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Hi on my 1990 V12 am loosing steering fluid from where I cannot find but definetly not from the rack anybody experienced similar before I start ripping things apart

Dave

Hi Dave,

I know it's some months late but, having only recently joined the forum (Tonight) I can shed some light ...

My V12 was weeping from the back power steering pump. Turns out the lower rubber hose had dried out & cracked around the jubilee clip. A new hose cured the problem.

From memory, the pumps themselves are prone to leaks too ...

thanks for that I checked the hose you mentioned and got three full turns on jubilee clip also two full turns on clips on hoses to the cooler. only did today so will be checking




Dave

I also have a leak but it's from the rear pipe that looks like it has rubber/plastic connections. Is this easy to replace?

Jeff, I'm sure the access on a V12 is more of a problem then the 3.6 so I can't say how easy it is to change, but i know some of the pipes are out of stock. You should be able to find a local hydraulic hose specialist who can rebuild your hose, it will quite likely be both cheaper and of better quality then the original one as well
Pop

Didn't realize I had 2 leaks. Fixed the 1st one but the seal on the nearside has perished and it's too much hastle to replace it.
I managed to get a replacement rack for £60. As the bushes are only .45p each I will replace all the bushes on it then put it on. No worries

Jeff

Those bushes are very cheap..........are they OEM?

If not I would advise fitting OEM bushes as otherwise you may ruin the "feel" of the steering

Best Wishes
DH Dove

I would advise fitting OEM bushes
Sorry DH I disagree. Polyurethane rack bushes every time. The later Jaguar sportspack ones were an improvement but still not as good as the poly ones.
Pop

Pop

We'll have to agree to disagree , I'm by no means an expert on this subject but from what I've read and been told the poly bushes transmit a "hard" feeling through the steering which ruins the OEM fit.

Whilst this surely suits some drivers who want a more "positive" feel, I think that had Jaguar wanted the steering to feel like that, within the overall design package of the car, they would have designed it like that in the first place.

Then again, "you pays your money and takes your choice"

This could run a bit I think ............

Best Wishes
DH Dove

DH,

Sorry, I'm with Pop (not in the biblical sense, you understand!).

I changed to poly' bushes not because mine were worn but just because I didn't like the slightly unpredictable feel of when the car would turn in. Best £20 I ever spent on the car! I don't think it transmits any hardness or harshness thru the steering - it just makes it more consistent and predictable.

Although there are so many variables which can affect ride quality, I have driven another XJS with sport lower rack bushes and standard top bush (an oft-suggested approach) and my steering is certainly no harsher. In short, after 3 years on the poly' bushes, I can see no downside at all.

Other views.....?

Paul

No offense meant DH. I think its good that different opinions can be shared, the key thing here is that members reading the thread may, or may not realise that there are alternatives. Once someone has all he angles they can make up their own mind whats best for their situation.
Early OEM rack mounts aren't a problem when they are new, but after years of heat, flexing and oil contamination they can develop so much give that handling and steering are seriously affected. Jaguar redesigned them when the sportspack was introduced and these were much better. There are many places on an xjs where I wouldn't use poly bushes, such as the ARB drop-links, but for the rack mounts they will survive the conditions much longer and in many cases are easier to install.
Pop

Jeff

Those bushes are very cheap..........are they OEM?

If not I would advise fitting OEM bushes as otherwise you may ruin the "feel" of the steering

Best Wishes
DH Dove
They are from the Jaguar dealers in Lincoln and I presume not rubbish. Didn't fancy fitting poly's, no problems with them but just went for the ones that should be on it and at .45p very cheap. I did wonder at the price but that's what I was quoted at the dealers.

[q

This hole I'm digging is getting me deeper but maybe I should have mentioned before that there are at least three versions of the poly steering bush, as they're made by different companies there is no 'standard' however there are the blue coloured ones, the so-called replacement poly bush and much more firmer then oem. 'Red' racing bushes, harder, almost solid and not really intended for road use and 'black' bushes, softer then blue, but less lateral movement then oem, they may or may not actually be polyurethane, could be some sort of resilient rubber but either way may be the best choice as a replacement for road use.
All three are of the 3 piece design of a steel inner with two poly outers.
These are in addition the the 2 or 3 previous oem designs,
Jeez, who would think it could get so complicated.
Pop

Pop

None Taken

DH Dove

OEM bushes I fitted, been on 6 yrs.

What are the bushes actually meant to do? Do they have any other function, other than accomodate manufacturing tolerances?

OEM natural rubber conduct less noise from than poly ones, though I can't confirm this. The other OEM rubber parts are natural rubber for lowest transmitted noise, I understand is best kind of material for that. This rubber works the best of all in shear-mode, all the subframe mounts and engine mounts are loaded in shear.