Hello,

Before I ask, maybe a dumb question, thanks to all on this forum for making a "new to Jaguar" owner feel more confident in repairing my XKR. My uninstalled parts box is filling up so I wanted to ask about the front springs.

I have all the parts I need to assemble the front struts ahead of time, then just remove and replace the old.

I notice some paint marks on the new springs. Dumb question, but does it matter how I install the springs in relation to the shock. Or should the paint on the spring be facing the outside? inside? does it matter. I have a well made spring compressor, and putting new boots and stops on too. I hope this makes sense.

Thanks again,

 

The marks are just to indicate the spring rates.

The bottom plastic spring packer may have a shape to match up with the bottom of the spring, so you should orient that to match, but otherwise, rotation does not matter. The springs are symmetric and the travel is completely vertical.

 

Note that the lowest part of the OEM spring does not sit at the lowest point of the shaped spring packer. The packer has an end stop that the spring should butt up against.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I see the white plastic at the bottom of the spring attached.

So, over the shock, lower seat, spring packing, spring, bumper, dust cover, upper mount.

Also, the upper mount I got from JagBits is loose as in not attached from top to bottom with urethane in between. Do they come this way?

 

If this is meant to describe the order of assembly, then almost. The boot and bump stop should pop into the cup on the underside of the upper mount. You can put those parts together and then slide them over the shock shaft.


Trying to remember. I thought the top and bottom plate were riveted together through the urethane, but I could be wrong.

Thinking about it, there was a little play in mine when I replaced them. But once under load of the spring and the weight of the car, it aint goin anywhere.

 

Mine came from SNG Barratt and were unattached as well. As noted earlier they are not going anywhere once they are under spring pressure.

Make sure you clean the threads on the studs first. They likely came painted or powder coated and will strip and/or snap off if the nuts do not fit well.