Hi Guys,

Recently joined the soggy green club with my "03 XKR.
Leak was from the latch area. When I pulled it all apart the black outer layer of the latch hoses was falling to bits. The failure was not the hose itself but where the hose joins to the hydraulic cylinder - the hose simply pulled away from the connector.
From what I can see the rest of the hoses look to be in good condition. I'm wondering whether a slow leak from the top hoses has caused the black outer layer to break-down?



I trying to decide whether to just replace the top 2x latch hoses or bite the bullet & do the whole lot.
Money's really tight at the moment so was hoping to get away with just doing the top ones?

Any thoughts?

 

The black covering deteriorates with age and heat.

By all means just do the latch hoses, this is where the highest system pressure and most heat accelerates hose failure. The other hoses generally last longer.

 

I agree just do the latch hoses. That is all I have done so far and I am not concerned about the rear ones failing like the front ones.

If you have not done the pressure reduction mod now is a good time to consider it. The other hoses would benefit from lower pressure.

 

Just be aware that the rear hoses do indeed fail. We replaced them in Wayne's (cjd777) 2000 XK8 back in April 2015 using Top Hydraulics hoses. Wayne also had them refurbish his rams at the same time....

 

I'm with Jon89 - I replaced my latch hoses then two months later one of the ram hoses went. While you have everything out it makes sense to me - in the long term it will be cheaper.

 

If this is a DIY I would do the latch only. A friend had that done, then two years later one of the rams started leaking. I suggested we replace the ram hoses at that time so that it would not be necessary to go back in again. So unless you are going to have the rams rebuilt you can probably delay the replacement of those hoses.

 

Did you have the pressure mod applied? Just curious.

 

I had the same question last year and i decided to replace only the latch hoses. from my knowledge the rear hoses are much more reliable as the latch ones and particular the rams. so it is like RJ recommended, replace the rear hose when the rams fail.

To replace the rear hoses because everything is removed anyway is a weak reason. in order to replace the front hoses, much more has to be removed than for the rear ones.

 

No - but when I replaced the hoses I went with the upgraded ones from Top Hydraulics - he guarantees them for higher pressure.

 

Thanks Guys.
I will be using the Top Hydraulics hoses.
Appreciate all the advice and while I'm sure the rear hoses/rams do eventually fail, I think I'll just replace the latch ones at this stage.
That'll be enough of a project for this DIYer...

 

Plan on it taking a couple days. I posted my DIY experience in my working thread.

 

Would someone share what I should inspect for ageing on the latch end of the hoses? How to access?
Thanks.

 

See if this helps.

Link. http://www.jagrepair.com/RoofHoseReplacement.htm
​​​link http://www.jagrepair.com/HydSystemEvaluationXK8XKR.htm
Gus
www.jagrepair.com

 

Cap'em & go manual. There's many threads on here regarding the procedure.

 

Guys while I have it apart, do the the various roof joints and rams require lubrication? If so what is the best product to use?

Thanks again.
Jeff