First problem was the forward wishbone arm fulcrum bolt fouling on the subframe mounting as I tried to remove it. Easy I thought, just remove the bracket, I started to undo the bolt that passes through the rubber mount and the bottom disc part of the mount rotated, is it meant to do that? I tightened it up and left alone, the bolt was knocked out with a brass drift once the X brace had been removed.
Next problem, one of my steering rack fixings as sheared so far. What's the procedure for extracting the remains from the Ali crossbeam without wrecking it?
Finally, why didn't Jaguar fir the bolts from the centre outwards, it would have made life so much easier.

 

Having done many suspension rebuilds I have often thought that, if would save having to drop the rack and the issue with the other wishbone bolt, as to the broken bolt, which one is it? If one of the bottom bolts, you either drill and try an easy out, failing that drill larger and retap, that only works if you manage to drill dead straight, last option, drill out completely and use a nut and bolt. If it's a top bolt, be prepared for some grief, I had the one go by the column, I ended up dropping the subframe..... Nightmare

 

Thanks XKRacer. I've only tried to undo one bolt so far, the rest are soaking with plus gas. The broken one is near side, lower- the easiest one to get at luckily but I'm very nervous about the rest.

 

They are a bit nerve racking if you forgive the pun......

Remember the rear lower wishbone bolt maybe a eccentric bolt and you will need to mark it so it goes back in the same place, they were sometimes fitted from factory to adjust the camber

 

I have seen reports from others that by turning the steering to full lock the bolts can be removed without losening it. It did not work for me.

See all my pics here https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...g-worse-91230/

Which is the one that was spinning. I had a problem removing the bolt going through this bush on the subframe. The middle part of the bush came out with the bolt, I bought a replacement on line but Jag charged me £100 to push the new one in.

 

I studied your report before starting, really useful, sodes law that the bits that gave you no trouble are looking to be my biggest headache. It struck me after the bolt had sheared that possibly going full lock would have given sufficient clearance, I my still give it a try t the weekend. It is the nearside bush that's spun.

 

I would try that and if you are lucky then there will be no need to take the other bolts out of the rack, I would then just drill out the old one and put in a nut and bolt.

However if you can see the bottom of the inner bush spinning then its bug...ed and you will need to take the subframe out and get a new bush pushed in.

I probably bought one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-JA...3#ht_457wt_919

 

I had a second bolt shear, so that's both of the lower rack fixings, top we're ok so I've decided to take the crossbeam off, although the bush really made the decision for me. Do you know if it's possible to lower the crossbeam without completely removing the rack? I managed to move it sufficiently to remove the wishbone bolts so I'm hopeful.