1999 s type ball joint boots

[Warrengriffith]

Hi
The rear upper wishbone ball joints on my S type 1999 are in good condition but the covers are perished
My manual seems to suggest that it is necessary to do some serious dismantling to clean and replace the boots.
could someone advise as to the simplest procedure ?
Regards
Warren Griffith

[J44EAG]

I`ve been changing and overhauling S-type suspensions for years now so know them pretty well.

Removal of each top rear wishbone is not difficult. In fact its just two bolts, nuts and washers, plus the upper arm ball joint nut.. There is no camber, toe or caster adjustment possible so the fit inboard is purely two bolts through the structure and alignment is automatic. The ball joint on the outer end of each wishbone is NOT replaceable or are dust gaiters which are sealed into the ball joint/wishbone assembly and CANNOT be replaced. So if you have either ball joint wear or a rotted gaiter, then I`m afraid you will have to replace with new wishbones for about £100 each or take a chance with known condition pre-used parts.

I created a thread on early model S-type suspension rebuilding procedure here. It might be of interest to you.http://www.jec.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=200&t=8040

If you need further advice, please just ask. I can draw the suspension layout of S-type, X350 and XF models in my sleep!

Mike K

[Martec]

Sorry Mike your a bit out of date with the rear wishbones, Just about the time you replaced yours all the stock seemed to run out of pattern parts. I've been watching this situation and hoping that mine don't fail..........yet, and to this end I've been trying to remove a set from scrapyard cars.

I did borrow 'Roger's' rear suspension assemblies to try dismantling and found that the top wishbone ball joint both front and rear can be a pig.

The ball joint pin is a slack fit in the rear hub and the front swan neck, so will turn as soon as the nut is a little slack, but Jaguar conveniently gave us a hexagonal shaft below the threaded bit to hold it, something like 7mm front and 8mm rear.

At the front I have run a die up the exposed thread to clean it the using a spanner on the nut and a six sided 7mm socket below and release oil. Some come away easily and other jam up on the rusty threaded bit in the nylon of the nut!!!!! I've not managed it yet in a scrapyard.

The rear is a whole can of worms again as the drive shaft and more importantly the ABS ring is rather close. If it comes off easily....great, if it jams part way down then cut through the thread above the nut but if you want to save it........

With Roger's spares I unbolted the driveshaft nut (blood tight) then used a puller to ease the spline out (they seem to have been made into a slight interferance fit but push out easily). Took the caliper and bracket off and only then could I get the bottom wishbone bolt out.

With the top wishbone and hub in the vice I managed to get the nut off using an 8mm(I think) six sided socket to hold it and finally got the nut off.

You have more experience of the wishbones than I have Mike but to buy a NEW top rear wishbone, the cheapest I can find is £185 from 'Jaguar Spares Northeast'. Everyone lists cheaper ones but they are 'out of stock'.

These rear upper wishbone prices will seriously affect the longevity of these cars, its a shame noone is able to make one with replacable balljoints (nodoubt H&S gets in the way) so we are stuck with Jaguar's at £210 or JSNE at £185. Chinese parts anyone!!!!!

Brian

[J44EAG]

I`m suprised that these rear wishbones may have gone up in price so much since I replaced one with a genuine Lemforder unit in the summer of 2015 for £115. The are a little more expensive generally than the front upper arms. To get decent prices, one really does need to spend an intensive hour or so on the internet trawling.

Brian is certainly correct about non availability from several internet sites. They say they have them but when it comes to ordering, that can be another matter. I experienced that myself. Both front and rear wishbones are expensive for what they are. Only half the size of the lower components but around the same price. One does feel a little "robbed" when you open the box. If you can salvage a few good items with decent ball joints from a scrap yard for a few quid, that is well worth doing. Forget inner bush condition. They can be replaced.

i had to replace the off side upper rear wishbone on my rearly model S-type due to being unable to remove the ball joint nut. I tried almost all possible methods but in the end bit the bullet and replaced the whole unit with a new part. One of those things. given the previous level of work to the S-type at that time, a new wishbone was the quickest and safest method of dealing with the problem.

Jaguar have in the past seemingly appear to not use much if any grease when they assembled these suspensions. i had the fight of my life extracting a T60 Torx bolt from the front damper fork mounting on my X350. In that instance I replaced all prime nuts, bolts and cam washers with new and applied copper grease to help with future maintenance.

The X350 has identical upper wishbones fitted to an S-type and XF. I have to replace all upper inner bushes soon on this car soon and will also be having to remove those wishbones to facilitate the job. Mine is an 04 car and the ball joint details have changed a little. The studs still have the same nuts but the studs themselves now have a 6mm hex Allen key in the end rather than the 8mm hex end which can easily be rounded off when removing or refitting the wishbone. The hex key arrangement seems a good improvement. Some vertical ARB links also have the hex key modification which to date I`ve found less troublesome than the 8mm external arrangement.

Mike

[Warrengriffith]

Many thanks for your helpful replies . I will let you know how I get on .
Regards
Warren