Exactly one month ago & 811 miles I replaced the front strut bushings with the URO newer style parts I got with the car when I bought it. Simple thing, yeah right...



Lucky me found out about the best replacements in market just days after I had already installed this URO garbage. Yes garbage that started falling apart in days and now are making noises. Lucky I do my own labor or I would go broke with this car.
Those replacements are hand made by Wayne right here in NC. Got a hold of Wayne thru a message right here on the forums and visited personally face to face. What a great guy. Today I picked up my replacements and will be installing them this coming week.

 

I don't think it's just URO top mounts that are trash, but everything apart from the ones made by our two illustrious forum members.

 

Yep, when it comes to upper shock mounts, Wayne (cjd777) and Steve (baxtor) are the only way to go. Their expertise and dedication solved this longstanding issue for the entire XK8/XKR community....

 

having a pair of Wayne’s upper shock mounts on my parts shelf is better than money in the bank


Z

 

Hi 2003RagJag, that pair of yellow Strut Mount MJA2170BD that came with your car are the old design, which were updated in 2024 to orange PU material that's 42% more firm for better longevity, see https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-232078/page4/ for a detailed discussion.

 

Sorry URO support but mines were August 2024 Orange 🍊 and didn't last a month and they were off centered and had to buy Wayne replacements.

Mine were not the yellow ones.

 

Thanks for the additional info! The mount in your photo is actually burnt orange, and not old yellow stock that was still on a retailer shelf in 2024? The new version is a shade of pumpkin color.

 

Money in the trash, had to buy Wayne replacements in just a month.

Photo of the day I installed them. Yes, the new style. 2024 the crushed pumpkin color

 

URO Support,

You need to read all the threads pertaining to the XK8/XKR front shock mount failures dating back to at least 2021. There are numerous complaints about your product, the Welsh Enterprises product, the Eurospare product, and possibly others. The many failures after only a few months (or less) caused a couple of our very industrious longtime forum members to put on their thinking caps, do their research, and eventually custom-create what are now hands down the best front shock mounts on the planet. If you truly want to make and sell a premier product, you should speak with Wayne (cjd777) here in North Carolina and Steve (baxtor) in Australia. They may both be willing to help you if you are absolutely committed to doing so....

 

Got it, thanks! We'll have engineering evaluate another durometer increase. We did consult with Wayne in June of 2024, who recommended bumping up to 70A. The new orange bushings are halfway between the yellow OE durometer and Wayne's suggestion, since engineering was hesitant to deviate so far from OE. But in light of 2003RagJag's feedback, we'll definitely look at stepping up the durometer again for the next production run in a few months.

 

I think I speak for all of us when I say that we would all much rather sacrifice NVH if it means we can avoid replacing these shock mounts on a yearly basis. The functional lifespan on this part should be 10 years at a minimum.

 

Gian, thank you for your confidence in my efforts. Hope to be around to see one last that long. LOL
Not so sure the combination of parts involved in that suspension area being worn is not a big factor in the mounts having some of the issues.
One of the major problems was the washer that goes down to the shelf at the top of the shock stud was too small, took a while to wind that one. Remember how difficult it was to get your mount off, that was the problem, it had been hammered down the shaft. About every third one that comes to me needs to be reamed.
That's enough, sounds like they are on the way to having a good product. Here's hoping.

 

I for one appreciate the fact that URO is open to improving their product. Not to diminish Wayne's or Baxtor's time, effort and products.
(can you hear me Welsh?)
It would be great to hear from someone that replaced their worn out oem mounts, with oem, as to their life span (durability).
wj

 

Agree. You’ve got to hand it to URO for engaging with our experts and at least attempting to improve the product. Even if that means it’s not quite up to our specs.

 

Thanks guys! Wayne PM'd us additional recommendations, and our engineering team is working on it.

 

Went back and checked my records and as one who has completed 7 replacement cycles in 13 years using everything from OEM to URO (at least 2 sets), Welsh (OEM equivalent) and 2 sets of Welsh Poly's and now #7 a set of Wayne's - I feel confident based on reports that I am done for quite a while unless I am helping someone else replace theirs. So if you're in the Charleston SC area - let me know and we can knock these out in short order. I installed Wayne's this past Sunday - took 2 hours only because I backed up out of the garage enough to do one side, then had to install the wheel, reposition and complete the passenger side.

 

Well done Steve, be careful, you might be making house calls, like the guy who does the hoses on the tops.
That is fast, one question, do you take the inner fenders out?

 

I have found a good bit of the time spent on our front ends is tied up in removing the springs themselves.
l modified a spring compressor to jag specific specs which drastically reduces time taken and fear felt on that task.
simply locks into lower spring seat.

 

@cjd777 Hmm travel to replace - maybe. no, don't remove anything but the wheel and shock assembly. The first time I did the job, took about 2.5 days as the passenger side fulcrum bolt was seized. Had to use half a can of pb blaster and a 5lb sledge to eventually drive it out. Since I went with Powerflex bushings on the entire suspension, I use their PTFE/Silicon grease during reinstall and fulcrum bolts are much easier to remove.

 

baxtor, I really like your compressor. It looks to me like you could change out tops with it still in the car. Use a sideways air rachet and drop it down after compressing the spring.
Clever indeed.
On thread subject, just changed out a brand-new Welsh mount today, rotted on the shelf in the garage or should I say melted.
One note of interest, again, one washer slipped right down on the shock shaft, the other one required a bit of strong ratcheting to get the ream to clear out the extra metal. I keep a shock at the vise just to check every one.