Rear Suspension Wishbones

[snaefell]

Bit of a disaster,the rear lower suspension wishbones on my X350 are shot & need replacing for the MOT but my garage is having trouble getting parts,the nearest Jag dealer is quoting £300+ each side which is scary,Barretts aren't that much cheaper,anybody any ideas of suppliers in the Cheshire/Merseyside area please guys?

[Popsjag]

Give Eurojags a ring on 01325 722777.

I've found them very helpful guys whenever I've needed any second-hand parts, which have been 'as good as new' in some cases.

[J44EAG]

See my various suspension posts on X350 and S-type sections of this site.

Racing Green Cars Ltd sell replacement bushes for about £30 each. The price usually included postage and delivery was usually next day. You will need four for both rear arms. These are aftermarket parts NOT sold by Jaguar. Use a 44mm hole saw with the teeth ground off level and a bench press to extract the old worn bushes and fit new ones. I`ve done loads of replacement bushes for XF, S-type and X350 over the years. This has saved me a small fortune and negated the need to buy complete new arms from Jaguar. That said, new arm prices have dropped significantly over the years. The last retail price I heard about was about £178 plus VAT. Production of your JEC card should get you a discount at any Jaguar parts outlet.

The RG parts are of excellent price and quality. They have saved my financial bacon on several occasions. Same parts for X350/8, S-type and XF models.

Hope that helps.

Mike

[snaefell]

Thanks for the replies guys,I'm reluctant to go for used parts in this case as it just could be false economy,I wish I lived in Kent as I know who I would be visiting to change the bushes!
As it is my local Jaguar dealer want nearly £500 for a pair,even after flashing my JEC card at them but I have found a supplier willing to sell for £350 per pair which is looking the more likely!color]

[J44EAG]

Suggest you contact Ray Brown at Surrey Jag Centre in Redhil to discuss the issue. Paul and I regularly use his services. He is a top bloke and a gent to do business with. He will almost certainly be able to ease your pain!

Mike

[cornershop]

Hopefully you’re long sorted, however for info, I’ve just bought bought new lower rear lemforder (oem) arms for my 2006 for £166 inc vat each. Apparently these will come with the Jaguar logos scrubbed off, so effectively the same part that Jaguar will sell you.

[jeff1954]

Hi Mike long time no speak. I have been pouring through your post's on the S Type forum regarding suspension bushes. I see with all your bush replacements that you have used a hydraulic press. Could the same work be done using a bush replacement tool as advertised on eBay etc, the bushes I need to change at present are the rear lower outer's that connect to the hubs.

Jeff

[J44EAG]

What ever tool you use, Jeff, the important thing is that you will need a 44mm circular push mandrel. An old bi-metal hole saw with its teeth ground off makes an ideal tool. If you can get a suitable mandrel with any bush removal tool kit, then you have some chance of succeeding. One of the G-clamp units might well be suitable but I never went that route. Note the bushes are a tight interference fit so some pressure will be needed to get them moving.

Insertion depth is critical for any new pair of bushes. The distance between the inner ends of the two bushes is 281mm. Make up a dowel type rod to that dimension before you do anything. Make sure that dowel (part of a boom stick handle) is cut and worked so that it touches the inner ends of each bush BEFORE you start bush removal. DO ONLY ONE BUSH REMOVAL AT A TIME and insert the first new bush so that its inner end also touches the dowel and maintains that critical 281mm dimension. Once the first new bush is set, move onto the second bush and repeat as per the new first bush.

You will do yourself a huge favour if you place the new bushes in the ice compartment of your fridge overnight before you attempt to fit them. Only withdraw from the fridge when you are immediately ready to fit them. Freezing shrinks the outer bush case and helps fitting. Use a smear of grease on the bush case and also perhaps place the wishbone register in a bucket of hot water prior to fitting. Work fast getting the two components fitted together and also ensure the wishbone registers are free of burrs or distortions. Use a file and remove any corrosion and dirt.

Hope that helps,

Mike

[jeff1954]

Thank's Mike as always you'r a great help. The bushes that I want to change are the outers on both sides which are a single bush, but I take on board what you say about the correct measurement of of the two inner bushes. I may even change these whilst I've got the arms off. The outers are advisory items only on the MOT
I did see once on one of your post's a photo of a bush replacement tool consisting of different size screwed rod and mandrels but I can't seem to find it again. They sell the kits on eBay and the likes for around £70.00 so with what you say I'll get one. the car is coming up to 80.000 mls so other bushes will soon be showing signs of wear and need changing.

Thank's once again Mike.
All the best.
Jeff

[J44EAG]

I suggest you change all four RG109 type bushes in the two arms, Jeff. Doing just one in each arm will be a false economy. Indeed, Racing Green advise doing the lot in one hit. It also saves a double labour input. I expect that you will find all old bushes slightly seized. If you were to free them off, you will find the wear to be even worse than you already know about! definately the time for changing the lot.

Mike

[jeff1954]

OK thank's Mike.
Jeff

[jeff1954]

Hi Mike When refitting the arms will I need to have the car sat on it's wheels to have the suspension in a neutral position before I tighten all the bolts back up.
Jeff

[J44EAG]

The compression tubes within the bushes rotate within the bush as the suspension rises and falls. The RG109 bushes may therefore have their bolts tightened with the suspension at any height, ie loaded or unloaded. That said though, the third Metalastic bush behind the sills MUST have its bolt tightened with the weight of the car completely loading the suspension. Only then can that third bolt be tightened. OK?

Mike

[jeff1954]

When you say behind the sills do you mean the one that connects to the hub.

Jeff

[J44EAG]

No! The forward bush just behind the rear of the sill and FORWARD of the hub carrier! That is the Metalastic unit. Tighten bolt with car weight on the floor.

The two RG109 bushes are the ones at the bottom of the hub carrier and the one on the REAR of the subframe near the exhaust back boxes. These two bolts CAN be tightened with weight of the car still on an axle stand.

Mike