I'm getting ready to rebuild the suspension and am wondering if fitting the cheapest ball joints I can find on Ebay would be a false economy. Thanks in advance.

 

Are you looking for the Upper Ball Joint (item 8), Lower Ball Joint (item 8) or both?


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The biggest saving can be made if you have the facilities or contacts to press in the replacements.

Graham

 

Yes Graham, I'll be pressing in both top and bottom joints.
Genuine parts are very much more expensive than pattern parts so I'm wondering if they would last any longer, if so that would justify the extra expense.

 

Bill,

There's three levels to choose in descending order of cost:

1. OE Jaguar in a logo box
2. aftermarket from the same manufacturers Jaguar use or equivalent standards
3. dubious quality far East

I'd have no hesitation in going for (2). Look for 'Lemforder' in the sellers description as a guide to quality.

Graham

 

That's some excellent info Graham, and exactly what I wanted to know.
I just typed in 'Lemforder XK8' and both parts have popped up
Thank you very much.
lemforder xk8 | eBay

 

You can always tell an original from a pattern part, the originals use a metric fine thread 1.5 pitch where as the after market are a standard 1.75 pitch.......

I have fitted the Brit part items many times without issue

 

I bought the entire front end suspension kit from Xk8 Suspension Kit - XK8KIT1 | Jaguar XK8 - XKR | Jaguar | British Parts UK

Worked out great for me

 

I think British Parts have got another customer then. A complete set of four ball joints costs less than £40 from them. And I noticed that an aluminium thermostat housing costs £25 whereas I paid £45 on Ebay.
Thanks a lot.

 

Don't use the Brit Parts upper arm bush kit, it is a disaster.

 

+1 The worst polyurethane bush kit I have ever seen, went straight in the bin!

 

I've bought a complete Powerflex polyurethane bush kit, for the front and back, was that a good move do you think?

 

Powerflex......... No worries I am a dealer myself

 

I got them about twelve months ago off a company called Larkspeed I think it was, but I'd have bought them off you if I'd known. I've just noticed that the grease is missing from most of the boxes, do you know what sort I should use please?

 

Any copper based grease will do, I must admit I rarely use the supplied grease but my own, it us just easier out of the tin with a brush

 

That's great, thanks a lot.