This actually occured with my XJ40, but was cured thanks to a post
here from Doug Dwyer. It’s applicable to XJ-Ss as well as 40s.
From the day I picked up my Majestic, there was a right front end
clunk when going over even slight bumps. I replaced the right shock
bushings and checked the other front end bushings as best I could
with a prybar. But the clunk continued. Then Doug wrote to the
list to describe a smilar mysterious problem he had had. Out of
frustration one night he removed his shock and found the noise
disappeared. Well I finally pulled off my shock today and now the
car sounds like a Jaguar should–absolutely quiet. What a relief;
every, and I mean every time I drove the car I fretted over the
clunk and actually was embarrassed to any carry passengers aside
really care. It looks like the 13-year-old original, so it’s
overdue for replacement anyway. Naturally I won’t be driving it
much until I get the new shocks in, but even taking it around the
block was a quiet pleasure.from my family. Don’t know what’s wrong with the shock and don’t
–
John - '90 Majestic, '95 XJ-S 6.0 Conv., '86 Volvo 760T
Stamford, CT, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
Glad to hear that you hit paydirt, John. I know what a relief it is to
finally get rid of that noise
Cheers
Doug Dwyer
Longview, Washington USA
Well I finally pulled off my shock today and now the
car sounds like a Jaguar should–absolutely quiet. What a relief;
every, and I mean every time I drove the car I fretted over the
clunk
In reply to a message from John-in-CT sent Mon 13 Oct 2003:
Don’t know if this applies to XJSes, but I know from perusing the
XJ40 forums for a long time that the front shocks must be installed
tight, with no free play. The slightest free play in the assembly
can cause even the new shocks to behave as though there is a loose
bushing, when going over uneven road.–
The original message included these comments:
This actually occured with my XJ40, but was cured thanks to a post
here from Doug Dwyer. It’s applicable to XJ-Ss as well as 40s.
–
&:-)) Paul '88 XJ6 VDP 130k & '90 XJS coupe 127k
Garland, Texas, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
The slightest free play in the assembly
can cause even the new shocks to behave as though there is a loose
bushing, when going over uneven road.
I may have missed the conclusion of this post, so if I’m repeating someone
else’s advice, apologies. But, sometimes the “slightest free play” is a
matter of the shims, which seems to be another one of those mythical,
impossible to get, maybe they don’t make them anymore parts if you talk to
most mechanics. I don’t know why so many choose to take out the old and not
save or replace them, but if you find yours are missing, $10 at CW.
Gordon
'88 XJ-SC (Lucas CEI) Bagheera (46,000 miles)
'95 XJ6 (VP) Kyriell (128,000 miles) www.myjags.net
Alexandria, VA US
I don’t know if the post-facelifts require them, but the older XJS shock
configuration required a sort of shim/pin to ensure a no-rattle, really
tight fit. They had them on the XJ40s as well. It’s one of the parts
mechanics will tell you isn’t made anymore. I’m always surprised by how
many people don’t have them because the mechanic tossed the old ones
thinking everything he’d need would be in the replacement box. But, they’re
reusable so they are not included when you buy new shocks.
Gordon
'88 XJ-SC (Lucas CEI) Bagheera (46,000 miles)
'95 XJ6 (VP) Kyriell (128,000 miles) www.myjags.net
Alexandria, VA US
I'm a bit lost here. What "shims" are you talking about?
Ohhhhh. Are you talking about the steel bushing for the thru-bolt at the
lower mount?
Doug Dwyer
Longview, Washington USA
I don’t know if the post-facelifts require them, but the older XJS shock
configuration required a sort of shim/pin to ensure a no-rattle, really
tight fit.
// please trim quoted text to context onlyFrom: “Gordon Vivace” gordon@myjags.net
Ohhhhh. Are you talking about the steel bushing for the
thru-bolt at the lower mount?
YES! No … Steel bushing? It’s even listed in the parts catalogue as a
shim, I think.
Let’s ask Greg to chime in because I discussed this with CW at length a
couple months ago and they knew exactly what I was talking about and had
them for $10.
As I was explaining to Gary earlier, I have never actually replaced mine, so
I don’t really know where they are except for what I’ve been told; which was
that they should be very obvious.
Gordon
'88 XJ-SC (Lucas CEI) Bagheera (46,000 miles)
'95 XJ6 (VP) Kyriell (128,000 miles) www.myjags.net
Alexandria, VA US
Ohhhhh. Are you talking about the steel bushing
for the thru-bolt at the lower mount?
As I was explaining to Gary earlier, I have never
actually replaced mine, so
I don’t really know where they are except for what
I’ve been told; which was
that they should be very obvious.
They are… unless they rust to the shock and then
they arn’t. The worst thing to happen is that they
rust to the bolt!
I looked in an early parts book (circa August 1975)
and these shims, bushings, tubes, are not used. Is is
a function of shock brand or year of car?
Most of the front shock noise I have corrected is
caused by the top mount disentigrating and becomming
loose or the top mount central washers being left out
allowing the stud to bang the side of the larger hole
in the fender.
In reply to a message from Geoffrey Green sent Fri 17 Oct 2003:
This noise you’re talking about!!!
Is it a small metal clicking sound when the front wheels hit a bump.
I seem to get this as the suspension opens up after the bump.
I havent located it fully yet.–
XJS -C v12
leeds, United Kingdom
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
In reply to a message from jag ray sent Sun 19 Oct 2003:
The so-called shims are actually the spacers that sit atop the
springs to compensate for variances in the spring heights. They
can be used on front or rear springs and may not even be needed if
all the springs happen to be the ‘‘exact’’ same height. Oddly, they
are sometimes called ‘‘shock shims’’ even though they have nothing to
do with the shocks. Should be called ‘‘spring shims’’ or ‘‘spring
spacers’’ or something similar.
Now, as far as the noise in my front shock: It seems to have
actually been caused by a worn lower bushing. I removed the old
shock and the noise stopped, so I figured the shock was at fault.
I replaced it this weekend and guess what…noise is back, although
somewhat less. I took the short cut and did not replace the lower
bushing. But it seems that the metal center of the lower bushing
(it’s a doughnut with a metal outside, a rubber inner layer, and a
metal center) has over the years enlarged so there is a tiny, and I
mean teeny tiny, amount of room for the bushing to move on the
lower mounting bolt. Aparently this tiny amount of play is enough
to cause a clunk when the right front wheel goes over bumps. I
don’t mind changing the shocks since they appear to be ancient, but
I was hoping to avoid dealing with he lower bushings. Silly me.–
John - '90 Majestic, '95 XJ-S 6.0 Conv., '86 Volvo 760T
Stamford, CT, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
// please trim quoted text to context only
Kirbert
(Author of the Book, former owner of an '83 XJ-S H.E.)
14
John-in-CT wrote:
I removed the old shock
and the noise stopped, so I figured the shock was at fault. I
replaced it this weekend and guess what…noise is back, although
somewhat less. I took the short cut and did not replace the lower
bushing. But it seems that the metal center of the lower bushing
(it’s a doughnut with a metal outside, a rubber inner layer, and a
metal center) has over the years enlarged so there is a tiny, and I
mean teeny tiny, amount of room for the bushing to move on the lower
mounting bolt. Aparently this tiny amount of play is enough to cause
a clunk when the right front wheel goes over bumps.
None of that sounds right to me. That mounting bolt is supposed to
be tight, tight enough to prevent any clunk.
I’m not sold on the idea that the source is anywhere near the shock.
Removing the shock eliminates a source of sudden loads throughout the
structure on that corner of the car. Your problem may actually be
loose bolts on the diagonal strut or some such, and removing the
shock simply eliminated the input that caused it to clunk.
In reply to a message from Kirbert sent Mon 20 Oct 2003:
Hmmmm. That’s certainly a logical explanation. Well, it’ll be the
weekend before I can get back into it. Guess my blown out bathroom
may have to wait a while longer.–
The original message included these comments:
Removing the shock eliminates a source of sudden loads throughout the
structure on that corner of the car. Your problem may actually be
loose bolts on the diagonal strut or some such, and removing the
shock simply eliminated the input that caused it to clunk.
–
John - '90 Majestic, '95 XJ-S 6.0 Conv., '86 Volvo 760T
Stamford, CT, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
