XF Rear Subframe Mounting Bushes

[james.mould.1950]

Hi Everyone, Just wondering if someone can help me with some info, please. I have a 2010 XF 3.0 V6 petrol with approximately 53,000 miles on the clock. Over the last few weeks I have noticed that there is a sort of wallowing, shimmying movement from the back end of the car. It's not that noticeable (in fact, initially, I thought it was just my imagination or perhaps down to uneven road surface) but does seem to be getting very slowly worse - and only manifests itself at speeds above about 50mph. Our local garage has test-driven the car and they agree that there is something slightly amiss but the only thing thy can find at fault is a very small amount of movement - and they stress that it is very small - in the rear subframe mounting bushes. If anyone has any ideas on this, I would be very grateful for help. Is replacement of these bushes a big/difficult job? Many thanks!

[Dave Eynon]

Have you had the wheels and tyres checked over? Tyre age / wear or even a distorted alloy could be the cause?

[james.mould.1950]

Hi Dave, Many thanks for your response. The rear tyres are almost brand new, fitted in June, and replaced a pair of the same make and type - Good Year Vector 4-Seasons. I have been running a full set of these since shortly after buying the vehicle in 2018 and have been very pleased, especially with performance in the wet (an important consideration up here in the NW Highlands!) as well as slow wear. The shimmying issue had already manifested itself before the rear tyres were replaced.
At MOT in June, the car failed on a rear anti-roll bar link which was replaced and the vehicle then passed the re-test. I had expected - and hoped - that the new ARB link would solve the problem but, disappointingly, it didn't make the slightest difference. The only other thing which came up on MOT was that the front tracking was out which had caused extra wear on the inside edge of the tyre treads on the front. The rest of the front treads are still well within legal limits but there was an advisory to keep an eye on the inner tread.
Since the tracking has been corrected, the wear on the inside front treads hasn't got any worse - and the tyres are still well within legal limits with plenty of tread across the remaining width. And, again disappointingly, the correction to the tracking hasn't made the slightest difference to the shimmying motion. I have wondered whether the wear on the front tyres might be a contributory factor but it's so slight that I had rather dismissed it.
As regards the wheels, I haven't had these checked as such but I would have expected any damage to have been flagged up not only at MOT but also when the rears had new tyres fitted. The wheels are 17-inch, the smallest size available on the XF, so none of the (as I see it) stupid low-profile stuff! You get a much better ride and much longer tyre wear on "sensible" profile tyres!
I'm not sure whether this really helps at all? I remember my brother-in-law saying a few years ago that he had a similar "shimmying" issue with his S-Type and that replacement rear subframe mounting bushes resolved the issue.
Many thanks and kind regards, Jim Mould

[cawthrm]

Hi Jim
I don't know if it could be your bushes, I guess it's possible. Yet I think you're doubtful about this yourself as the bushes are reported as only very slightly worn, but your brother-in-laws experience does sound relevant.
I did have similar experience in another Jaguar model with very similar suspension to the XF, this turned out to be a loose retaining bolt on the balljoint of the upper wishbone, where it joins the hub carrier. It had slowly loosened and the ball joint was dropping out of its taper. This was very specific, but a basic spanner check for tightness of every suspension bolt at the back might not be a bad idea? Five minute job for a garage, assuming they have not already done this.
The only other point of note you may also have tried? Did they check the rear alignment at the same time as the front? The toe is (easily) adjustable and I could imagine that significant toe (or camber) error on the rear wheels might generate the symptom.

[james.mould.1950]

Hi Cawthrm,
Many thanks for your reply and apologies for the delay in responding.
Those are good suggestions about checking for loose bolts and also the rear wheel alignment. I would have thought that any loose bolts should have come to light during the MOT in June? However, I will get them checked nonetheless along with the rear wheel alignment. I rather doubt whether the rear was checked at the time the front was done as the issue at the time was inside tread wear on the front tyres.
Replacing the rear subframe mounting bushes sounds as if it could be quite a big expensive job, hence my reluctance on this unless it's the only solution. The subframe bushes themselves are quite expensive and I assume there are four required, i.e. 2 x C2C34189 and 2 x C2C31256 - is that correct? if so, S N G Barratts' website indicates a total cost of over £300 just for the parts. Also, I haven't been able to find any indication as to whether the subframe mounting bushes can be replaced without removing the subframe itself. If that is required, then it really is a big job!
Our local garage here in the NW Highlands is more accustomed to dealing with run-of-the-mill vehicles: Fords, VWs, etc., as well as Isuzu and Mitsubishi pick-up trucks which are two-a-penny in this part of the world. They tell me I am the only Jaguar owner in the area, so I think it's a bit of a learning curve for them! The nearest Jaguar main dealer is 65 miles away in Inverness and their labour rates are, of course, extortionate!
Many thanks and kind regards, Jim