• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

'87 XJS front bushings

Share this page

D

Dale B

Freshman Member
Offline
Hi all,
I'm new to the group, and I'd like to know if anyone can give me tips on replacing the front bushings on my cat. Every time I hit a rut or bump, or turn at low to moderate speed, it sounds and feels like the front suspension of my car is coming apart.
Any help is really appreciated.
Thanks, Dale.
 
check ball joints, tie rod ends, steering rack bushings, sway bar end links, they usually go bad before the actual mounting bushings do, unless you have had oil leaking on them for some time.
 
While the wheels are on the ground rock or shake the car real hard while your hands are at 12 o'clock (if you can get to the top of the wheel).
Next:
Jack a wheel off the ground and try to shake the wheel with your hands at 12 and 6 and at 3 and 9 to see if you can make the noise. If so, have someone help you figure out were it is coming from.

Make sure the car is secure on the jack before giving it a shake. Do not get under the car while performimg this action. It might fall!

This method will not find all possible problems because it does not unload some parts from the binding action of the springs. Or, if you jack on the frame, the weight of the wheel is compressing the spring so much it will not allow you to find the problem.

Next:
While one wheel is off the ground, shake it and then the other wheel as per above to see if you can make the noise. Take care!!!!!

Let us know what you find.
Jim
 
The most common fault of front end noises is the front top shock mounts. They are not made of good material. When they get loose they cause a lot of "bump" noise. Grab hold of the shock on either side and shake them. If they are loose, replace them with new rubber mounts. This operation is very easy.
 
Back
Top