Parts

[greeban]

Probably has been said before but I have had another bad experience buying parts from an independent who purports to be a jaguar specialist. The shock absorbers that I purchased caused an annoying rattle which turned out to be the rubber bushes. I had recently rebuilt the front suspension and so spent weeks trying to workout what I had done wrong to cause the rattle! It is amazing what you can make rattle when you are looking for one!
Dave Marks was brilliant and very quickly pointed me to the bushes on top of the shocks - having already paid out for a second set of shocks from the same supplier (doh) I purchased a set from Jaguar classic parts with the correct bushes and the ride is restored at last! Crikey - you forget how silent the car can be when it runs over holes in the road - just fantastic; wafting is definitely the word for it.

My message to everyone is that whilst buying from Jaguar classic parts may be more expensive, unless you know your car and parts inside out they will save you a lot of agro.
Personally, I found the independent supplier patronising but was pleased to be proved correct in the end. Trouble is I have lost the receipt so cannot take the shocks back! Finally, I cannot thank Dave Marks enough - I was going mad trying to work this one out and it is fantastic to be able to ask someone who knows these cars so well. He is so generous with his time and I for one am eternally grateful.

[steveww]

Are you going to spill the beans on who the supplier is?

[greeban]

I want to be fair so even though I have not got the receipt I intend to go back to them and explain what I now know and see what their reaction is.
Watch this space!

Anyone who is buying shocks for their XJS should ensure that they are OE with the correct type of bush. It may be that by doing the top nut up really tight you can eliminate the rattle but both sets of shocks I bought had such poor tops to the piston rods that it was impossible to get a decent grip to nip the top nut up really tight. The OE jaguar shocks are completely different and of such a high quality that there is no comparison.
There are new tools available to better grip the rods to tighten the top nut which might help but I did not have access or know about these at the time of fitting mine. Therefore, it may be possible with the right tools to get them tight enough to use the inferior aftermarket shock absorber?
Anyhow - at least you know now what the knocking is if it happens to you!

[PaulE]

All's well that ends well - so they say, but a shame you spent money on the wrong gear first. I went through the same process last year and looked into fitting other (well respected) brands of damper such as Koni, Spax, Gaz, but realised after speaking to some of them that they just did not 'get' Jaguars and were all for 'improvements' which would make them corner like a go cart at the expense of ride quality. No thanks, to me the comfort and suspension quality are very important, so following expert advice from our friend Ken Jenkins, I stuck with OE 'Sport' (green) dampers at an eye watering £120 each, and would advise anyone else to do the same if you think as I do.

[greeban]

Totally agree - the cost is a little eye watering but like you I bought the green and the quality is superb.