Hello All,

I am tempted to lower my xk8 because it feels like there is a bit of body roll and I am looking for a tighter steering feel.

Do I need to order new mounts? I have the foam ones and I can see a bit of it sticking out through the top of the spring housing.

When you lowered your car did it drastically improve the feel?

Is 1.5'' too much of a drop for these cars?

Is there any benefit to ordering the sway bar that mounts accross the towers over the engine?

 

Rear only lowered 1.25", No change in handling.

 

Put on new front springs and it lowered mine by~1.5" (I did not intend to lower it BTW). I also changed shocks and shock mounts.

No real change in handling, but the front end no longer scrapes and squeaks.

I would think newer bushings, especially the poly types, all around would tighten up handling more than lowering it would. Bigger sway bars maybe?

Search the forum. Several threads on suspension mods and the results.

 

Had my rears done last summer then did the fronts myself in the fall after realizing it would look even better. Mine are slightly stiffer but not horribly stiff. I didn't do my upper mounts but then in the spring went back and did the mounts and the front shocks. That made a drastic difference in handling. Much less wooly feeling. I do have poly bushes on my entire front end of the XJR and like them quite a bit, but don't think the lack of power that the xk8 has really warrants the swap.

Personally, at 15 years old I'd be looking at replacing a whole lot of the rubber and links under there before I thought about upgrading.

 

I lowered, put on a larger rear anti-roll bar, and poly bushings. The bushings made the biggest difference.

 

+1 on both comments.

 

I replaced my front anti roll bar bushings when I was under there doing an oil change, haven't gotten around to the rears but I was thinking by looking at them I should be able to just use some universal poly bushings back there as they look pretty basic. Since you've replaced yours (and the bar) I'd love your thoughts before crawling under there. These are the ones I was looking at.


Oh and if you're replacing the bushings might as well replace the links as well. The rears cross over to a Ford Contour by the way and you can get two for well under $20.

 

does anybody sell a complete bushing kit? I was planning on taking the car to a well known suspension shop here in long beach, california but I don't think they will have access to aftermarket parks for a jaguar (beyond just a spring set).

Also, wheres a good place to buy shocks?

 

PowerFlex makes a relatively complete set, that's what I used (got the whole set). I got the blue ones in the picture they also have a black set that is even stiffer.



PowerflexUSA - XK8 - XK8R (97+)

 

I went with PowerFlex blue.


PowerflexUSA - XK8 - XK8R (97+)