[x300] So where's the luxury ride -- torque setting on upper, front shocks

X300
1

has anyone played with the torque on the upper bolts of the front shocks? I couldn’t find specs for the '97XJ6 so I used the settings for the '93 XJ6 that I used to own. 20 ft/lbs. 20 ft/lbs is a lot of torque on those rubber bushings and it appeared to me, as I kept re-adjusting to get them to the ‘proper’ torque that the ‘crash’ got worse. Getting a torque wrench onto that bolt, while holding the nut with a hex wrench (Bilstein design) called for an crowsfoot attachment. I was never certain that I was getting accurate readings with that offset that the crowsfoot introduces.

I put Bilsteins on the front. The ‘crash’ is there but the cornering is definitely improved over the original equipment.

Ken Fink
Ann Arbor, MI
97 XJ6, 70,000 miles-----Original Message-----
From: owner-x300@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-x300@jag-lovers.org]On
Behalf Of Scaredycat
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 11:05 AM
To: x300@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [x300] So where’s the luxury ride . . . ?

In reply to a message from jaguarSean sent Thu 16 Dec 2004:

Wow. Lotta info here. I work at a Porsche dealer, that just
bought -out a jaguar dealership. As a result, we see a
lotta ‘‘older’’ jags 95 on up. I took the plunge, in a moment of
weakeness, and purchased a lady-driven(whatever that means), 82,000
mi, delaer maintained 97 XJ6L, and at first, I wasnt to impressed
with the ride. I had that ‘‘crash’’ you guys describe, but a new set
of front shock bushings cured it.

About the ride though, I always thought that the ride of an XJ was
like a cross between the early 90’s bmw and a cadillac deville,
Taust- but never stiff. I wouldnt call it a ‘‘handler’’ though, but
were used to Porsche. The 97 came in as a trade on a Pcar.

Last month, we another couple came through here With a 95 XJ6. OF
course, I had a look, drove it over the weekend, and bought it.
Its a short wheelbase car with 100K, dealer maintained, etc, etc
With a set of goodyear eagle Regatta tires,Which somehow I think
are very similiar to the P4000’s recommened, and the 95, with
higher miles, and shorter wheelbase, rides nicer than the 97,
making me think the Tires have a lot of influence in the ride.

Except the 95 has the ‘‘crash’’ also, but only on the right side,
took it in to have the bushings replaced, the dealer said they
didnt need it, and replaced the Radiatoer mounts instead, and its
still ‘‘crashing’’ Just dropped it off this morning. If its not the
bushings, could it be the Dampers/shocks? Sometimes, over certian
types of bumps, it feel like, im hitting the Bump stops, even on
relatively minor bumbs, and making right hand turn on inclination
like drive ways? Any Ideas?

Thanks

BTW I’ve been lurking here for a long time. I appreaciate all of
the info here. My name came from the fact that I was afraid to
purchase an old jag, because Im not rich, the info I found here
helped me to pull the trigger on the first jag, and I have really,
really, enjoyed it. So thank you guys.

Bill Swanson
Porsche salesman(14+ yrs)
Jaguar driver

Scaredycat
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

2

In reply to a message from Fink, Kenneth sent Thu 16 Dec 2004:

The shocks have a tube spacer that slips over the shaft. You
tighten the top nut down all of the way until it meets the spacer.
This way you are ensured that everything is correct. No torque
wrench required. Use an open ended wrench on the large nut and an
allen wrench to hold the shaft steady.–
The original message included these comments:

has anyone played with the torque on the upper bolts of the front shocks? I couldn’t find specs for the '97XJ6 so I used the settings for the '93 XJ6 that I used to own. 20 ft/lbs. 20 ft/lbs is a lot of torque on those rubber bushings and it appeared to me, as I kept re-adjusting to get them to the ‘proper’ torque that the ‘crash’ got worse. Getting a torque wrench onto that bolt, while holding the nut with a hex wrench (Bilstein design) called for an crowsfoot attachment. I was never certain that I was getting accurate readings with that offset that the crowsfoot introduces.

–
uncle
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

3

In reply to a message from uncle sent Thu 16 Dec 2004:

I have found that the quality of the ride in X300 is sensitive to
tyre pressures and tyre make. I changed from the Pirellis to
Continentals and found the tramlining disappeared, the wuality of
the ride improved and fiddling a bit with the pressures to around
32psi all round gave me a good compromise. I have an XJ Sport so
the ride is harder than the normal XJ. That said it is nothing
like the Series III. THose were exceptional. Jaguar simplified
the suspension design for the X300 and the later X308 so don’t
expect a Series III VDP type ride.

But your tyres will be crucual as will wheel diameter. I have not
departed from the stock 16’’ as I had on my previous jag to 17’’ and
found the lower profile gave me a harder ride and increased the
tendency to tramline.

It is a fine line on the Jag between great and mediocre ride and
handling, particularly the sports models. Usually the change of
tyre does most of the good work.

cheers

Bill–
Bill Hatossy
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

4

In reply to a message from Bill Hatossy sent Fri 17 Dec 2004:

Your experiences are similar to mine Bill. I moved up from a Series
III to the X300 and the only disappointment I have is the ride
quality I have now doesn’t quite match what the old model
delivered. The ride of those earlier cars was sublime!

Running the Pirellis at 28psi improved comfort greatly for me and
more improvement came when I switched to Kuhmos. I run them at
32psi which gives better handling and as good, if not better,
comfort than the Pirellis at 28.–
The original message included these comments:

I have found that the quality of the ride in X300 is sensitive to
tyre pressures and tyre make. I changed from the Pirellis to
Continentals and found the tramlining disappeared, the wuality of
the ride improved and fiddling a bit with the pressures to around
32psi all round gave me a good compromise. I have an XJ Sport so
the ride is harder than the normal XJ. That said it is nothing
like the Series III. THose were exceptional. Jaguar simplified
the suspension design for the X300 and the later X308 so don’t
expect a Series III VDP type ride.

–
Bazz - '96 Daimler Six
South Island, New Zealand
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

5

In reply to a message from Bazz sent Fri 17 Dec 2004:

The tech tightend my wheel bearings on my 95 xj6, and my ‘‘crashing’’
problem is gone.

Funny, cause another tech looked at it 2 weeks ago, and didnt see
anything at all…

Do short wheelbase cars ride ‘‘nicer’’ than the LWB cars? Are they
supposed to?

Peace
BS–
Scaredycat
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –