I am wondering if anyone has attempted to press out and replace the bushes in these arms with something suitable, rather than pay ridiculous money to buy the whole wishbone/ control arm as Jaguar wants me to.

The front and rear lower bushes on both sides have split and are leaking, after only 40,000km. Total dealer quote to buy these 4 arms, with discount is US$2,165.68! Plus postage to Australia.

Double that to buy here in Australia!

This is outrageous; there must be a sane solution.

 

WHAT YR???? OH WAIT, i GOT A NEW CRYTAL BALL HERE FROM UPS FRIDAY...LET ME TRY IT....OH SHYT..I JUST DROPPED IT AND BROKE ANOTHER...DOESNT ANYONE MAKE CRYTAL ***** IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN...WELL..CRYSTAL?
00-02 AVAIL SEPERATLY. NOT 03 AND UP FROM JAG THAT IVE SEEN...BUT ONLY THE FRONT BUSHING IN THE A ARM IN A HYDRO, NOT THE REAR ONE OF THE FRONT ARMS. AND THE REARS VERY SELDOM GO BAD SINCE THEY ARE UNDER COMPRESSION WHEN HITTIN POT HOLES AND FRONT ARE BEING SPLIT APART WHEN YOU HIT POTHOLES

 

Hi Brutal, sorry your crystal ball broke.

This is an early S Type R ( 2002; pre production-- M45134).

The dealers told me that the front and rear rubber bushes on the lower wishbones/arms are all split and leaking fluid and are therefore unroadworthy.

I am not sure what caused this being such a low mileage car.

Why on earth do I want to buy the whole arm when the whole arm is not broken?
Some one would have had to press the rubber in this arm in the first place.
Why therefore can this not be re-done?

 

If i was really paying attention i would have noticed you did day stype r built in 03 to 03 suspension specs...your front arm is curved correct...thats the one you have to buy the arm, and still like i said, the rear bushings in the front arms are not a hydromount style and dont break easily. And the biggest problem with one ones that are is not safty but noise, they begin to knock when the fluid leaks out as is evident by purple/blackish fluid on arm below the bushing

 

Thanks for the prompt reply Brutal.

Yes you are right, only the front bushes are split of both the front lower arms; as they are the liquid filled ones. And not the rears as they are not a hydro mount.

Also the same with both of the rear arms, LH and RH; as front and back of the arms are of course are liquid filled.

Question is can I modify the bush and put a solid rubber type or fabricate a polyurethane one without affecting the ride too much?

Cheers.

 

well if you can machine suspension spec polyurethane, yes you can. You would need to heat up the bushing to remove so you can save the shell, then machine a urethane ones to replace the factory ones. I woul say the ride would be slightly noisier and stiffer, but how much I dont know, that would be for you to decide afterwards if acceptable to you

 

Thanks again for the reply.

It seems that I can get one replacement bush at least, here in Australia.
Its for the front lower arms; rear bush only....the non hydro, which of course is the very strong one.
Not much use to me at this point.
Its either used now or I go down the polyurethane path.
Cheers.

 

It has only taken me two years, but I finally changed the rear lower control arms.
The front ones were not split, despite what my idiotic dealer told me here in Melbourne!
Anyhow, went to my local wrecker/breaker and bought a set of two used arms with the 'cross axis bushes' in good condition, ie. not split/leaking grease. I don't know why mine would have split at at 25,000 miles?
To my horror yesterday after reading the Jaguar 'Technical Guide' I find the rear "Lower control arms are unique for both N/A and SC vehicles, SC ARMS ARE STRENGTHENED DUE TO INCREASE ENGINE TORQUE." Who knew that!
I suppose if I had taken a good look at the old arms I would have noticed the letters 'SC' stamped on both arms.
Are they strengthened in the bushes?
Will the normal V8 arms I have accidentally put in not go the distance?
Can I take the bushes out of one set and interchage them?
Certainly the car feels no different.

 

I thought someone might be aware of what the difference is in the supercharged models. I still have no idea!

 

The above seemed self-explanatory to me so what is it you want to know?

Personally I wouldn't fit anything but the right ones.......

edit: I would expect the wrong ones could buckle or snap, possibly suddenly and with no prior warning, if that's the kind of thing you wondered.

 

Jya, I really sympathize with you over those prices, having recently had a lower rear wishbone part fitted to my S-type. The local dealer wanted £465 for ONE of these, and I found a supplier in UK of what appeared to be a proper Jaguar part for £270. This supplier I do believe will post abroad.

Jaguar Parts | Jaguar Spares | JustJagsUK.com
+44(0) 1922 637779

Ryecroft Villa, 24, Proffitt Street.
WALSALL WS2 8AZ.
United Kingdom.

I also fancied the idea of rebushing myself, but you don't seem to get those little machine shops around much anymore that can locate a bush and press it into the housing. Pity.

Leedsman.

 

Oh that should make him feel better ... LOL

 

Thanks for the replies gents. Yes I feel so much better now Staatsof, especially when I take the next Maserati Quattroporte on at the lights and the standard V8 control arms I accidentally put in drop off in the process! I sympathise with you too Leedsman, at least you only had the one to do, hope the other holds out a bit longer.
I will pay a visit to my misinformed wrecker (and exchange some more pleasantries) to photograph the standard arms to post.
I am not sure if I should take sound the standard arms off and place the shot SC ones back.

 

Don't forget to look at this thread. Several bushings are available separately.

Jaguar Forum.co.uk • View topic - Discuss - The definitive wishbone bush thread.
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I need comfirmation that the bushes parts listed are compatible with a 2003 S Type R 4.2 - Lemforder lists these part numbers for the 4.0 litre model & different parts for the 4.2 s/c model which I have.

Can someone clear up my confusion please.

 

And for anyone needing them. I now rebuild the new curved front arms with new hydromount bushings. Walnut blasted to clean and inspected for any damage for $150each. and a much better price than $450-600 new

 

Another useful link for the rear lower bushes. Kind of pricey but better than the alternative:

SNG Barratt - USA | Parts | LOWER REAR WISHBONE BUSH (PAIR)

 

Kit 153

These guys may be able to help,if you canget someone to press them out/in..?

 

Great Find!! It looks like that kit contains all the bushings except the sway bar and they have them too.

I bet the STR has different bushings so these would fit but change the handling.
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Just purchased a set of these blasted arms for the same reason, with shipping to the US and 2 arms + 5% upcharge for using my AMEX card they came out to 451 GBP local dealer wanted 835 an arm!! each arm was 167 GBP Dealer is Jaguar Spares North East UK great folks to deal with. Have to say after swapping them out what a massive difference !