XJ XJ8 / XJR ( X308 ) 1997 - 2003

00 XJR/XJ8 shocks the same?

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Old 01-31-2018, 03:30 AM
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Default 00 XJR/XJ8 shocks the same?

I'm looking at replacing the rear shocks on my XJR and a lot of sellers list the XJ8 shocks as fitting the XJR and vice versa.

Are they?
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 03:35 AM
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Nope , the XJR's are stiffer . Do you have 2 wires coming out of the top of the shock ?

See page 16 in below PDF :

The lower attach bushing gets worn out and Motorcarman ( Bob ) suggested only use original Jaguar parts for this item as others wear out very fast . Not in the shock kit box . Item # 6 below :

https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...d-damper-front

and posably item # 12 or 20 below :

https://www.jaguarclassicparts.com/u...-fittings-rear

Upper mount bushings ? New bolts ?

Someone will come along that knows more the me .
 
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
BilsteinAppGuide308.pdf (2.89 MB, 105 views)

Last edited by Lady Penelope; 01-31-2018 at 03:54 AM.
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Old 01-31-2018, 03:45 AM
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There are always two options: sport or comfort suspension
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 07:30 AM
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The XJR uses electronic sports suspension Adaptive control

https://www.britishparts.co.uk/jagua...er-front-p5753
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 09:42 AM
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I guess I have the comfort suspension as there are no wires coming out of the shocks (is this how you tell?). The shocks are starting to wear out on the rear the car continues to bounce more than it should when I go over bumps.

I have also bounced the rear of the car myself when its parked and it goes up and down for a couple of seconds.
 

Last edited by cdc; 01-31-2018 at 09:49 AM.
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Old 01-31-2018, 10:59 AM
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XJR's use sport shocks, XJ8's use comfort. non-CATS cars are the same way, if it's an earlier XJR like mine it won't have wires coming out of it but will still use sport shocks.

You will need the XJR shocks. the XJ8 ones will fit but have different damping. You need damper MNC3540CA should be green colored.
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 11:09 AM
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OK thanks, the cars a 2000. The ones on now are green I don't think I ever seen a XJR with the CATS system on.

Are the Bilsteins the only ones I can get? The auto parts store is listing some from KYB but doesn't say anything about them.
 

Last edited by cdc; 01-31-2018 at 11:22 AM.
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Old 01-31-2018, 01:05 PM
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Bilstien's came factory for the vehicle and have probably lasted 18 years? There are many aftermarket dampeners available and usually for less money. But, if the are the same why are they less?
Myself I would stick with the OEM's.
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by cdc
OK thanks, the cars a 2000. The ones on now are green I don't think I ever seen a XJR with the CATS system on.

Are the Bilsteins the only ones I can get? The auto parts store is listing some from KYB but doesn't say anything about them.
I would stick with the OEM's as well.

Originally Posted by avern1
Bilstien's came factory for the vehicle and have probably lasted 18 years? There are many aftermarket dampeners available and usually for less money. But, if the are the same why are they less?
Myself I would stick with the OEM's.
Avern would you know what the deal is with partsgeek having CATS shocks in two variations? They've got CATS sport and CATS comfort. Is that an error on their side or is there indeed two options on cat dampeners?
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 06:30 PM
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There are two versions of CATS shocks, the stiff one was used on the XJR and the softer on the Vanden Plas Supercharged which in 2002 became the Super V8.
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 09:32 PM
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KYB shocks are junk from the reviews I've seen . Some don't even last a year . You can rebuild the ones you have if you have the time .
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 10:14 PM
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Question ?? Question ??

Scotlad:


I thought the CATS system controls the shock dampening from a computer module, so differences in dampening would be due to a different program?


I understand the non-CATS (traditional) shocks are available in different performance modes.


So the CATS shocks are not only controlled by the ride module, but have different built-in ride characteristics?
 
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Old 01-31-2018, 11:12 PM
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I'm not sure if CATS controls the shocks with a smooth variance or if it's just switching a solenoid open/shut, but if it's the latter, the damping characteristics of those modes may be different between the comfort and sport CATS shocks. So comfort shock open mode is softer than sport shock open mode etc.
 
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Old 02-01-2018, 04:31 AM
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I believe it is a straight on/off situation but I find it hard to determine any difference if I am honest.
 
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Old 02-01-2018, 04:52 AM
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I thought the CATS systems stiffens the shocks with the speed of the car to keep the same comfort level and stops the car floating at high speed
 
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Old 02-01-2018, 07:35 AM
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I thought the CATS systems stiffens the shocks with the speed of the car to keep the same comfort level and stops the car floating at high speed
The CATS = adaptive damping system just knows two settings: firm and soft.
Here's an extract from the repair manual concerning the adaptive damping principle:
Code:
The adaptive dampers:
- Are installed in place of the normal dampers.
- Can be identified by the cable and connector at the top of the unit.
- Have two settings; firm and soft.
- Require no adjustment and are non-serviceable items.

The three accelerometers:
- Sense vehicle body movement.
- Generate an analogue voltage (maximum +5 volts) proportional to body movement.
- Provide inputs to the adaptive damping control module.
The two vertical accelerometers are mounted on the bulkhead and in the trunk.
The lateral accelerometer is mounted in the ECM housing.

Operation
The system selects the soft or firm damper setting according to the current road and driving conditions, to optimise vehicle
ride and handling.
With the vehicle stationary, the dampers are in the firm setting, but will normally switch to the soft setting when the vehicle
exceeds 8 km/h (5 mile/h); all dampers are switched simultaneously.
Sudden movement of the vehicle body, in response to road inputs, is detected by the vertical accelerometers, and the ADCM
switches the dampers to the firm setting to give improved damping of the resultant oscillations.
When cornering forces are detected by the lateral accelerometer, the ADCM switches the dampers to the firm setting to
reduce the roll rate and improve wheel control.
After the event has passed, the dampers revert to the soft setting.
When the footbrake is applied, the ADCM receives a signal and calculates the rate of vehicle deceleration. If the deceleration
rate is greater than a certain threshold, the dampers are switched to the firm setting to reduce the pitch rate and improve
wheel control.
If a system failure occurs, the ADCM grounds the output line to the instrument cluster message center, which displays a
text warning SUSPENSION FAULT and illuminates the amber warning lamp. Under fault conditions the system always fails to
the firm setting, so that the vehicle will be safe to drive under all road and driving conditions.
So the CATS is quite a rudimentary adaptive damping system compared to modern adaptive damping systems.

I guess I have the comfort suspension as there are no wires coming out of the shocks (is this how you tell?). The shocks are starting to wear out on the rear the car continues to bounce more than it should when I go over bumps.
@cdc: As Nilanium already stated the /R's do always have sports suspension - either with or without CATS. If your front shocks do not have wires cominng from the top, your car has sports suspension without CATS. So the MNC3540CA dampers are the right ones for your car .

I believe it is a straight on/off situation but I find it hard to determine any difference if I am honest.
@Robman25: Once you ever will have a SUSPENSION FAULT light coming on on your dash you'll definitely notice the difference. The C.A.T.S. will permanently switch to firm under fault conditions and this will make your car bounce over bumps and cobblestones like a rabbit zizagging or a fully inflated air ride suspension.
Just disconnect one of your front shocks and take it to a drive - you'll know what I mean ;-)
 
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Old 02-01-2018, 09:37 AM
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Look to see if you have the 2 wires on top of the fwd shocks and if not this would eliminate the CAT confusion . Doesn't mean the previous owner did not put the correct shocks on if they were replaced . To know if you originally had CATS there is a air compressor fwd of the left tire under the car .
 
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Old 02-01-2018, 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Lady Penelope
Look to see if you have the 2 wires on top of the fwd shocks and if not this would eliminate the CAT confusion . Doesn't mean the previous owner did not put the correct shocks on if they were replaced . To know if you originally had CATS there is a air compressor fwd of the left tire under the car .
@penelope I think you might be mistaken. I am sure the x308 xj8/xjr do not have air compressors. I believe it is only the x350 and x358 that have them equipped.
 
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Old 02-01-2018, 11:56 AM
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Reread post #6. XJRs that are not CAT (ie., no wires!) use the green Bilsteins. Firmer than the comfort shocks (black body). I put the greenens on my XJ8L to firm up the suspension. Were still comfortable than the old shocks.
 
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Old 02-06-2018, 01:21 AM
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Most report not liking the KYB's. Very harsh ...I don't believe any of the 2000's have CATS.

CATS is a stand alone add on system .. control module .. couple of sensors and the shocks. My memory was that some of the 01 R's had it ....all the 02's did ..... Believe the XK had it first -- year earlier. It's easy to tell -- the CATS shock will have a harness going to them -- check the fronts .. wire going to dust cap.

At one time you could have them rebuilt. Since the basic suspension is all the same -- the various shocks in the range will fit across all the models. The CATS was to soften the harsh ride complaints in normal driving .. the straight sport can be harsh at moderate speed on bad roads.
 


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