well iv seen diff's make the noise and the rear trani output nut coming loose... internal of the rear extension...

 

About 200 miles back my wife asked me, "what's that noise". I could not hear anything, but after an hour or so I began to hear a noise that sounded much like a radial tire buzz. It became stronger as the miles rolled up. I took it to a local shop this morning and this was the diagnosis: "sell it, it's the rear-end". I don't think so. It is a beautiful white 2000 with less than 55K on it. I would appreciate some suggestions other than "take it to the nearest Jaguar dealer and bend over". Are there some cheaper, simpler solutions? Can there be no help for the widow's son? Absent that, anyone interested in a really clean, low mileage XK8?

 

You need to get to a foreign car shop, not a dealer. It may be bearings, but even if it's more serious, a used diff. is not going to cost a fortune. There must be some forum members in your area who can suggest a shop.

 

You say it is a "radial tire buzz" noise. Could that noise also be described as a metallic rattle? If so, you could have a failed valve inside one or both of the rear shocks. That small metal valve piece breaks off and rattles around inside the shock. The only fix is new rear shocks. A common issue with these cars. Wayne (cjd777) and I had to address this issue last October on my wife's 2006 XK8 at just over 83,000 miles. New rear shocks fixed it instantly....

If you still have the lousy capped lug nuts from the factory, it could be the caps getting loose and rattling as the car is driven. This has been reported several times during the past few years....

 

The fellow who drove it and put it up on the rack did say that "it was louder on the right side" based upon his using a tire iron as a 'listening device' while the wheels were in motion. Perhaps it could also be something as simple as lubrication someplace that has been ignored? (I've read that XJ's have to be greased 'on both sides').

 

The lube on both sides refers to the universal joints. That would certainly be a good place to start since all it takes is a grease gun.

 

Also check the A Frame (arrowed in red) and Monostrut (item 13) bushes on both sides.


(click on the image to enlarge it)

The A Frame bushes in particular are a regular wear item allowing the frame to rotate under acceleration or braking. In worst case this can give metal to metal contact between frame and body.

Graham

 

I had the universal joints lubed on both sides, nothing changed. Using a stethoscope, I checked various locations. The loudest point was in the rear end pumpkin itself. A 'whirring sound' which vibrations could actually be felt. At this point I am leaning towards a problem inside the rear end. Any suggestions before I start looking for a used XK8 rear end?