[modern] Jag Fund & Fixes - Next Steps

Disused Categories Modern
1

Special thanks to all who replied over the weekend to my post of various things
on my fix list, thus squashing my “replace everything” mentality w/ some real
logic. - Thanks to Greg & Jeb on the accumulator/ABS warning advice - I’ll do
the accumulator first, then see what that does to the ABS warning. I must have
read 100 posts out of the thousands in the archives on the ABS & accumulator,
not even considering all of those that fly by on a daily basis, and there’s
probably one somewhere, but I don’t think I ever saw one that suggested that the
ABS warning may disappear w/ an accumulator change (** Note to all who may have
skimmed my previous post - I only get the ABS warning w/ the engine off whilst
checking the VCM). Also - I’ll do the upper shock bushings, and see if we can’t
get a few thousand more miles out of the shocks. That may free up some $$ for
things that I WANT to do, but don’t NEED - Powered antenna instead of that
rubber replacement the PO put on the back, for example. I’ll post in the next
week or two w/ the results.

Oh, btw, for those who asked - I had an alignment done by an “Import Alignment
Specialist” in March of last year (don’t know why I thought it was later in the
year) at 47.7K miles. They gave me a computer print out of where it was, what
the Jag spec was, and where it ended up… All within spec, according to the
print-out. They the only ones nearby (other than the dealer) that would touch
it, and they did correct the pulling problems I was having at the time, so I’ve
got no complaints there.

Now, If ol’ “Dubya” would arrange for a mid year $6K refund this year instead of
$600 like last year, I’ll do a re-spray, and this thing will look like new…
Gotta have dreams !

One last item - I sort of teased Greg a little about his retirement fund &
holiday cards on my last post, and he’s a pretty easy going fella who takes
things well… I just wanted to let folks know that it was Greg who let me
know about Jag Lovers when I called CW for some parts when I first bought the
beast… So, here’s a public thanks to Greg for the tip !..and now
the rest of you can blame him for my carrying on.

Thanks again !
John
'88 XJ40 56K miles (goofed last post - I listed 59.9 when it was 55.9K, but
what’s a couple thousand miles amongst friends ?)

2

scalonge.jf@pg.com wrote:

(snip)

I just wanted to let folks know that it was Greg who let me
know about Jag Lovers when I called CW for some parts when I first bought
the
beast… So, here’s a public thanks to Greg for the tip !..and
now
the rest of you can blame him for my carrying on.

And I was wondering why this morning’s emails contained all those nasty
threats . . . :slight_smile:

Seriously, I try to point Jag owners to Jag-Lovers at every opportunity, as
the organization and site are IMO one of the finest things on the Web.

Best regards,

Gregory Wells
Coventry West, Inc. - Atlanta, GA
New, Rebuilt, and Used
Jaguar & Land-Rover Parts
www.coventrywest.com
800-331-2193 x103

3

John,

Oh, btw, for those who asked - I had an alignment done by an
“Import Alignment
Specialist” in March of last year (don’t know why I thought
it was later in the
year) at 47.7K miles.

Uh oh!

They gave me a computer print out of

where it was, what
the Jag spec was, and where it ended up… All within
spec, according to the
print-out. They the only ones nearby (other than the dealer)
that would touch
it, and they did correct the pulling problems I was having at
the time, so I’ve
got no complaints there.

That is exactly what my trusted local goodyear shop did.
I got the expensive 4 wheel alignment, with before and after
printouts, they had the car for two hours while I watched
and waited in the sales area.
I had excessive wear on the inside edges of the tires, quite
badly when I got the car.

So, $100.00 poorer, I drove off with my printed out proof
that my alignment was spot on.
Then I do some research, and find most of the stuff they
fixed is not adjustable on the Jaguar!

The things that ARE adjustable require SPECIAL shims except
for the toe in/out.

They could not have, and did not, adjust anything in the back.
The only adjustment there is the big round shim spacers
in the axles at the diff output flange.
Goodyear does not have these on hand.

On the front suspension, camber is NOT adjustable.
Caster is set with shims at the upper ball joint.
There was no sign my rusty shims were ever moved, and its easy
to tell.
That leaves the front toe adjustment as the ONLY thing
anyone is likely to be able to adjust except maybe at the
dealers where they MAY have some of the correct shims.

The goodyear place did not even adjust the toe, or they
just reset it wrong again.
I am curious how they did the before and after printouts,
since most of the stuff was not adjustable.

After the fancy alignment, I still had severe inner
edge wear on the front tires.
I borrowed a drive on toe scale which is a sliding plate
with a scale built in…the top plate slides side to side
and is hooked up to a scale.
When you drive onto it and stop, if your tires are like

\ /

The scale under the left tire will get pulled to the right.

It indicated toe out off the scale…50 feet side slip per
mile I think!

I adjusted the tie rods to indicate a slight toe in with the
steering wheel centered and have not had a problem since.

Tire wear was, and still is even across the tires, the car
does not squeal like a stuck pig around turns, and does not
wander around the road like it did.

If your car is wearing the tires evenly, FORGET ABOUT AN ALIGNMENT!

Taking a Jaguar to anyplace else other than the dealers
is likely to get you more trouble than you had going in.
Some independent shops may do a good job if they know Jaguars,
but quiz them about what they can adjust and how its done.
Seems the service shops will charge for doing nothing, or
do something completely wrong.

Brett
1990 XJ6>

Thanks again !
John
'88 XJ40 56K miles (goofed last post - I listed 59.9 when it
was 55.9K, but
what’s a couple thousand miles amongst friends ?)

4

Brett,

Since I’m not going to immediately do the shocks or springs pending the results
of the upper shock bushing swaps for now, and since the tires all seem to be
wearing evenly, I’ll take your advice and lay off of the alignment.

Wish I had the resources out here in Cinci that I did back in Pa for this sort
of stuff… We used to take vehicles to some “old timers” for alignments. Two
brothers in this old, heavy timber building w/ the entrance in a back alley
way… They’d have appointments booked for months at a time. Did things the old
way, w/ none of those new laser guided fru fru gizmos. And if you needed parts -
rods, joints, shims, whatever - You were on your own… They’d tell you exactly
what was wrong, and what needed to be replaced in order to meet THEIR
specifications. Once things were fixed, you could come back and they’d finish
doing the alignment. For an all inclusive fee of $35 - That included the
pre-check and actual alignment, regardless of if you needed to take it out of
their shop to fix something. There’s just as many stories for the “Engine guys”
or the “Exhaust guys”… The general mechanic got to do brakes, oil changes,
and general maintenance stuff, and refer folks to the “other guys” when
something was out of their league. People trusted them, and kept going back to
them. Nowadays you’ve got to do it yourself, or search high and low for someone
“decent” - and that’s funny in itself… Folks (like me) sometimes settle for
a “decent” mechanic instead of an excellent one to work on a car - and even
then there are no guarantees. Sometimes there’s things I don’t have the skills
or tools to do, and then I’ve got to sub it out…Guess another point you’ve
got in your note is that when that happens - be sure to question and understand
everything that’s happening.

I see Jags and Porches and MBs all the time at this “specialist” that I went
to… At least I know he’d seen a Jaguar before mine got in there… Cost
me $20 less than you, and I went to an Import Specialist (la de da…), but then
again, I didn’t pay for all four wheels… I think your guy charged less to
look at each individual wheel… I think the “specialist” has the ability to
look at 2 wheels at once ; - )

Thanks !
John
'88 XJ40

5

John,

Brett,

Since I’m not going to immediately do the shocks or springs
pending the results
of the upper shock bushing swaps for now, and since the tires
all seem to be
wearing evenly, I’ll take your advice and lay off of the alignment.

Shocks are always good to replace if they are old.
They are easy to test.

Check your upper A arm bushings while in there.

I see Jags and Porches and MBs all the time at this
“specialist” that I went
to… At least I know he’d seen a Jaguar before mine got
in there… Cost
me $20 less than you, and I went to an Import Specialist (la
de da…), but then
again, I didn’t pay for all four wheels… I think your
guy charged less to
look at each individual wheel… I think the “specialist”
has the ability to
look at 2 wheels at once ; - )

Well, I went to the place I used for years for the work van.
they always seemed to do competent work, and I also
bought tires from them, etc.

This was shortly after I got the car and knew little
about the suspension.

Something about the Jaguar alignment seems tricky.
The typical shops have the wrong info, or don’t
measure the stuff right, or loading the suspension
needs to be done and changes the readings a lot,
the sensors don’t fit the Jaguar wheels (no lip),
or whatever, but they very frequently seem to get it way off in
the toe out direction.

I suspect the PO got an alignment on my car before I got it,
causing the inner edge tire wear, and goodyear did not
correct it, yet the simple drive on toe scale indicated
toe out off the scale.

Its my personal opinion that if you don’t have odd tire wear,
you should not do anything to the alignment.

If you START having odd tire wear, replace bushings
and so on, but don’t get an alignment.

If you do need an alignment, the dealers is a safer
bet but very expensive.
I’ll just stick with the drive on toe scale.

Brett
1990 XJ6
(133,000 miles and seems to handle nice)>

Thanks !
John
'88 XJ40