Hi, I just bought me a XK8 1997 Convertible, and it scraches the speedbumps if I approach them a bit too fast.

I am not that familiar to these cars, but have measured the distance from center of the wheel in front to the top of the front wheel arch - approx 35 cm (13 3/4 inch). Is this normal height or is it too low?

Thank you for all your help so far.

 

Front should be 15.74", rear 15.94". You definitely have a problem. New upper shock mounts can give you 1/2 to 1".

 

+1 on the upper shock mounts.

Being that low, you should look at your springs as well. You didn't list your mileage, but tired OEM springs can be another 1 - 2 inches.

 

According to previous owner, the upper shock mount (at least on left side) are changed.

Milage is 41000 mile (USA export). I suspect springs to be tired, but the car seems very firm.

 

Could a previous owner have installed lowering springs? That just seems too extreme. Look at the upper mount from the wheel well, is the spring pad squashed and falling apart? It's also possible to add a spacer between the shock mount and the seat up to 3/8" thick, but that still isn't going to get it near normal.

My97 was 14 1/8 LF when I bought it a couple of years ago. New shock mounts and spacer has it at 15 1/4 now and camber is within tolerance.

 

Hi.

Here are all the numbers.

 

The reason I say this (my car is lowered) is because if you just want to do one set you do the rears since the butt of this car, in the US anyway, sticks up like it is in heat. Doing one side with shock mounts is also strange, you sure don't want the car to be unbalanced. One way to check though is that the lowered springs are generally painted the stock springs not so much. If they are butt ugly they are likely stock and tired.

 

Lowering springs or not, the car is way too low, and new springs must be fitted. I will naturally at the same time check upper shock mounts and probaly change the damper too (included the lower shock bushing).

In the rear, the height is not that bad, so I will await this decision until I have done the front.

Thank you for all your help so far.

 

This seems to be a very common issue lately???


Jaguar XK8 and XKR Front Coil Spring Range | Jaguar and Daimler Parts and Accessories

There are different rate springs and types according to the chart above.