Hi Everyone,
I have recently put 4 new blisten shock absorbers on my 99,3.0L.
I have also changed out the bushes on the front anti-roll bar along
with a few other items that needed replacing,the car is running on
new P6000’s,i thought that when I replaced all of these items the
overall ride would be an awful lot smoother than it is,the car has
covered 117000mls so far,i changed the above close to 6000mls
ago,my wife thinks that it’s my imagination,but when you have
driven a car for a number of years you just know every creak and
groan that it makes.Plus I have to listen to my father in law
bragging how comfortable his 99 E class merc is which I might add
rides fantastic,but I would not admitt that to him.Now just to add
my car has had the anti roll bar bushings,rear upper wishbones,rear
drop links,tracking rods all changed,would it make a differance if
i changed out the springs also,could they be past there best,or is
there a softer tyre on the market,but would this really make much
of a differance,its hard to remember what the ride quality was like
before I changed the parts,do all s-types feel like this ,i think I
will go to a dealership and test out a car a little younger than my
own,just to compare the ride quality.Has anyone any thoughts on
this.
Regards,
Orbital–
orbital s type
co.cork, Ireland
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In reply to a message from orbital sent Wed 29 Aug 2007:
Hi Orbital,
I know what you mean about the ride quality of the earlier S Type,
I have the first years model (1999) and have always been a little
disappointed with the ride quality.
I drove a newer model as a courtesy car some years back with the
new chassis and was amazed at the difference in ride. Pity I never
liked the redesigned dash that went with it…!
My car was fitted with the P6000’s when I got it 6 years ago but
were lethal in frosty/icy/snowy conditions, really felt like
slicks. The main Dealer’s recommended owning a 2nd set of ‘winter
tyres’ with a different tread pattern…yer right…! I changed mine
when the time came for Michelin Primacy’s that were 100% better and
long lasting. My fronts have just come up from renewal after 50k
miles on them. The ride quality hasn’t changed significantly
though, especially if right up on the recommended pressures…
I’m in the process of changing my front anti roll bar bushes which
have been knocking for a while now and driving me mad, any advice
would be appreciated…The previous front end knocking was caused by
the front suspension arms and stretched to a cool �640 at an
independent garage, �179 a side + labour. Jaguar dealer wanted
nearer �700 to do them…ouch.
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In reply to a message from Martid sent Tue 26 Feb 2008:
Hi,
I also have an ‘‘older’’ S-Type and find that the ride is very
dependent upon alignment. If the alignment is out,
especially at the rear, the car bounces about harshly and
seems unstable. Get it right and it is reasonably good -
not dramatically different to the later models that I have
driven, but they might not have been set up well either.
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In reply to a message from Martid sent Tue 26 Feb 2008:
These cars are a Sport Sedan. They also came with Adaptive
Dampening as an option. The Adaptive Dampening suspension is
especially harsh at speeds less than 10 MPH or so because the
dampers vitually ‘lock-up’ and you feel every bump. When the cars
first came out almost every customer (mostly with adaptive
dampening) brought the car back to the dealer and said ‘there is
something wrong with the shocks’. I would always have to tell them
that they ‘PAID EXTRA’ for the rough ride. (this ‘smart a$$’ answer
did not go over well). My 2001 S-Type 4.0 with Adaptive Dampening
would easily out-handle my XJ6 4.0, but my XJ6 was a smoother ride
around town (pick-your-pick). bob–
The original message included these comments:
I know what you mean about the ride quality of the earlier S Type,
I have the first years model (1999) and have always been a little
disappointed with the ride quality.
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Hello from “Down-Under”
Note to self…“Always check for previous posts”
Your explanation re Sports Suspension with Adaptive Damping confirmed my experience.
My car and I are mostly past needing Sports Suspension ( not so sure about me though!)
My shocks need replacing… Can I fit non-adaptive standard units without upsetting the computer?
Anything else I should consider?
Kind regards
Dave