While having my car aligned last week my mechanic was kind enough to point out to me that the control arm bushings were just starting to leak a little fluid. Nothing major and he even mentioned that it didn't HAVE to be done right away.

I figured while he had it there and it was on the rack I may as well go ahead and have them replaced. 52k miles doesn't seem like a lot of mileage for a 2012 car to me- especially enough to justify worn out control arm bushings. Drive out for the alignment and the bushings was $1500 .


Any of you guys experienced this?

 

I have the same situation in my 2011 XJL. Just over 50,000 miles. I was told that it is only the bushings that need to be replaced and the English import specialist shop I go to told me that the whole job would run around $750, and that is mostly labor. They also said that the Jaguar dealer would only replace the whole control arms, not just the bushings, which would dramatically add to the cost.

 

Yikes, you guys need to start doing your own wrenching!

The front banana arms are about $120 each brand new from SNG Barrett. They can be swapped out within an hour or two. Or you if you have access to a press, you can buy just the bushings themselves for under $50...but I'd rather just replace the whole part.

You can get the alignment pretty close with some true marks, otherwise factor in another $175 for a lifetime alignment deal at Firestone and never have to pay for an alignment again.

The suspension setup is 99% the same as on the old X350 and yes, the rubber bushings do break down every 50k miles or so depending on your road conditions.

 

I should have mentioned that the price i stated included the upper control arm as well. Maybe its just me but I’m not overly eunthusiastic about putting non-Jaguar OEM parts on my warrantied 2012- so yes, I knowingly paid more for the OEM parts than i could have gotten elsewhere.

And although I fully appreciate your concern for the financial benefits of me wrenching on my own vehicle, I’m fully capable and have a slew of gear-head friends to assist- it’s simply the value of time for me. I’ve spent years doing my own work on various cars/motorcycles and eventually hit a point where I found my weekends with family, friends, and other hobbies taking priority over laying on my garage floor under a vehicle all weekend.

I’m happy with the price and the work considering the alternative. Had I gone to jaguar that bill would have been double or more and taken me a week to get my car in, and 2 weeks to get it out, and they wouldn’t have had a loaner. Ask me how i know.

My local mechanic lives 3 miles from me and had my car for 3 business days and actually answers his phone- unlike any jaguar service advisor I’ve ever had at 2 different dealerships. And its done right because he let me see it on the lift. He’s an x-BMW dealership tech.......we wont hold that against him

 

And that was my exact thought, glad to hear i was right. It added about 5-600 to the bill if i had my mechanic replace the entire control arm on both sides.

Appreciate the feedback

 

Those were factory parts from SNG Barrett.
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I apologize, my comment came off very snarky. Its just that $1500 for just bushings and an alignment is not worth it to me. You could almost rebuild the entire front end for that.

For anybody else who may read this in the future, OEM Jaguar parts are really no different from the stuff you get from quality aftermarket suppliers. In fact, a lot of the time, OEM Jaguar parts are just rebranded Ford parts. For instance, the X350 XJ front upper control arms are the exact same ones you find in the mid 2000s Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird, and I believe also the Jag S-Type and XF, maybe even the XK and F-Type. And suspiciously they look exactly the same as the ones in the X351...I'll confirm that when replacement time comes. Those can be had for around $100 a pair in the aftermarket. There are tons of other interchangeable parts like this.

All this info can be found in the X350, X150, S-Type, and XF forums, where they've been replacing these parts successfully for years. So for anyone else new to these cars, be assured that you do not have to be held ransom. There are choices out there.

The X351 is still fairly new, so I've noticed there isn't much DIY info around. Hopefully this will help someone.

 

Has anyone looked into replacing the control arm bushings with poly?? I found these online and was wondering if anyone has tried them on their current or past XJ.

https://powerflexusa.com/xj-x3512010.aspx

I use poly bushings on my 55 Chevy, it really tightened up the feel of the suspension. I had heard rumors that it was going to make the suspension squeak a bit but I have never heard a noise...

 

I remember reading a few threads where people did put poly bushings on their XJRs but they made the ride really harsh and squeaky.

 

I had my XKR kitted out with poly bushings. It didn't make the ride harsh, but certainly tightened things up.

 

I believe that big bushing we are talking about is a hydro-bushing and contains fluid to help cushion impacts?
So replacing them with a solid poly bushing would be a BIG change so not sure what it would do to the ride of the car?
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The soft ride is actually one of my favourite things about the X351, especially considering the road conditions we have in Los Angeles. If I want the ride tightened, I press Dynamic (Rowdy) Mode and suddenly there's no more body roll!

However, if I lived in a different area, I would probably be interested in poly bushes.

 

Yes, that big bushing does contain fluid, along, I believe, with the rearward straight control arm where it connects to the subframe.

 

Just for the record, I went to SNG Barratt and priced those bushings waiting to see this massive discount that's mentioned.


They're 35.96 GBP + 18.00 GBP for shipping = 53.96 GBP = 72.38 USD a piece.....and at a minimum I'd wait a week or more to get them.


I paid my mechanic $70.00 a piece for them and had them less than 24hrs later.

 

I was actually talking about the entire control arm from SNG Barrett, priced at around $120-130.

I just did a quick search and was surprised to discover that you can finally buy OEM replacement bushings by themselves!

https://www.jaguarlandroverrenoparts...Y4LWdhcw%3D%3D

They're marked as fitting only 2013 and above (which is silly because its obviously the same part, even on the old X350), but if you search the part number you'll discover it also fits 2011-2012.

https://parts.jaguarpalmbeach.com/p/...8/C2D4723.html

I wonder why and when Jaguar changed their policy on this.

I still think its easier to just replace the whole arm rather than press bushings in and out. But I suppose you could just replace the first arm that goes bad, press out those bushings at your leisure, and then you'll have a spare arm ready to go when the other side inevitably goes out.

 

That's great to know! That is a change.
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During my oil change inspection this weekend, I noticed that both my front banana arm bushings seem to be leaking their fluid. Looks like I'll be replacing those soon as well.

 

thats bs we do bushings all day long

 

Those lower torsion arm bushings are fluid filled to reduce noise and a good impact at speed on a big pothole will crack or break them. I have broken 3 on the drivers side, 1 passenger and 2 motor mounts from potholes on my xj

 

Great to see you posting again Brutal!

I had heard the engine mounts on the XJ were also fluid filled and I guess just monitor the area for leaks and stains?
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