Hello, all. I am new here. I moved to Baja California with my 1998 Jaguar XK8 (which has only 46,000 miles on it) and the bumpy rocky roads are tearing it up. After taking the car to two alignment specialists here, I understand that I need 2 front lower ball joints ("LBJs"). The mechanic I would use to replace them cannot help me get or find the parts, which are not available here in Baja; he speaks no English and my Spanish is limited. I have looked and looked for the parts and and cannot find or am not sure anymore what I need. (I would buy them online, have them sent to my PO Box in San Diego, and have a mail service pick them up there and deliver them to me.)

I have read (in this forum and elsewhere) all about how Jaguar supplies only control arms that include LBJs and other parts I don't need. I also understand that it is difficult to press in separate LBJs, but I am hopeful that the mechanic will be able to do this. (I just spent over $2,000 on electronic repairs, I may be looking at $1-2,000 more for such repairs, and I do not want to spend another $1,000+ - or even $500 - on the wheels. Kelley Blue Book says my care is only WORTH $6-$7k, and if I cannot fix the wheels for less, then I may just have to forget making further repairs and get rid of the car.

I have searched on line for LBJs and have seen several web sites on whicfh LBJs are sold that are described as being compatible with my XK8. However, most of the sites are in Europe, India, or other distant locations. I have seen one or 2 US sites showing LBJs stated to fit my car, but the part is not now available from them. Then there are other sites that say the same LBJ is NOT compatible with my XK8.

More specifically, some sites say that Part No. MNC1350AA fits my car. Others state that it fits (only) other Jag models. At least two sellers have replied to my emailed questions by saying it does NOT fit the XK8.

So, can somebody please tell me EXACTLY what part (preferably with a part number) I need? And if they know where I can order it, that would be great. Sorry if I am asking a question that has been answered before, but I am not savvy about repairs and did not see the info in my search here.

 

In order to get an accurate part number it would be helpful if you could post the last six digits of your car's VIN number.
It's a long number on a plate on the windscreen, but we just need the last six letters/numbers.

 

Here is end of VIN: 020753

Just curious - why do people want those numbers; aren't all 1998 XK8s the same, part-wise?

 

I noticed you are in Mexico, and some parts for UK/USA cars have different part numbers or specs.
Probably not in the case of things like ball joints, but the VIN will eliminate the possibility of a mistake, so it's always worth knowing.

Looking at the Jaguar parts catalogue (JEPC) for your model year is not giving me the part number for the lower ball joint, it just gives the part number for the lower wishbone the ball joint is attached to.

Someone will know it, and i'm sure you won't have to wait long for an accurate answer.

Hang in there.

I just looked for lower ball joints on a UK website for Jag parts, which are available seperately and the part number is the same as you've quoted, for 97-02 cars.
They are also only about £15 each, so i can't imagine they'll be too hard to find, once you know who to try.

 

Thank you. I bought the car in the US and drove it here when I moved to the Ensenada area 2 years ago.

Yes, as I say, Jaguar sells only a control arm that includes the ball joint, and it is $$$. But my research revealed that the part is sold separately - or at least, A part is sold separately that is claimed to fit the '98 XK8. Most of those sites have been in Europe (one in India) though.

But posters on this forum have said they installed just the lower ball joints (with difficulty), so I am hopeful that someone out there can tell me what I need and maybe where I can find it for sale in North America.

 

From what i gather they have to be pressed in with a fairly strong pressing machine.
It can be done though, if you know or can find a garage with a press once you've got the ball joints.

 

There are several places to buy just the ball joints for our cars. Mine is a '97 but I'm sure there are ones that fit your '98.
I bought mine off ebay from a place in southern California.
I had a local machine shop do the job of removing the old and pressing in the new ones for $30.

 

Thank you, Bob. I imagine there are, indeed, many places where I can buy the part I need, including eBay. However, I cannot buy a part without being able to identify it specifically. I was in the process of buying the part identified, above, from an eBay seller - the only seller there who listed it as fitting my XK8. Then he told me he had just gotten out of hospital and was too sick to sell me the parts! So I contacted other sellers of the same part (or what I think is same part), and each of them told me it would NOT fit the XK8. Thus my confusion. I don't want to buy parts online and get them all the way down to a mechanic's in Mexico, only to then find out that they do not fit.

I think I need to know, with certainty, the part number.

 

See if this link helps you.

Link Lower control arms II - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

Thanks, Gus, but I already read that thread. It is some guy selling the entire control arm - the thing I said I did NOT want to buy. Maybe $500 apiece is a good deal for the control arm, but as stated above, I don't want to pay that kind of money when all I believe I need are a couple of lower ball joints.

 

I have not replaced the lower ball joints myself but I do understand they can be a challenge.

 

I think the issue w/ replacing the lower control arm ball joints is the odd angle at which they are pressed into the forging. If the parts were a flat and the force was perpendicular to the piece, there would be no problems. But I would probably like to fabricate a jig to hold secure the arms before using a hydraulic press to remove and replace them.

 

The specific difficulties with pressing the lower ball joint in place are pretty well-described in other posts on this forum. I am hoping the mechanic here can figure it out. (They may be more resourceful here, in Mexico, where parts are difficult to obtain for many cars driven here by US citizens.)

All I want to know is how can I identify and find the right part?

 

See if this is what you are looking for

Link Xk8 Lower Ball Joints

You Are Welcome!

 

Or this site in Great Britain... Ball Joint Lower - MNC1350AA | Jaguar XJ8 X308 - XJR, Jaguar XK8 - XKR | Jaguar | British Parts UK

I think some of the confusion surrounding this part is the fact that Jaguar dealers will not replace the ball joint, but force the owner to buy the whole control arm assembly. Consequently, the part listed for ball joint replacement is the control arm, not the ball joint.

If it were me, I'd get the MNC1350AA. But I have not replaced this ball joint, and for the record, I do not know for certain that this is the part number you need.

 

Thank you, Gus. Yes, I saw and bookmarked that site before. That is the part I identified above, when I said: "More specifically, some sites say that Part No. MNC1350AA fits my car. Others state that it fits (only) other Jag models. At least two sellers have replied to my emailed questions by saying it does NOT fit the XK8."

IF it is the right part, then the part (for sale at the site you refer to @ $80.00) sells for as little as $22, including shipping, on eBay. (But the seller of the $22 part says it does not fit the XK8.) I suppose it would be safer to at least buy the part from a site that SAID it fits my car, such as the site you refer to; however, I was hoping someone on this site, with experience with this part, could tell me whether or not it is, in fact, a fit. (If so, I'd buy the $22 one on eBay, despite the seller's statement.)

 

Thank you, Gordo Cat Car! I may well have to take a chance and just buy the part. But between the hassle of getting it here to me in Mexico, and then trying to get a Spanish-speaking mechanic to install it, when maybe it is not even the right part ... well, I SURE would feel better knowing first that it fits!

 

Don't worry... Mexican mechanics can get anything to fit. Why do you think they call their hammer the Mexican speed wrench?

PS: I'd skip the eBay parts unless you know for certain they are a brand name you trust. There are just too many Chinese knock-off parts being sold on eBay. Some are quality, but most are junk.

 

Oh no ... I shouldn't buy on eBay? I shouldn't buy parts that might be made in China? This is getting too complicated!

It's true - I just checked - that most of the lower ball joints with the Part No. I think I need that are sold on eBay do not say where/who makes them. Two exceptions: One seller of a pretty expensive part says they are made in the UK (but doesn't say by whom), and one says the part is made by Vollig (which has a thingy over the o suggesting it is a German name). But the Vollig web site I found does not even identify where the company is.

Would it be DANGEROUS to have cheap ball joints? Because if not, then I might as well risk getting a cheap part that does not fit my car than a costly one. If the cheap part fits - and breaks, well - I'll know what part I need and can shop for a better one next time. Labor here in Mexico is cheap.

 

Hello Msterieus, Just a thought, try reaching the guys at Coventry West here in the Atlanta Ga. area, they are always helpful with my needs:

www.coventrywest.com, or sales@coventrywest.com, or to 800-331-2193, they ship worldwide, maybe they can help.