Well, I have finally found the ambition to take care of the bushing replacement. I want to thank all who gave input and helped me thru this job. In the end, I decided to replace all of the bushings (upper and lower), both wheel bearings, and all of the ball joints. The total cost was about $1300. including the shop cost to press everything, certainly much lower than the price I got from the dealer. I did discover that the rear lower control arm bolts can not be put in reverse as it has a shoulder just below the head. So the steering rack must be disconnected if the bushings ever need another replacement. I did not see any reason the lower front bolts could not be reversed which would make any future disassembly easier. But in the end, I put them back in the correct orientation, just in case. The total job took me about 9 hours to complete which I thought was not too bad considering how much has to be disassembled.

As I was working on this project, I began to think I may want to replace my shocks some time this year. I looked on my JTIS disc for the instructions, but could not find anything. Upon a closer look at the info, I realized thatmy disc appears to beincomplete. Any thoughts on the best shop manual for the xk8 and whereit canbe purcahsed? I bought the one I have on e-bay in 2000.

Rabbits2

 

Wow, you got alot of great help and should be satisfied with your work!

One small addition about the lower arm bolts: if you were to have put them in backwards, it just makes it a little more difficult to hold them in place while tightening the nut during the process of setting the camber. Not a big deal, but that's the only difference I know of.

 

I wish I had the cahones to do that myself. I admire your ambition.

 

Currently need to replace the upper and lower bushings and front shock absorber lower bushings. I have access to white delrin rod and can machine all of the bushings. Delrin is harder than rubber maybe a Shore A 95 and abrasion and impact resistant. Thoughts Comments?