[xj] Front suspension - removal

Last night I accomplished a high speed lowering of the front suspension (32
ft / sec / sec). Having removed all bolts, I proceeded to lower the
assembly on my trolley jack. What I did not notice was that the attached
suspension hardware, shocks, rotors etc., create a tremendous turning moment
towards the rear of the car. I tried to save the situation with a jack
stand but�. CLUNK. Fortunately the unit is very robust and no real damage
was done.

The lesson for solo front suspension work is to remove the heavy hardware
from the unit prior to lowering, or preferably, get a couple of accomplices
to help balance the whole assembly on the jack.

Tony Gardner
XJ6 SIII 86

Yup. The trick is to position the jack head under a stout lump of wood
running front to back. The head goes at the REAR of the suspension beam,
which then rocks gently backward and takes the balance between the steering
rack and the beam.

You’ll need to master this move for when you put it back. It is a damn
tight squeeze. The top of the turrets JUST clear the inner wheel arches.
Put the long bolts in the front mounts first, and then raise the jack until
the rear V mounts engage (Mounts on the body first). Did mine as a two man
job, one person manoeuvering, the other pushing the bolts home.

Craig Sawyers-----Original Message-----
From: A. Gardner gardnera@SLU.EDU
To: xj@jag-lovers.org xj@jag-lovers.org
Date: 18 June 1998 14:10
Subject: [xj] Front suspension - removal.

Last night I accomplished a high speed lowering of the front suspension (32
ft / sec / sec). Having removed all bolts, I proceeded to lower the
assembly on my trolley jack. What I did not notice was that the attached
suspension hardware, shocks, rotors etc., create a tremendous turning moment
towards the rear of the car. I tried to save the situation with a jack
stand but�. CLUNK. Fortunately the unit is very robust and no real damage
was done.

The lesson for solo front suspension work is to remove the heavy hardware
from the unit prior to lowering, or preferably, get a couple of accomplices
to help balance the whole assembly on the jack.

Tony Gardner
XJ6 SIII 86