Dear Listers:
My new Bilstein shock absorbers have arrived. While I
am confident about installing the front units…since
I had already replaced the foam/rubber bushings on
each of them earlier, the back units look a bit more
complicated to do, (like how do i get to where they
mount on the interior? Do I have to dismantle the
trunk?)
Although I have the Haynes Manual, i would be
extremely grateful if anyone who has already done this
job,would share their experience/tips/pointers/advice
with me before I tackle the task this weekend, (BTW,
SLS system jag-retrofitted in 1997 with Boges
shocks…not really failing yet, but I got a special
price on a full set of Bilsteins so I am replacing
them too).
On another note, I completely agree with Brett’s
statement about our XJ40’s. I find mine completely
reliable, beautifully appointed, and consistently to
be a Crowd Pleaser. I plan on driving it on vacation
this summer, (Oregon and Washington), and maybe to Las
Vegas and the Grand Canyon toward the end of the year.
Brett and list-members provided me with a checklist
of both maintenance items, as well as spare parts, so
I don’t feel like I would even be stranded in
Missoula!
As for appearance, I had a couple in a new Ford Taurus
positively gushing over my old 1989 cat at the gas
station last night! In Marin County, with Beemers as
common as Chevy Cavaliers in the rest of the country,
my relatively small investment in the cat has paid off
with a very high level of distinction!
Of course, I couldn’t have kept this car in top
condition without all of you on the list!!!
Have a great day,and thanks
Andy Smith, San Rafael, CA
1989 XJ40, 71k
1973 Land Rover Series III 88"
1979 VW Rabbit (Golf) Diesel, (maybe on Last Legs)=====
Andrew J. Smith @Andrew_Smith4
Andy, remove the rear wheel, look up under the top mounting plate and you
will see the bolts. They come out the bottom, no need to do anything from the
trunk. Remove these bolts, remove the large bottom pivot bolt and pull the
whole shock, spring assymbly out of the car.Compress the spring and dismantle
the shock assy., reassymble with a new shock and your done. It’s really an
easy job if you have a spring compressor handy.
Jim Moore(88 XJ40)
I have a heavy duty spring compressor that I had made for this job. I live
in Rohnert Park but work in San Rafael. If you’d like to borrow it let me
know and I can probably drop it off in San Rafael for you with instructions.
It’s real easy with the right spring compressor otherwise it can be a little
hairy.
Andy
Sonoma CA
90 XJ6 Sov
74 MGB GT----- Original Message -----
From: “Andrew Smith” andy.smith@iracema.net
To: modern@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 6:57 AM
Subject: [modern] Installing rear shock aborbers
Dear Listers:
My new Bilstein shock absorbers have arrived. While I
am confident about installing the front units…since
I had already replaced the foam/rubber bushings on
each of them earlier, the back units look a bit more
complicated to do, (like how do i get to where they
mount on the interior? Do I have to dismantle the
trunk?)
Although I have the Haynes Manual, i would be
extremely grateful if anyone who has already done this
job,would share their experience/tips/pointers/advice
with me before I tackle the task this weekend, (BTW,
SLS system jag-retrofitted in 1997 with Boges
shocks…not really failing yet, but I got a special
price on a full set of Bilsteins so I am replacing
them too).
On another note, I completely agree with Brett’s
statement about our XJ40’s. I find mine completely
reliable, beautifully appointed, and consistently to
be a Crowd Pleaser. I plan on driving it on vacation
this summer, (Oregon and Washington), and maybe to Las
Vegas and the Grand Canyon toward the end of the year.
Brett and list-members provided me with a checklist
of both maintenance items, as well as spare parts, so
I don’t feel like I would even be stranded in
Missoula!
As for appearance, I had a couple in a new Ford Taurus
positively gushing over my old 1989 cat at the gas
station last night! In Marin County, with Beemers as
common as Chevy Cavaliers in the rest of the country,
my relatively small investment in the cat has paid off
with a very high level of distinction!
Of course, I couldn’t have kept this car in top
condition without all of you on the list!!!
Have a great day,and thanks
Andy Smith, San Rafael, CA
1989 XJ40, 71k
1973 Land Rover Series III 88"
1979 VW Rabbit (Golf) Diesel, (maybe on Last Legs)
To: modern@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [modern] Installing rear shock aborbers
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 06:57:50 -0800 (PST)
Dear Listers:
My new Bilstein shock absorbers have arrived. While I
am confident about installing the front units…since
I had already replaced the foam/rubber bushings on
each of them earlier, the back units look a bit more
complicated to do, (like how do i get to where they
mount on the interior? Do I have to dismantle the
trunk?)
Although I have the Haynes Manual, i would be
extremely grateful if anyone who has already done this
job,would share their experience/tips/pointers/advice
with me before I tackle the task this weekend, (BTW,
SLS system jag-retrofitted in 1997 with Boges
shocks…not really failing yet, but I got a special
price on a full set of Bilsteins so I am replacing
them too).
On another note, I completely agree with Brett’s
statement about our XJ40’s. I find mine completely
reliable, beautifully appointed, and consistently to
be a Crowd Pleaser. I plan on driving it on vacation
this summer, (Oregon and Washington), and maybe to Las
Vegas and the Grand Canyon toward the end of the year.
Brett and list-members provided me with a checklist
of both maintenance items, as well as spare parts, so
I don’t feel like I would even be stranded in
Missoula!
As for appearance, I had a couple in a new Ford Taurus
positively gushing over my old 1989 cat at the gas
station last night! In Marin County, with Beemers as
common as Chevy Cavaliers in the rest of the country,
my relatively small investment in the cat has paid off
with a very high level of distinction!
Of course, I couldn’t have kept this car in top
condition without all of you on the list!!!
Have a great day,and thanks
Andy Smith, San Rafael, CA
1989 XJ40, 71k
1973 Land Rover Series III 88"
1979 VW Rabbit (Golf) Diesel, (maybe on Last Legs)