You know I've read about so many upper shock mounts deteriorating that I decided to measure ride height. Sure enough my 18 month old replacements need replacement.

Got the Welsh poly mounts last night. As I was planning the install this morning, I realized they sent 3 nondescript nuts and washers. Ah its early, I started typing this thread thinking we have fancy nuts on the stock mounts. It just hit me that they are covered, probably nothing special.

Well since I started typing, let me ask: For those who have done the Welsh mounts - Must these replace the ones up top on the old mount or are they just spares?

Thank you, John

 

John, seems that Welsh upgraded their kits from the 1st offerings. The kit Wayne and I installed had the individual Poly donuts and we had to rivet the 2 metal halves back together. Recently it seems that they ship the entire piece (metal & donuts) pre-riveted and ready to install. The extra nuts & bolts we used to pull the 2 metal halves back together to rivet them prior to install. Suggest if the OEM nuts fit the the threads of the replacement mounts, use them. They do not require high torque. I am still happy with my install and they returned my height to w/i 1/8" of OEM specs.

 

Thanks kstev, makes sense. Hey, this just hit me: if I'm raising the height at least an inch, will I need an alignment? I bet yes, but no would be nice ��.

John

 

You may or may not need an alignment after your new Welsh front poly shock mounts are installed. Wayne (cjd777) and I installed these front mounts (as well as a new pair of Bilstein front shocks) on my wife's 2006 XK8 in January 2016. The car's ride height was raised by about 1.5 inches up front and the much-improved geometry brought the alignment specs back into the green range so I did not have to do a fresh alignment. Nearly 15 months later, treadwear continues to be even across all four tires....

 

John, make sure the studs are clean of paint before install. I'm a little late on this thread and hope you are still in the process.
Great product and easy enough to install.

Wayne

 

Thanks Wayne, no you're not too late it's been an afternoon of Murphys Law in action :-). You know I am debating whether to post a warning about polyflex washers for the upper bushings. Somehow they corroded and we're a real hard job to get off. After a 2 hour struggle to remove the bolt, I reamed the inside out with a dremmel so they would move freely on the bolt. Then my impact wrench died. At least I hadn't compressed the spring yet. Well you know what I'll be what Orting on tomorrow ��. Thanks for the heads up.

John

 

Not much to align on a X100. I just Eyeballed the toe on mine (I had a worn driver's side inner tie rod, too) and its been great for nearly 8,000 miles.

 

Hi John,

The ones I got came fully assembled but the 3x nuts supplied did not fit the 3 shock mount studs..?
As you know I'm still having problems with my setup so I certainly can't offer any advice.
I surrendered and have mine booked into the dealer tomorrow to see if they can get to the bottom of it. Will let you know how I get on. I'm sure you'll have no such problems - the install is a cinch really. Cheers Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff, I didn't get to try the 3 nuts, was just thinking ahead. Tomorrow I'm off to buy a new impact wrench and should have the mounts in by afternoon. I can't wait to hear what the dealer finds for you. Hope its something cheap and easy.

BTW, I had the sping / shock assembly out today. The shock mount is at half it's thickness when new. Worn out in around 1 year! Gosh this one is in worse shape than the factory one I replaced at 75K miles! I wish I remembered where I bought it for sure, pretty sure it was Parts Geek.

Looking forward to feeling the difference with the new ones in.

John

 

About the 3 nuts, you will need to use the new ones supplied by Welsh. The OE nuts were different thread when I did mine.

Beware of PartsGeek
^^^^^^^^

 

Guys, does the poly replacement ad any harshness to the ride?
Thanks!

 

Not in my experience. The Welsh mounts are the way to go.

 

Nothing is harsher than crushed foam metal on metal.

 

Job Finished - I don't like compressing the darn springs, but wow it was worth it. Noticable increase in ride height up front, will have to measure it later. Ride certainly not harsher in any way at all. In fact is has improved across the board.

This change is hard to define scientifically but let me put it like this: Do you ever think to yourself, "hmm, I used to be able to attack corners much more aggressively and feel like I have full control. On top of that she seems to be leaning a bit more into turns"? Well I did, that is gone now. It is best described as a feeling of continuity - of just rightness. You have good control. If you attack a corner too fast, recovery is in your control.

I can't say I like how she looks with the higher sitting front end, but I sure do like the way she drives now - it's worth it.

One more thing, I feel less road rumble in the steering wheel now too. No feeling at all when she's perfectly straight, but as soon as you start to turn, I felt rumbling in the wheel. This is greatly diminished.

As I've said before I don't particularly like posting reviews that are based on so many intangible things (feeling, rightness, etc.) but it describes it best. Figured some may wonder what kind of a difference these make. (the Parts Geek deteriorated ones were at 1/2 the height of the new ones without any pressure.

John

 

John, glad you are Happy with the poly mounts. Back earlier (late 15 or early 2016), they cost us dearly and we had to rivet the 2 metal halves together. 2 poly mounts and 2 poly assisters cost us over $240. The general feeling was "It Was WORTH it."

 

So I bought a set of Welsh mounts. I will hopefully get them done soon as my passenger side is wiped out. She is harsh and now she has started a new game of which way is she going George.... while driving a straight line.

 

Mine still don't work. Even the dealer couldn't pin it down. They thought the chatter was in the shock assembly but when they pulled it apart they could find nothing wrong with it...
I'm now sort of wondering if Welsh sent me the wrong mounts? My original thread is here:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...rattle-178214/

 

Rattle after repair, This might sound dumb but check your you door latch. I had 93 mustang that rattled so bad and I replaced every bushing you could think of. A friend of mine pointed out it was missing the plastic wrap around the pin. A $5 fix.