Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to the brain trust at JaguarForums.

TL;DR: Rear subframe coming out—replacing key bushings and deciding between OEM, aftermarket, or limited polywhile keeping NVH near stock. Also asking if it’s worth doing rear wheel bearings at the same time if they’re currently quiet.

For context, the rear shock absorbers, rear shock mounts (Baxtor poly mounts), and rear antiroll bar bushes and links, have already been replaced, so this is the next step in completing the rear suspension refresh.

I’ll soon be starting the next phase of this rear-end refresh and wanted to get some input before ordering parts. The work will involve dropping the rear subframe, so I’d like to do this once and do it right, with an emphasis on longevity and maintaining near-stock NVH.

The bushings I’m planning to replace are:

Rear subframe / differential-related bushes:

• Rear suspension frame carrier (subframe) mounts: MJA2595AC (x2)
  
• Differential strut mounting bushes: MJA3715AB2 (x4)
  
• Rear pendulum bottom bushes: CAC4713 (x4)
  
• Rear pendulum top bushes: CAC77601 (x2)
  

My understanding is that the rear subframe mounts are the most failure-prone, while the differential strut and pendulum bushes tend to hold up better. Since this job requires dismantling the entire rear end, I’d prefer not to cut corners and have to revisit it again in the near future.

I’m currently trying to decide between:

• OEM / OE-supplier rubber (metallastic) bushes
  
• Aftermarket rubber/metallastic bushes
  
• Selective use of polyurethane (e.g., subframe only), if NVH impact is minimal
  

Given the poor road conditions here in Puerto Rico—and prior negative experience with polyurethane bushes in the front suspension—I’m hesitant to use poly unless it’s generally agreed that NVH impact in this location is negligible.

There’s also a fairly significant price delta between OE and aftermarket options, which raises questions about aftermarket quality. I assume the original OE manufacturer was Lemförder, but I haven’t been able to confirm this. I’d prefer to avoid buying Genuine Jaguar parts if the OEM supplier is available separately.

To give an idea of relative costs (excluding shipping):

• SNG Barratt (all Genuine Jaguar): $456.64
  
• SNG Barratt (aftermarket where available): $259.52
  (Brand not specified; likely Eurospare or URO)
  
• Welsh: $355.80
  (Again, unclear which brands are used for non-OEM parts)
  

If polyurethane is a viable option without a noticeable NVH penalty:

• Poly bushes where available: $241.98
  
• Plus pendulum bushes (not offered in poly):
  • Aftermarket from SNG Barratt: $78.16 → $320.14 total, or
    
  • Genuine Jaguar from SNG Barratt: $198.38 → $440.36 total
    

Other vendors don’t seem to carry most of these bushes. FCP Euro and RockAuto only list the subframe mounts, and those appear to be URO, which I’m not particularly keen on.

A few specific questions for those with experience:

1. Who was the original OE manufacturer for the above part numbers (Lemförder, Delphi, etc.)?
   
2. Are the currently available aftermarket versions of these parts generally reliable, or are some known reboxed URO items to avoid?
   
3. Is polyurethane (e.g., “street” spec) acceptable for the rear subframe mounts without a meaningful NVH penalty, or is OEM rubber still the safer choice?
   
4. If the goal is maximum longevity with stock-like NVH, is sticking with OEM/OE parts worth the extra cost in your experience?
   

One additional question while the rear end is apart:
Given that the rear subframe will be dropped, is it worth proactively replacing the rear wheel bearings while access is improved, even if they’re currently asymptomatic (no noise, play, or ABS faults)?

I’d appreciate any insight—especially from those who’ve done this job or lived with different bushing materials long-term.

 

It's now six years since I replaced all bushings in my rear suspension, as well as in rear subframe. Went with rubber bushings in all since I know from my Bmw what character you get from poly, and that's something I'm happy with in my Bmw but absolutely don't want in my Xkr. Very happy with the result, car went from very vague road handling to as sharp as it gets with rubber bushings. I also did wheel bearings but wish I hadn't, the work to shim them in properly was a pain

 

Alright thanks! That's a vote for the rubber bushes. Do you remember if you bought aftermarket, OEM, or genuine bushes?

 

I sourced them from multiple retailers though I don't remember exactly now six years later. Most likely the ones I usually buy parts from and those are Sng Barrat, Terrys Jag Parts and British Parts

 

Personally I'd be very reluctant to use anything other than genuine Jaguar parts for that job. The amount of pulling, pushing, grunting and cursing justifies the cost and I would resent doing it twice due to cheap sub par parts.

Just saying