Hello Forum;
My wife and I recently purchased a 2000 XK8 about 4 months ago. Driving back to Los Angeles we both noticed a metal to metal bumping sound coming from the front of the car. When I was changing the oil I noticed the "X" brace was very close to the heavy casting. Tapping it a few times made the sound that we had heard while driving. It turns out that the X; brace was banging against the casting (engine mount?) when we drove over modest bumps. There was approximately 1/16 inch clearance and the brace seems to bump on the casting. I don't have a photo, but I did come up with a fix if anyone else has this anoying issue. I first stuffed a folded piece of cardborad between the two parts and took it for a test on a rough road; sound gone.
I purchased one foot of 5/8 heater hose; cut two 2 inch; lengths and then cut them lengthwise so I could wrap/slip them over the brace. Pulling the brace away from the casting I slid the rubber sections until they were under the casting and as Ed China says; Job Done. The banging is gone and it actually looks like it was supposed to look like this. Cost.... $1.41

Hope this helps
Phil

 

Sounds like the braces/unibody has been bent at some time in the past. Any alignment problems with the tires?

 

The car's never been in an accident. Steering is good and no unusual tire wear. The X brace looks straight, just very close to the casting just at the X intersection.

 

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for the tip. Nice to hear about an easy, inexpensive fix. Do keep an eye out for other alignment issues, as Testy suggests.


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Same car 2000 xk8. My clunk was only sway bar bushings and links.. easy inexpensive fix.
parts were under 50 and i paid 50 to install.

 

Coupes don't have an X-brace, but mine too was missing the sway bar bushing under the Airbox and they certainly make a banging noise when they go missing.

You are right, this is a super easy fix. Minimal tools/time are needed to put a new bushing in there.

 

Phil,

I'd look on that as a 'get-you-home-fix'.

You've cured the banging by stopping metal to metal contact but not the cause. If there's no evidence of accident damage then the contact has to be the result of worn or failed rubber bushings or mountings.

Graham