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Choir,
I did the same thing and dropped all my caster shims when I replaced my top bushings, and not knowing any better divided up the shims equally and reinstalled them with the new bushings.
When test driving after completing the re bushing of the front suspension the car tracked poorly, was not stable on the straight ahead, would follow any deviation in the road and in short felt very unstable. I realized the caster angle was the problem and a little research uncovered the diagram shown above by GGG.
To all intents and purposes there is no real down side to a high caster angle in vehicle with power steering, all it will do make it more stable in the straight ahead position. I decided to maximize the caster angle, I disassembled the top arm, and rearranged the shims placing them so I had the maximum caster angle. Now when I test drove it the car was very stable, tracked straight ahead, and did not follow any deviations in the road, and as time went on I found it was more relaxing to drive over long distances because it was so stable.
Never the less I had the whole front end realigned because of all the work I'd done in that area. When I reviewed the results I was surprised to find the caster angle was still not at the maximum allowable.
All the above is by way of an explanation because I don't think using the shims alone, you can exceed the allowable caster angle.
Regards,
White Bear.
Not to revive an old post but.. do you remember the way you placed your shims? I’d like to maximize my camber adjustment as much as possible (with just using the shims).
See White Bears post #10. Includes shim placement from factory. As well as shim sizes (allows you to use other washers in a jam)
John
i think ill try it his way. I just want a smooth ride. I didnt think that the placement of each washer was so important. But if you can notice a pretty big change, its worth a try.
Hello.
I have a 2004 xk8 bought used
. I have disassembled the front suspension to change the supports of the springs (rubber in poor condition). On my xk8, there are two thick and two thin washers on the fulcrum of the upper wishbone.
The distribution that came was symmetrical (thin and thick front and back on both sides).
But looking at the manual (R.O.W.) of 2011, in the left front part it puts two thick washers and in the rear part one thick and one thin.
Can someone tell me if it is an error in the manual and on the front left it should say thick and thin. Or in my xk8 they have come "customized".
I have also thought of placing them as in the U.K, but changing the right side for the left.
Consulted the alignment service, they have told me that the machine asks them to enter if the car has specifications of N. America, U.K. or Rest of the World. I mention it, because there must be some difference. In addition, the technician was very surprised that the washers were not symmetrical.
I have a 2004 xk8 bought second hand. I have disassembled the front suspension to change the supports of the springs (rubber in poor condition). On my xk8, there are two thick and two thin washers on the fulcrum of the upper wishbone
The distribution that came was symmetrical (thin and thick front and back on both sides).
But looking at the manual (R.O.W.) of 2011, in the left front part it puts two thick washers and in the rear part one thick and one thin.
Can someone tell me if it is an error in the manual and on the front left it should say thick and thin. Or in my xk8 they have come "customized".
I have also thought of placing them as in the U.K, but changing the right side for the left.
Consulted the alignment service, they have told me that the machine asks them to enter if the car has specifications of N. America, U.K. or Rest of the World. I mention it, because there must be some difference. In addition, the technician was very surprised that the washers were not symmetrical.
I have a 2004 xk8 bought second hand. I have disassembled the front suspension to change the supports of the springs (rubber in poor condition). On my xk8, there are two thick and two thin washers on the fulcrum of the upper wishbone
The distribution that came was symmetrical (thin and thick front and back on both sides).
But looking at the manual (R.O.W.) of 2011, in the left front part it puts two thick washers and in the rear part one thick and one thin.
Can someone tell me if it is an error in the manual and on the front left it should say thick and thin. Or in my xk8 they have come "customized".
I have also thought of placing them as in the U.K, but changing the right side for the left.
Consulted the alignment service, they have told me that the machine asks them to enter if the car has specifications of N. America, U.K. or Rest of the World. I mention it, because there must be some difference. In addition, the technician was very surprised that the washers were not symmetrical.
I’d just do it the way you found it. If it road fine then it’s fine. I don’t understand why they have differences based on where you live unless they changed the angles of the suspension based on what part of the world you bought the jag. Best thing is go off the manual and go get it aligned. They can tell you pretty quick if it’s in line or outta wack
I’d just do it the way you found it. If it road fine then it’s fine. I don’t understand why they have differences based on where you live unless they changed the angles of the suspension based on what part of the world you bought the jag. Best thing is go off the manual and go get it aligned. They can tell you pretty quick if it’s in line or outta wack
Thank you.
That's what I thought. Since I think this is an error in the manual (it seems logical that all vehicles come with four washers on each side, two thick and two thin), I'm going to mount them as I found them (which would match the manual if there was a typo in R.O.W.)
Thank you.
That's what I thought. Since I think this is an error in the manual (it seems logical that all vehicles come with four washers on each side, two thick and two thin), I'm going to mount them as I found them (which would match the manual if there was a typo in R.O.W.)
03-22-2017, 09:26 PM
