XJR Stuff
Author
Discussion

jollyjacktar

Original Poster:

5 posts

224 months

Sunday 10th December 2006
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Hello all,

I have just purchased a 96 XJR, my 1st Jag and I am very pleased with it!!

I have a couple of questions for the Jag experts out there;

1. The Jag has had a knock at back at some stage as such the rear bumper 'sits' low on the LHS. I have had a look and it appears that the mounting has sheared. Can anyone tell me how to remove the bumper correctly, how much to replace and the likely cost?

2. The Jag feels like it tracks/wanders is this indicative of a worn shock, or a figment of my imagination as I get used to the light Jaguar steering?

3. Any recommended Indie Jag specialist in the Somerset/Dorset/Devon other than NM Jags?

thanks in advance

JJT

groomi

9,324 posts

259 months

Sunday 10th December 2006
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The XJRs do tramline quite a bit, although if you're really struggling it's worth checking out. My V8 has had the lower steering column replaced due to worn bushes but I don't know if this affects the straight 6s. Track rod ends and suspension bushes will also wear as with any other car of this size so could be another contrubuting factor.

Can't help with the bumper I'm afraid. Replaced one on my old XJ40 but that must be different to the X300s.

LewisR

678 posts

231 months

Friday 15th December 2006
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Ball joints will always effect the way a cra drives and you can't always wiggle a wheel when jacked up to see which one's worn due to them being under spring load. My old Saab 900 used to wander at speed. i got so fed up I removed the entire front suspesion it was then that I found a very worn ball joint. A new one was about 12 quid.

jaguar steve

9,232 posts

226 months

Friday 15th December 2006
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Hi JJT

Rear bumper brackets do corrode and fail on these, from memory I don't think they cost a fortune or are difficult to replace.

My old X300 XJ wriggled about like a cut worm on some surfaces, even though it had new OE tyres and had a full laser geometry check. The only partial cure I found was to play about with tyre pressures, Comfort pressures in the front and Full Load in the rear helped

Mind you the replacement XJ 8 I now have is not much better. Could be it's a Jaguar thing as The Management's 206 GTI is perfect on the same stretch of road. Bloody would be though, wouldn't it!

jollyjacktar

Original Poster:

5 posts

224 months

Wednesday 27th December 2006
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Chaps,

Thank you for your advice. Further to my point about the XJR 'tramlining' is there any particular choice of tyre manufacturer that would help to reduce this? I have P6000s on the rear but an obscure manufacturer on the front(CARAT, which is far too similar to BORAT for my liking!!) The front tyres will need to be replaced fairly soon - so any help/recommends appreciated.

Thank you and Happy New Year

JJT

.richard

74 posts

235 months

Wednesday 27th December 2006
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Have X300 with XJR wheels and have owned for eight years. They do like to wander a little. New track rod ends improved mine but still not perfect. Have always fitted Pirelli P zero and never had a puncture, Jaguar Enthusiast Club produced a very good article on replacing rear bumper mountings(corrosion caused by using dissimilar metals). Didn't look too difficult.

jagman7666

3 posts

223 months

Tuesday 2nd January 2007
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Worth having the suspension / bushes /tyres checked. While it is on a ramp get the dealer to look at the bumper and quote - it shouldn't be too much. Try Arun Ltd in Pulborough. Very reasonable and also have second hand parts if needed (01798 874477).

Scrooloose

888 posts

232 months

Wednesday 3rd January 2007
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When I owned my XJR the sterring was fine on it. Always had PZeros on it though......

Rear bumper brackets commonly rust through, then the bumper sags.

For servicing, Dorset Jag Centre just outside of Poole are superb!

Jaguarnut

86 posts

233 months

Friday 5th January 2007
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Swallows Jaguar of Rooksbridge, Somerset are good. They are located on the A38 just north of Highbridge. Exit M5 at J22, take A38 north. Although I do not have an XJR, I am aware of the type of problem I'm informed by fellow members of the JEC that Pirelli P Zero's are not the best choice for XJR's, they tend to exacerbate the tramlining type problem. If memory serves, Michelins or perhaps Bridgestones are better choices. Just ensure that the speed and load index's of the tyres are up to the stanf=dard required of an XJR - use a reputable tyre dealer! You propably have a more fundamental problem, and that is of worn wishbone bushes. There are 4 of them either side at the front. When worn, they tend to compress because of the forces placed upon them by the vehicle moving. This results in the wheels toeing out slightly under motion. After a while, the inside edges of the front tyres wear which is the visible clue. Having the tracking checked is no answer, as this is done statically, i.e vehicle not moving and therfore the bushes are less stressed.
I have had these bushes replaced on one of mine 12 months ago and the difference is amazing. Swallow did mine and used genuine OE Metalastic bushes - always recommended to ensure the ride/handling as designed by Jaguar.

Jaguarnut

86 posts

233 months

Friday 5th January 2007
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Sorry, I forgot two points. The issue of tramlining/wandering is more noticable on 6 cylinder cars than V8's, the design being altered on V8's to avoid the problem. I believe it was only partially successful however!
As for the rear bumper, removing is best as a two man operation. From underneath the section at the rear, there is one bolt either side going vertically upwards. Remove these, support the bumper at either side and simply slide straight back. The mount I suspect as the cause of the trouble, bolts to the shell of the car and is easily removed. Replacements are readily available from SNG Barratt's of Bridgenorth by mail order. What usually happens is that corrosion takes place between two dissimilar metals, thus causing the bumper to drop. On re-assembly, coat the mountings and bolts with either Waxoyl or Copperease grease to stop a re-occurance.
Hope this all helps!

a8hex

5,830 posts

239 months

Friday 5th January 2007
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Jaguarnut said:
Sorry, I forgot two points. The issue of tramlining/wandering is more noticable on 6 cylinder cars than V8's, the design being altered on V8's to avoid the problem. I believe it was only partially successful however!
As for the rear bumper, removing is best as a two man operation. From underneath the section at the rear, there is one bolt either side going vertically upwards. Remove these, support the bumper at either side and simply slide straight back. The mount I suspect as the cause of the trouble, bolts to the shell of the car and is easily removed. Replacements are readily available from SNG Barratt's of Bridgenorth by mail order. What usually happens is that corrosion takes place between two dissimilar metals, thus causing the bumper to drop. On re-assembly, coat the mountings and bolts with either Waxoyl or Copperease grease to stop a re-occurance.
Hope this all helps!


You might well find that the bumpers on 6 cylinder cars are locked in place. Shortly after I bought mine I got a letter from Jaguar asking me to take my car in to have locking blots fitted as they had received complaints from several owners of bumpers being stolen. The bumpers of the X300 were about £1500 and even a tiny car park kiss could result in the chrome strip lifting and the bumper needing replacement. The V8s had the chrome reduced to mere corner decorations to alleviate this problem.

jollyjacktar

Original Poster:

5 posts

224 months

Wednesday 14th February 2007
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Guys,

Thankyou for all your comments. I did indeed take the Jag to Swallows and their service was excellent. The suspension was sorted out and the car was better but seems to have gone back to its old way of tramlining - oh well!

My latest problem is with the sound system. The speakers stopped working one by one until they completely gave up the ghost. My suspicion was that the HK amp had given up - unfounded as the replacement did not fix the fault! My question is how now to get the CD/Radio out of the dash to look for loose wires? Anyone with any other theories.

regards
Jack