Sam - I would consider replacing what you can while you're in there (items in red for certain) - sway bar bushings, upper mounts, upper A-Arm bushings, bump stops, sway bar end links. Take a good look at the lower control arm - are the bushings/ball joints in good shape? If so, then I would leave but if questionable, consider options.

The purple bushings are PowerFlex poly bushings - I replaced all bushings on my XK8 with Powerflex

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/ca...1996-2006-1451

 

Just found a interesting sight on replacing front suspension parts and some of the mistakes made on install.
Most have been discussed on this or other threads and this one caught my attention as it dealt with the top shock tower mounting at the inner fender.
I and I'm sure many others have jacked up the A arm to hold the top three bolts tight against the inner fender and then torqued them to specs. OK, properly works most of the time, but this guy showed that even a small amount of twisting or turning as the suspension goes to it's neutral position for that car, it can put a stress on the top bushings as for settling in it's normal relaxed state. Every time the suspension moves up and down, there is a slight bounce on a bushing that is kind of stressed sideways. I have said in the past, I'm a little OCD. LOL
So, what is needed, crank down a few turns on the nuts and then wait until the car is has been fully weighted on the suspension before tightening any of the Arms as per standard practice but adding the same situation to those top three bolts. The stress taken off the twist in that area may be small, if any, but not a big deal to make it part of the process.
If you have already done yours, easy enough to loosen up the three bolts, drop the suspension down a 1/4 inch, set it back on the ground and roll it around a few yards and retorque the bolts on both sides.
Hope this helps keep the shock centered for a little longer.

 

Good information. Especially about torqueing after on the ground for a few days.

 

While I continue to wait for my title transfer, I have been able to put on about 10 miles on my 06 XKR after all the front end work. I am posting the alignment and wheel height measurements for us to 'geek out' on:-) the car has been sitting for about 5 weeks now and the current measurements are as follows:

Centre of wheel to top of wheel well:
Front left: 15 1/4"
Front right: 15 3/4"
Rear left: 15 1/4"
Rear right: 15 1/4"

alignment results before and after: (see attched .pdf)

Robert

 

Robert, I know you didn't replace springs and I think I sent you the spacer for the inner fender. If you placed the spacer on the right, then your right spring was in good shape and didn't need the spacer. Easy enough to remove that and get your height down in the 15 1/2 range, which looks to be where your car is within specs for the camber.
Is that toe right? I seem to remember it different and that is a alignment problem that can be solved. You put all new bushings in, I do remember that.
Thanks for the update and sorry you are still having the title issue.

 

Thanks to the group in general and you in particular for fast tracking my front end build Wayne. All the rush to end up waiting....... Oh well, could be worse. I will make the necessary tweaks once I'm back on the road, hopefully not much longer. I will be sure to post a follow up.
Robert

 

Amazing! my welsh mounts are on their way out in less than a year of daily driving!

For those of us living on the other side of the world, how do we get a set of mounts?

Shipping the old ones would be pricey

 

Hashim, Thank you for your interest and sorry to say, I have not figured out the overseas shipping problems yet.
If you would PM me your address, I will check into what needs to be done.
I do know a soft package seems to be the way to get it shipped.

 

Shipping from US to UAE isn't an issue, iv got a forwarding address with reasonable prices.

The problem lies in shipping the core old mounts to UAE, the prices are basically robbery!

 

PM sent.

 

I will contact Wayne to have a set for next time. I saved the Welsh mounts I removed for him to rebuild...you can see below how bad it was. Junk, I noticed rubber chunks starting dropping out on the ground not too long after I installed them and I couldn't figure out from where until I saw the top of the shocks shifted. Keep in mind this is on a car that is only driven maybe once a month and garage kept. And every time we bring it back we pop the hood open immediately and leave it open to release hot air.
It would be good to post here for all to know approximate turn around time.

 

Hello, I am in need of help. New to this forum and limping my way through the door with figuring out how to communicate. I have a 1997 XK8 that needs the bushings replaced and would like to give my business to Wayne (CJD777) if he would like it. How do I get in touch with him? I’m no stranger to mechanics but new to the Jaguar.

 

try sending CJD777 private message on this board. You can share your phone # in that PM. Wayne will contact you. I think you will like his product.
Click CJD777 in his main message several options should appear. several optionss appear one will be Private message