spent yesterday replacing the upper shock mounts - almost made it 5 years since the last time I replaced them. Went with the poly's from Welsh. Also replaced sway bar links. will get lower bushings and new front tires installed today

 

I have been very happy with the Welsh poly upper shock mounts that Wayne (cjd777) and I installed on my wife's 2006 XK8's front axle back in January 2016. She has done approximately 16,700 miles since then with no suspension issues....

 

Nice - I probably should have replaced these a while ago but pushed it - got more than 60000 miles out but it killed the tires. Hoping these are the better solution!!!

 

Which mounts did you use the last time?

My XKR is coming up on needing new mounts, lower shock bushing, sway bar links and bushings, and I'm going to replace as much as I can with poly. I'm going with powerflex for everything but the mounts and links, which will come from Welsh and rockauto. What's the expected lifespan on the welsh poly shock mounts?

Btw, does anyone know of an upgrade sway bar link?

 

last time I used OEM from Welsh as they did not have the poly other than in a rebuild kit. I've already installed powerflex poly's on all front and getting ready to install on the rear when I replace shocks and springs. Not sure how long these will last but hoping for a better run than what I got out of the OEM's. Then again - getting close to 60K miles out of a pair isn't all that bad - just sucks having to replace

 

Since I had such good results replacing the rear shocks last week I have decided I am going to replace the front shocks soon even though I already did the lower bushing in them. When I do that job I will get a good look at how the Welsh mounts have held up so far and take some pics while apart.

 

Rothwell - I thought it was fairly easy - had both sides removed in a little over an hour, then had to find an Autozone or Advance Auto nearby with a spring compressor

 

 

Looks good. What brand of sway bar links? I have the bushings from Powerflex but have not purchased the links yet.

 

Finished putting the front shocks back in the car this past weekend. Replaced the uppers with poly from Welsh and the lower bushings from SNG Barratt. Mine weren't near as bad as Steve's but the tires showed wear in the same spot. I only gained a 1/2in in ride height, I hope that's all it needed. I used one of those 2 piece spring compressors that I bought at a local parts store. (around $50) and would not recommend them. Seemed like a tool just waiting to become a missile.

 

Rich - I'll check the invoice when I get home tonight but I either got the sway bar links from Welsh or SNG Barratts
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Fulton - sounds like the same spring compressor I used - definitely not the best. I've actually thought about getting a hydraulic spring compressor - but would need to use it more than once every few years.

 

I believe that the best (and safest) way to use spring compressors is to keep at least two or three sets of different models of them. Some are longer, some are shorter, some are wider, some are skinnier. Wayne (cjd777) and I have found that there are times when you need a combination of them in order to accomplish the desired result. That certainly proved to be the case when we replaced the shocks and shock mounts on my wife's 2006 XK8 several years ago....

 

Rich - sway bar links were ordered through Welsh

 

I've got the upper shock mounts waiting to go on. I guess I might as well order the sway bar links while I'm at it. Nice photos and some encouragement !