XK8 Intermittent front offside suspension 'creak'

[Zennan101]

My 2004 XK8 Coupe (34k miles) has developed an intermittent creak on the front off side suspension. On normal roads the problem doesn't manifest itself but on rough Devon lanes where the suspension has to work harder a 'creak' is (sometimes) noticeable. It's definitely a 'creak' and not a 'knock' Wet conditions make it more likely but is not a guaranteed trigger every time. It can go days without the problem appearing and if I park up with the creak having been in evidence it may be there when I set off again or it may not.
Has anyone experienced anything similar or have any suggestions as to likely suspects. Bushes, bearings or shocks?
Today there's no sign even though the car has been on rough lanes and even unsurfaced muddy tracks....

[J44EAG]

The multi link suspension on this car has many bushes that may require inspection for general serviceability. Others using this BB will know more about the precise details but what I can tell you is that the car also shares a couple or perhaps more bearings with its S-type, X350 and XF sister models.

The suspension wishbones are in places fitted with a patent bush known as a self aligning spherical bush. These are not and never have been available from Jaguar but fear not....

This patent bush can be found in the lower rear wishbone of the S-type and its sister cars. When it wears out, it causes creaks and groans to be emitted from the suspension. If a car with a worn bush stays dormant for more than a few days, getting into the car causes the noises you describe to be emitted.The image here shows one of those bushes cut in half with a hack saw. The ball and tube have been removed to show a nylon type bearing surface in which the tube and ball rotate as the suspension loads and unloads. In time they wear out, develop wear ridges and cracks. Water and grot finds its way past the grease seals at either end of the bush which then acts like grinding paste and accelerates wear issues. Then they start creaking and groaning.

These bushes can be changed by a competent DIY man equipped with a universal bush removal /refit kit or by using a bench press. Each individual bush currently costs around £40. Racing Green Cars certainly sell these bushes for the S-type under part number RG109. Neville Anderson at North East Jaguar Spares also markets them. Please do check with RG or Neville to ensure these bushes are definitely suitable for your XK8.

What I have described here may or may not be the cause of your suspension noise. As I say others are more knowledgeable about the K8 than I am. I just happen to have some knowledge about this particular bush.

Obviously you need to examine your car closely and ascertain for certain where the noise is coming from before you begin work or start ordering parts.

Hope that helps.

Mike K. S-type Forum.

[Zennan101]

Thanks Mike,
I appreciate the time you have taken to give such a clear response. My instinct suggested a bush problem and although the mileage is low after 10 years in service natural degradation of this type of component is to be expected. I am interested to see if any other advice comes in.

[doug424]

Hello Zennan,
I have a 1998 XK8 convertible and it too used to make creaking noises from the front. No amount of WD40 sprayed on the bushes would stop the noise.
So I replaced the front suspension bushes using the genuine parts and now my car does not creak.
There have been stories in the club magazine about some souls who have put off changing the bushes and then found damage to the front subfame when the job was carried out.
I urge you to consider changes the bushes sooner rather than later.

Doug Barrass,
Ashford, Kent.

[Zennan101]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the reply and advice.

Rod

[Zennan101]

Progress update. Grange Jaguar (Exeter) have checked the car. The suspension bushes are OK but the bottom shock absorber bushes have 'play' and need replacing. These are the prime suspects and I am having these replaced tomorrow. Fingers crossed this will resolve the problem

[Zennan101]

This thread went cold as I waited to see if replacing the shock absorber bushes fixed the problem. The bad news was it didn't! Improved yes. Fixed no.
After a lot of deliberation I have finally bitten the bullet and had all front suspension bushes replaced. What a transformation! I had no complaints about the ride before but replacing 11 year old bushes with new components has improved the ride so much it is amazing. Bumps and potholes are barely noticeable and the Jaguar ride is restored.
Well worth the expense. If you have any doubts about getting your suspension refurbished...Just do it!
The bushes removed revealed how they may look good on the ramp but actually hide degraded rubber, corrosion and wear and tear.

[J44EAG]

I replaced several front bushes on my Hon Secs car recently. Removal of some was quite a task. This included damper bushes, one of which took four and a half tons of pressure from my press before it let go. This work was needed after only 53k miles covered in around twelve years.

My experience of bush replacement and condition assessment has been gained over the past year or so of changing every bush and bearing on my 90k mile S-type. I soon learned that both visual inspection and physical levering of bushes whilst outer ball joints were still connected to hub carriers at both front and rear of the car, proved little. Only when ball joints were separated from the wishbones, did any movement become apparent. With a wishbone removed from the car and transferred to a vice, insertion of a bolt locked in place with a nut within the bush internal compression tube, would allow accurate assessment using a close fitting tube of around a foot in length. Moving the tube around would enable the bush to be deflected often to quite an alarming degree. Splits and tears within the bushes would then become apparent. Every bush I removed from my car was defective in some way. Good enough for the MOT but quite degraded upon serious investigation.

In such situations where creaks and groans emanate from the suspension, no amount of WD or other lubricant will help at all. The central compression tube within the bush is held firm by the bolt which is locked up tight to bodywork brackets, sub-frame or cross member units. When a wishbone rises and falls when travelling over dips or bumps, it is the rubber bush material which is bonded to the wishbone outer tube and the central compression tube that torsionally winds up as the suspension rises and falls. With time and use the bushes begin to split and break up.So lubrication does nothing to help the bush material or easy any noise. Indeed oil based lubricants could help the bush further towards accelerated disintegration.

I`m glad you got the issue sorted. Continued use of a car that has decayed bushes can be extremely destructive in the longer term. I`m also pleased to say that my Hon Sec also found his car a huge improvement after we spent a morning bush bashing.

The speed at which suspension components wear and decay is a subject that many do not understand or fully appreciate. Buying an elderly Jaguar will inevitable require many bushes to be changed. That needs to be factored into any purchase price and used perhaps as a bargaining tool. I`ve found that if you change a lower pair of wishbone bushes, that will inevitable show up deterioration in the upper wishbone sets. You then change that lot and you find you need to change anti-roll bar bushes. Not long after, the ARB links start rattling and they have to be changed as well. One thing leads to another! A great way of spending time and money in large quantities but perhaps a good selling point when the car gets to be sold on.

Mike K