Jaguar X-type suspension bushes

[BlueJag]

Hi guys, I've just bought a 2004 Jaguar X-type 2.0 Diesel Sport. It's in generally good condition but needs a bit of work doing so I'm hoping someone can help me out a bit.

The bushes on the rear shock absorbers have gone, I've read up on how to change them and have decided on getting some poly ones. The trouble is there are two sizes available (42mm or 44mm) and it's not going to be easy to tell which I need until the old ones are removed.

Just wondering if anyone here has the same model, or has worked on one and can give me an idea which to get.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[spudgun GB]

I did mine last year using the poly bushes on ebay. Mine was a 2.5 sport and used the 44mm ones.You can measure across the bush outer if you have a set on vernier calipers, or know someone who has, while in situ. That's what I did.

All went well on mine.

[webby23]

1900 members and a great community offering help and advice on the X-Type Register Facebook page of the Jaguar Drivers Club, they're great with tech info and advice

[spudgun GB]

webby23 said:

1900 members and a great community offering help and advice on the X-Type Register Facebook page of the Jaguar Drivers Club, they're great with tech info and advice

I will be all over that later, when I get home. Thanks for the heads up.

[BlueJag]

Thanks Spudgun, there's a vernier at work I can use. I presumed there'd be a bulbous lump either end that overlaps the edge you want to measure, but the originals are cylindrical so a caliper would be able to fit in there without having to remove the center bolt.

[spudgun GB]

Its not quite as simple as that, i'm afraid.

The bush steel outer fits flush across the lower mounting eye of the shock. However it was fairly obvious, on mine anyway, where the bush outer diameter finished and the shock eye began. I set the calipers up at the two sizes on offer, and compared it was pretty obvious.

I'm just throwing this bit out there as i'm not entirely sure, but I did wonder if the different sizes were nothing to do with the shock itself but if you left the outer sleeve in the the shock or pressed it out. If I remember rightly the outer sleeve was made of 1mm thick materail.

[BlueJag]

Thanks for the heads up, I've got some time off tomorrow so will have a look at it then. I get what you mean about the sleeve and the extra 2mm, think I'll try and leave them in if possible rather than risk damaging what's beneath in the process of getting them out.

[lexusboy]

Why not just change the whole damper assembly... Easier and quicker

[BlueJag]

Quite costly though and as far as I can tell the shock absorbers are still OK.

[jamieduff1981]

I changed my complete dampers when the bushes went. This would have been at around 75~80k. The dampers hadn't failed an MOT or anything like that - they just had squeaky bushes.

I was staggered at the change in both ride and steering response from the new rear dampers though, and would highly recommend replacement if affordable. They are one of those things that degrade steadily from new. Like not noticing your own child grow bigger, one tends not to notice how sloppy our cars get. I did my front dampers shortly afterwards and although an old cliché, it feels like a new car (or at least, it rides far better and the handling is far more taught now some newness has been added in key areas).

[BlueJag]

Thanks for the advice guys. My car's not been very well maintained for the last couple of years, so there are a few things that need to be sorted out. I've flushed the engine and changed the oil and filter, new air and fuel filters, run some redex through it. It still needs new brake pads and discs all round, both drive shafts changing and the bushes doing.

I will seriously consider changing the shocks once all that's done, but hopefully changing the bushes will get me through a few months, then I'll have another look at it.