I am thinking about replacing the upper wishbones on my 03 S-Type. A member was kind enough to post the instructions in posts #14 and #15 in this thread https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...squeak-100425/

I'm looking for as much advice and as many pointers as I can get. I'm in no big hurry, in fact I want to wait until I get my XJ8 back from the transmission shop so I can take my time doing this.

The R&R instructions seem a bit complicated, but not too scary! I think the instructions do leave a little bit of detail out that I would like to see -- such as "remove shock and spring assembly" is mentioned almost matter-of-factly, but I have no clue how to do that!

I'm also looking for parts -- I know the ball joint is not available separately, so I will be getting the entire wishbone -- I've seen them online for a wide range of prices. I'm interested in quality parts for a good price, will pay a little more to ensure I don't get junk.

Here is a photo of my upper wishbone - you can see that the bushing on the ball joint is pretty much gone! This is a photo of the left side, the right side is exactly the same. If there's a fix that doesn't include replacing the wishbone, I'm all ears. Thanks.

 

I don't see why the ball joints couldn't be replaced - I just replaced the upper ball joints and upper wishbone bushing on my '00 XK8 - the ball joints were a pain to replace but I didn't have a vise or means to hold the wishbone and apply the proper leverage to press the old out and the new in so it took some time. May be different with your MY not sure

 

I haven't been able to find anyone who knows where to get just the upper ball joints. Only the full assembly is available, from what I've seen and read.

 

Jagbits has the upper ball joint for $72 ea
http://jaguar-parts.jagbits.com/search/index?page=1&filters[catcode]=XJ8_Suspension_2&sort=code%20asc


Welsh has them for $30 Welsh Enterprises, Inc - Jaguar XJ8 (98-03) Front Suspension Parts

JTIS has a procedure for removal

Advance Auto or Auto Zone rent the ball joint tool for about $60 but you get that back when you return the tool

 

You're most likely going to need spring compressors to compress the spring before being able to take the assembly out. If you've never used them before:
1) Take care.
2) Take care.
3) Take care.

The assembly should be held by a bolt at the bottom and four bolts at the top on the strut tower. Do not undo the centre nut on top of the strut until the whole assembly is out and clamped up with the compressors.

 

Be aware those are all wrong. This has been posted multiple times. You can't get the upper ball joint separately.

I would love to find it but so far no luck.
Believe me the Lincoln LS guys have beat the bushes and would have found it by now!

The problem is the S Type front suspension changed quite a bit when Jaguar upgraded it in 2003. So any parts listing with 2000-2003 is almost always wrong.

Finally get the JTIS so you know what you’re doing! The spring/strut unit come out together and the spring is then compressed on the bench if you want to change spring or struts. No need to compress it on the car and it's a bunch easier to do it on the bench.

So remove the spring/strut together leave them together and change the upper control arm. Now if you have not looked please do. The back bolt on the top arm is a SOB to get to the nut in the engine compartment. It’s even harder to start it on the new one!!

So go ahead an order them but get ready to find out they don't fit!
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Everything I've read leads me to believe that the upper ball joints won't fit my car. If someone has proof that they will fit, please let me know.

 

looking at JTIS - there is a split in the 2003 MY - 2003 and 2003.5 with different procedures for each MY.

 

The S Type changed in 2002, which is a 2003 to you in the states. It changed again in 2004-2005, mostly cosmetic.

 

How do I know if I select 2002.5 or 2003 for my model year in the JTIS?

I was reading the JTIS procedure for removing the shock and spring assembly -- stupid question -- after removing the four nuts in step 9, does the shock and sprint assembly come out through the top (engine compartment) or does it drop down? Sorry to be so dumb, but I've never seen this before.

 

The JTIS will be UK. To establish your build date, you could contact Jaguar. I'll see if I can find a contact email for you, but no promises.

 

The mfg date of this car is 05/02, according to the tag in the door jamb on the side of the dash. Does that narrow it down?

 

It's done from last 6 of VIN (apart from a few pre-production etc).

VIN breaks are as defined in the Vehicle Spec PDF in stickies.

BTW, if you look at those mountings I reckon it must drop from below.

 

Thanks, I'll check the stickies. There's so much info on this site that it's hard to digest it all!!!

I would guess you're right, I was thinking maybe the plate that the four bolts hold down comes off (up) but I can't really tell. Thanks.


EDIT: I looked at that plate and there are two more bolts (painted body color) that hold that plate in place. Obviously the shock/spring assembly goes down -- now it's time for a "DUH!!!!"


EDIT 2: I found this chart (thanks!) and I'm clearly in the 2002.5 range with M57348

 

I'll add from my recent experience of replacing front shocks.
* after disassembly per JTIS and right before dropping the shock/spring assembly
* make note of the eccentric bolt for lower control arm at rear position, then loosen the bolt
* this will allow the lower control arm to rotate further giving you the clearance needed to drop the spring/shock assembly.
* have something to support the whole thing so it doesn't literally drop down.

 

Progress - and yes, that's what UK knows as 2002.5 (2003 USA). Hope getting it off goes OK.

 

I need to order the upper wishbones -- any suggestions as to where to get them? I've found them at the various places online with a wide range of prices, so if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!

Here's my "stupid" question of the day -- why does the shock and spring assembly have to be removed to replace the upper wishbone? If it's to remove the tension, then shouldn't it be okay to disconnect it but not actually remove it?

And while I'm at it, let me ask this -- my JTIS says something about supporting the wheel knuckle prior to disconnecting the upper wishbone -- with a warning that the car could be damaged if not supported. What exactly is the wheel knuckle and how should I support it?

Thanks again.

BTW If I'm going to remove the shock and spring assembly for this project, I might as well replace my shocks since they're original -- can't hurt, right? So, I'm now looking for shock suggestions that won't break the bank but will be as good as OEM.

 

I'll be doing the same job - just the passenger side. The upper control arm (wishbone) ball joint is shot. Is it absolutely necessary to remove the shock? It seems the only reason to remove the shock is to allow access to the 2 bolts that hold the wishbone in place. It is tight in there but unless the bolts are too long to come out with the shock it should be possible to do this without removing the shock. Has anyone tried it? Thanks.

 

If you're lucky you can get the bolts out with some wiggling without unbolting the shock top mount. Worth trying.

 

I might just do that -- thanks for the tip.

My other question what is the wheel knuckle and how to support it is still a mystery to me. I guess the reason it seems odd is the JTIS says to support the wheel knuckle when disconnecting the upper control arm but then it says to lower the vehicle -- I know I'm missing something basic here!