Clonking from front suspension

[Tony65]

I have an XJ8 Sport which I have had for over three years now. I have noticed a clonking noise coming from the front near side of the car. This happens when I go over a bump with the front nearside wheel. This noise is getting worse.

I have looked under the car several times and all the suspension looks brand new and there seems to be no wear on any of the bushes.

Any suggestions?

Tony F

[daveji]

Tony
I'm told worn shock absorbers can knock even though they are not leaking and look OK.
I would get my favourite Independant Jag man to check it out properly.
If the noise is getting worse there is a problem and the price of the fix will not get cheaper !!

[dredr62]

I have an XJ8 LWB Sovereign which recently developed a clonking noise on the near side rear suspension. As with your near side front suspension mine also knocked when going over bumps or occassionally when taking a right hand bend. At my local independant garage they could see nothing wrong from a visual inspection and so I agreed to them dropping the suspension and investigating the issue further. They found excessive movement in the shock absorber which on the face of it looked fine. I had both rear shocks replaced at a total cost of £460.

[joejag308]

Good banter again guys, just what the forum is for, could you remember to put your area and the specialist in the forum pages, it could be helping a lot of members out on where to go for a good job doing.....Joe

[Tony65]

Hello fellow Jag freaks,

Thanks for the replies re;knocking front suspension. I was thinking it might be the shock absorber but was not sure. I did'nt want to go changing bushes etc only to find in the end it was the absorber.

I guess this is the forum working as it should. However I am surprised it is taking such a long time for members to use it as there don't seem to be that many entries from week to week.

Regards,

Tony

[Tony65]

Hello guys,

Have fitted two new shock absorbers to the front of my XJ8 Sport and the knocking has 90% gone, but there is still a slight knock coming from the front whenever the front nearside wheel goes over a bump in the road.

Any ideas?

Tony

[joejag308]

Tony, how do you think we feel?.........are these wonderful vehicles so good nothing goes wrong with them? are the forum members away in their sunshine retreats.....we will be here all winter,hanging on for every post that comes in..........two lonley old guys waiting for comments...

[jwlshort]

This may not be relevant but I recently had to have some welding done on my '98 4.0 XJ8. It was some plates (4 in total) that adjoin the suspension and the chassis I was told. The work was done by an Ind. Jag specialist and they said that oddly enough it only tends to be the front near-side plates that corrode. 3 out of the 4 plates on my car had corroded through. To be on the safe side all 4 were replaced. I think that part of the bill was only about £130.

I wonder if its worth having yours checked to see if the knocking noise has anything to do with corroded plates?

[BrianG]

Tony, you say you have had new shock absorbers fitted - did these include new top isolator bushes in the wing mounting points?

My first Jag, an XJ40 Sport, had exactly this problem when I bought it form the independent dealer, who promised to fix it but after several goes I gave up and put it in to the nearest main dealer. They found the problem in half an hour and fixed it with new top isolator bushes (£26).

[Tony65]

Hello Brian,

Thanks for the tip. I changed the front shock absorbers myself. I remember when I bought them from a Jaguar main dealers a guy was saying something about these bushes. When I removed the old shockers everyting seemed in pristine condition and I did not buy anything more than I had to so I put the old bushes back.

I think I will now fit two new bushes and see what happens.

Regards
Tony65

[Tony65]

Hello Brian,

I have just visited my local Jaguar Main Dealers to try and purchase a couple of top bushes for my front suspension. The bushes in an XJ8 fit into a top plate which is in turn fitted to the body. Jaguar tell me I have to buy the top plates with the bushes even though the bushes are a separate item. They want £126-00 each for them plus vat for the bushes and top plate, I don't need a top plate. I only paid £113-00 for a complete suspension damper.

Can you give me more details of your purchase, I was wondering if maybe you left out a 1 in the £26-00 you paid for yours!

Regards,

Tony

[joejag308]

Re the front shocker bushes queerie...........
I have just enquired at Minster Jaguar in Leeds for the bushes in question.
The parts guy says he has had loads of shock absorbers bought but never the top bushes as they are incorporated within the top securing plate attached to the wing.
if you do need these items they are £ 159.00
Joe happy Jagging lads!!