i know it may be a stupid question, but i know there are conversion kits for range rovers to switch from air suspension to spring and conventional shock suspension. does anyone out there make one for the X350 xj? i just had one of those "better be sitting when they hand you the bill" moments at the dealership yesterday. problem is...their estimate is almost half what i paid for the cat in the first place! really thinking of just trading it in....
just really frustrated....i just "re-suspendered" my '83 xj6 series III. don't feel like doing it again! thanks in advance, william
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There have been rumors about for years re a conventional shock/spring conversion/ a strut type assby. Unfortunately, nothing has ever come of them.

Were you an "average shade tree mechanic" the cost can be substantilally reduced with a refirbed pair of air shocks and half a day of DYI effort.

Can you not locate an independent Jag shop in your local who will install refirbs for you?

 

tarhealcracker, thanks for the reply. yes, i can get refurbished shocks and compressor....just don't want to. actually previous owner put the rears on at dealership, and M-B dealer that i bought it from replaced the front ones for me prior to purchase. however, previous owner did not replace all the bushings, arms, locators (and what ever else they're called or needed in addition to the actual air shock itself), and so now, whenever i go over speed bumps or potholes (slowly of course), rough roads, etc. it clunks and groans like an old horse drawn cart! dealership and i went over the previous work invoices, and grand total to fix and replace what needed (and now needs) to be done is in $5400.00 range! now that figure is roughly what car is now worth (and what i actually paid for it!), so i really don't want to spend that amount, only to know that it will have to be redone in another 40 - 50k miles! replacing a strut will be much cheaper! anyway, i was just wondering.....
william

 

Did you try contacting the Land Rover conversion vendors directly? They might be fairly familiar with Jaguars, and may have some thoughts on this. Even if they had not thought before to sell to X350 owners. Perhaps offer to let them use your vehicle as the prototype vehicle.

Or ... how about spraying a whole bunch of "Fluid Film" up into the affected area to let it creep and eventually lubricate all the places where squeaking is taking place?

 

Arnott lists a part number for them in their catalogue but they also say that they are in the testing phase. Might be worth contacting them though to see how they are getting on.

Contact Arnott Industries

 

plumsauce...interesting idea. i think the rover guys might know a thing or two, and prototype/guinea pig out of my car MIGHT be feasible.....
but knowing me, it there isn't a proven kit out there already, i'll either fork over the money and have it done right, or trade it in on a newer model like a 2008 or 2009. i want to stay with a jaguar though.

 

Hey just found this link. It maybe the answer to our air suspension problems.

http://www.motorcarsltd.com/jaguar-d...spring-kit.pdf

 

thanks, gdcont, i frequent their forum a lot for my series III xj6, but i hadn't seen the kit,, must be new. one of their guys mentioned it as an aside during a conversation regarding something else, but never furnished details when i asked about it, was elusive. according to him, the x350 they had it on drove very well (company car). i'll have to give them a call! thanks again! wm

 

Just a thought I hear about these kits for the Navigator too but keep in mind the Navigator and the Jag lower themselves at certain speeds you could be compromising your performance envelope slightly in the best case.

 

Perhaps with the advent of the Motorcars kit the folks at Arnott will get off the dime on their long "under wraps" kit.

I am looking forward to a road test report. Certainly one would expect that these devices be installed in tandem pairs at the very least. The question then becomes , must one install all 4 shocks at once? Can one then do away with the air compressor, air tank and wheel position sensors assuming all 4 shocks are replaced, of course? Are the kits available in Sport and Comfort ride variants?

Cost will be the big issue here- as so many of our high mileage 350s are being dumped due to the expense of air shock system up keep. The conversion cost must be such that owners can afford to make the investment and see an immediate advantage in doing so..

 

I had a Range Rover with a conversion, of course it never did the "wounded camel impression " after that but the ride and handling were never as good in my opinion.

 

Oops. Just read the small print on the Motorcars shock kit deal. They will not sell to individuals. Just authorized repair shops. What do you suppose that's all about?

I have an idea this kit just fell out of the realm of "affordable". What a shame. Let's see some numbers.

 

Hmmmmm. and just what does "authorized" repair centers mean? who authorizes them? does that mean my local mechanic can't do it? dealership won't , that's understood...so then who?

 

Actually it says
"The inherrent risks of vehicle damage and/or personal injury associated with service or repair work performed on automotive suspension systems precludes delivery of this suspension kit to non-professional installers. "

So I assume any certified mechanic could buy it and put it on.
Odd that there are no prices though.
I have to say I would worry that it would upset the ride handling which is one of the great features of the beast.

Jaguar XJ8 Air Suspension Fault Solution

 

thanks DB6, i'll see if my mechanic will call and get me a price quote, i'll let you know what they say. wm

 

Just put in a call to my mechanic, he was told the kit is $3000, and next day shipping (YAY!) he will order for me, but he won't install for me (BOO!). Not a bad price, just have to find the certified mechanic to do the install I guess, so that offers another option to those owners with failing air suspension systems I guess! Hope this helps someone. Wm

 

That doesn't sound any cheaper than the air suspension!

 

It is properly marked up with factor of 2 like usually from the mechanic.

 

Probably right I never thought of that aspect !

 

It's too bad. This kit, its price and the terms under which it is sold will not save the life of many high mileage 350s. Even if an owner can score the kit for $3K and do the job himself, on say a 150,000 mile car, it's a questionable investment.

How many 7 yrs plus XJs with over 100,000 miles can absorb a $3,000 to $5,000 plus service bill. Of course, there are always the "labor of love" exceptions but not enough to keep a lot of the older examples out of the scrap yard. Owners with late model low mileage 350s might be well served to install the kit but all others will have a dreadful calculation to make.

Mind you, this is not necessarily the fault of the kit developer. Maybe they just could not find a more economical solution. We will only get that answer when Arnott steps up. Ultimately the fault belongs to Jaguar for designing in an unreliable suspension.