[xj] Front Clunk - shock bushings?

XJ
1

Now that I am back on the road after finding my plugged cat converter, I
would like to resolve the “clunk” noise experienced over bumps.

PO had the following replaced on 4/7/00:
A frame bushings
upper ball joints
Front-end alignment

My search of the archives revealed that the most common culprit is the
bushings on the top of the front shocks (in-between the washers).

Where can I buy these? Can I get these at a common auto parts store? What
size do I ask for?

Many thanks!_________________________________________________________________
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2

Another one for Jason.

I got mine at an ordinary car pars store.

Part Number E1298126R.
Energy Suspensions Urethane shock tower grommets 3/8" I.D.
Part Number 9.8101Y (yellow)
Supplier: Keystone

Of course you can use red ones if you like.
These are slightly stiffer than OEM, but I sure can’t tell the difference.

Yours,

Vilis

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org]On Behalf
Of Jason Spaeth
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 10:48 PM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xj] Front Clunk - shock bushings?

Now that I am back on the road after finding my plugged cat converter, I
would like to resolve the “clunk” noise experienced over bumps.

PO had the following replaced on 4/7/00:
A frame bushings
upper ball joints
Front-end alignment

My search of the archives revealed that the most common culprit is the
bushings on the top of the front shocks (in-between the washers).

Where can I buy these? Can I get these at a common auto parts store? What
size do I ask for?

Many thanks!

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3

Jason, also be aware that the smallish bolts holding the engine mounts to the
subframe can be loose and make such clunks, as I discovered on our SII, after
replacing all the other bushings that were worn. The mount over the steering
tower is hard to see, so if you lower it, as to replace the rack bushings, the
mount bolts will be easy to see – not implying your rack bushings need
replacing, but they may. :]–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.

Jason Spaeth wrote:

Now that I am back on the road after finding my plugged cat converter, I
would like to resolve the “clunk” noise experienced over bumps.

PO had the following replaced on 4/7/00:
A frame bushings
upper ball joints
Front-end alignment

My search of the archives revealed that the most common culprit is the
bushings on the top of the front shocks (in-between the washers).

Where can I buy these? Can I get these at a common auto parts store? What
size do I ask for?

Many thanks!

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

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–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.

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4

Jason,

There are three types of clunks.

The deepest of the three is ball joints. Lowers are totally solid ones that
transmit through the entire frame. Uppers are a little lighter, but not
much, and probably not the problem since they were replaced recently.

Shock towers bushings are lighter, slightly tinnier clunks since they are
damped but contacting reinforced sheetmetal. They are easy to check and
cheap to repair.

The lightest clunks, which sound like hitting a heavy steel bar is sway bar
bushings.

I’ve had experience with them all.

“Mark 1” Mark Stephenson (@Mark_Stephenson2)
1952 XK120 Roadster S673129
1958 Mark 1 / 1967 E-type Coupe
1984 XJ6 / 1985,6,7 XJ6 VDP / 1995 XJ6 VDP
Jaguar Club of Central Arizona (Internet Service Provider, TV & Phone | Sparklight)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org]On Behalf
Of Jason Spaeth
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 7:48 PM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xj] Front Clunk - shock bushings?

Now that I am back on the road after finding my plugged cat converter, I
would like to resolve the “clunk” noise experienced over bumps.

// list policy dictates that messages be trimmed===================================================
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To remove yourself from this list, go to Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers.

5

My search of the archives revealed that the most common culprit is the
bushings on the top of the front shocks (in-between the washers).

Jason-

If you haven’t yet determined that the shock bushings are at fault, it’s
pretty simple to do. Reach into the wheel well, grab the shock, and see if
you can move it. If it moves in the body, the bushes are gone. When mine
started clunking, I could easily do this. The bushes shrink down, become
hard, and end up fitting completely inside the cupped washers.

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6

There are three types of clunks.
The deepest of the three is ball joints.
Shock towers bushings are lighter, slightly tinnier clunks
The lightest clunks, which sound like hitting a heavy steel bar is sway
bar
bushings.

There is yet another possibility. Check the tightness of the diagonal
struts under the bonnet, especially the nut and bolt holding them to the
firewall.

Larry Lee
Auburn, AL, USA

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7

You should be able to find some in the “help” section that most part stores in the US have. Found some for a Ford I think, have been working great

Collin Bissett
1986 xj6 vdp

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8

An even easier way to check for worn shock bushings is from under the hood. If they are worn you will be able to move the cupped washer up and down on the shock rod. At least that’s how I found my “knocking over bumps” problem.

Collin Bissett
1986 xj6 vdp

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9

Another “tinny” clunk can be inside the housing which the emergency brake passes thru
under driver seat. Mine was clunking until i insulated with narrow foam strip

Dennis Shea
87 xj6 .

Larry Lee wrote:

There are three types of clunks.
The deepest of the three is ball joints.
Shock towers bushings are lighter, slightly tinnier clunks
The lightest clunks, which sound like hitting a heavy steel bar is sway
bar
bushings.

There is yet another possibility. Check the tightness of the diagonal
struts under the bonnet, especially the nut and bolt holding them to the
firewall.

Larry Lee
Auburn, AL, USA

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10

I would like to thank everyone for replying on and off list.

Upon examination, I have discovered that it is not the shock bushings or
exhaust. It is a ‘deep’ clunk and I believe it to be the lower ball joints.
I am going to do some archive research and wait until I can get it up in
the air to inspect. Thanks again._________________________________________________________________
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11

Ball joints aren’t hard to check. I look close at 'em and if the boots are
torn or off their moorings at the bottom or otherwise not sealed, chances
are they have been contaminated with dirt and are probably shot.

If you really want to check, I think you should be able to jack up the car
and grab the tire top and bottom and pull on one while pushing on the other
back and forth. At most, there might be an almost imperceptible rocking
movement. Any more than that and it’s helpful to get a second set of eyes to
look under the car and see where the play is – upper or lower.

The good news is that the parts are relatively inexpensive. Last time I
bought them, uppers were about $45, lowers $55, per side. These are from the
XJ40, The biggest expense is time. Replacing them is straightforward
although it requires a little effort. I think the procedure might be in the
FAQs. The archives will have more.

“Mark 1” Mark Stephenson (@Mark_Stephenson2)
1952 XK120 Roadster S673129
1958 Mark 1 / 1967 E-type Coupe
1984 XJ6 / 1985,6,7 XJ6 VDP / 1995 XJ6 VDP
Jaguar Club of Central Arizona (Internet Service Provider, TV & Phone | Sparklight)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org]On Behalf
Of Jason Spaeth
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 5:35 PM
To: dennisms@swbell.net; jlawrencelee@charter.net
Cc: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xj] Front Clunk - shock bushings?

I would like to thank everyone for replying on and off list.

Upon examination, I have discovered that it is not the shock bushings or
exhaust. It is a ‘deep’ clunk and I believe it to be the lower
ball joints.
I am going to do some archive research and wait until I can get it up in
the air to inspect. Thanks again.

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

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Archives: Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers

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Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers.

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