do mine pretty soon.
would this cheap-o- unit work?
wj



https://www.harborfreight.com/single...sor-43753.html

No it will not. At least I could not make it work. I bought mine a few years back because it looked like a good idea,
I could not get the lower end hooks into the gap in the spring. Might work for full sized trucks and SUVs that use larger springs but I couldnt make it work on my XKR. Ended up borrowing a two piece set from Autozone.

I'm not familiar w Jaguar suspensions.

The ride height on my 2003 is 14.5" and excessive negative camber. Alignment was recently checked and only change was some toe adjustment.

So is it most likely worn strut mounts? I can't think anything else would cause this with only gently driven 74k miles.

Yep. If you are still running on your factory upper shock mounts, that is indeed your issue. Check out the Welsh Enterprises poly upper shock mounts that many of us have installed and are quite happy with....

thankyou!

wj