I’m replacing the center bearing on my 97 VDP (237k) as I am also replacing a failed diff. When I removed the center bearing mount I found only 1 (ONE) spacer - the bottom “Aluminum” spacer. There is no top “Thin” spacer (CBC72531) see diagram here items 15 & 16. https://tinyurl.com/y7odfa4z
I bought the car when it had 80k on it so I don’t know if this spacer was missing because of prior work or from the factory. It’s always had some minor noise in the driveline compared with my ultra smooth '94 XJ40 which of course may be unrelated.
I’m puzzled as to why Jaguar would make 2 spacers and not one as they both appear to be mandatory, and why one out of aluminium and one out of steel (I presume).
The aluminium spacer is approx 1/8" thick. The “Thin” spacer is 0.04" - https://tinyurl.com/ya23rjzc
Surely the manufacturing tolerances in the mount areas would negate the need for such a thin spacer?
My best guess is that they realised after they made 10 gazillion aluminum spacers that the center bearing mount areas might press into the softer spacer and made another one out of steel. .04" or 1.016mm. My aluminium spacer does have miniscule depressions and I mean miniscule.
Thanks…Gary