I'm considering buying an XJ and am finding the posts on this forum a great resource.

I just drove a 2007 XJ8L with 25K miles on. According to the Carfax report
http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...&partner=COO_0
the car had its rear brake pads replaced at 13K miles and then both front and rear replaced at 23K miles.

I know nothing about cars, but that seems like a short lifespan. So should I feel good that it's been so well maintained, or worried that something is in the brakes is chewing them up? Is it a sign that it's been driven by a maniac? It did seem like maybe it was a little harder to come to a smooth stop with this one than the other XJ I test drove.

 

Hmm. Looks like the link to Carfax via cars.com works when I paste it in my browser but not when I include it here.

On cars.com the internal ID is 32960516 but this URL doesn't work in my preview http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...istingRecNum=2. Just takes me to the main page.

Here's the car on the dealer site -- this link works in the preview:
http://www.jaguarwaukesha.net/certif...ed5b494539.htm. Only their site doesn't link to the free report.

Anyway, thanks for any thoughts.

 

It sounds a little strange. I have an 04 XJ8 and I just replaced the front pads and rotors at about 50k. I did the rear (pads only) at around 28k; however that was due to one of the pads disintegrating. Had that not happened they probably would have lasted a lot longer (normally the fronts wear out first).

 

Its normal
My specialist showed me a set of rear pads from an XK which had done 15k miles (same auto handbrake) and they were down to the metal.The problem is the auto handbrake wears them quick.I replaced my rears soon after buying the car last year so not sure how many miles since previous change but expect only around 15k on the rears (I would say probably more likely to get less miles if urban driving where the auto handbrake is used more).Fronts fairing a lot better

 

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the car was based on Long Island, NY so I expect it had a lot of stop/go driving on the LIE and maybe city use.

 

Front pads at 23k is just about OK, although the previous owner clearly drove on his/her brakes; why people like to screech to a halt I do not know !

Rears at 13k is excessive and as said here can be affected by the electric handbrake. I believe Jaguar have issued a TSB on how to correct matters, as these handbrakes are now fitted on all Jaguars. I think it is something to do with the auto-release mechanism when you drive off.

 

No more like more rear brake bias on light brakers. Xf's do this more than xj/xk
customers i know that are alittle more aggressive with the pedal have more front than rear pad wear. Another master tech that has an xf here noticed the same thing. The cars dont dive on light brake application like they used to and his wife wore out her rear pads in less than 20k fronts still looked like about 80% remaining. I wouldnt be surprised if bias is set up to apply rear more on light brake application to reduce brake dive
of course this is all speculation and conjecture about the rear pad wear issue

 

There's something funny with this. Normal replacement for front pads is about 40-45K miles and 55-60K miles on the rear. The X350 has bog standard breakes, they should last just like any standard Ford. I suspect the Carfax report is in error as this makes no sense at all unelss the owner was taken for a ride by a brake guy.

 

no oldmots, we see this all the time now, see my post above.
And 40-45k for front pads? More like 30k avg here except for highway drivers that dont tailgate and hit their brakes every 5 seconds creating traffic jams

 

You've got the advantage of more examples, I only have one car. It has 52k miles and the original brakes are still fine. The fronts will need replacement this summer but the rears are still going strong. Based on what I know, two brake jobs in 23K is out there somewhere. Based on what you know, it looks not so unusual. I did hear somewhere that the rear brakes were designed to apply first but that sounded too weird and I discounted it as garbled information.

 

I'm still riding on the original brakes at 47k, the fronts have been resurfaced once and they still have a bit of life left in them. They are getting replaced in a few weeks with new EBC Pads and Rotors because of excessive squealing from one of the front brakes and I think that its time for them to go.

Mat

 

i said that( rear apply first) earlier, unless your talking about even earlier than that
i wish more people like you would drive the freeway here, cause it sounds like you take your foot off the gas to slow, keep distance and then brake when needed.....unlike most that hit that pedal like like theyre killin roaches

 

Thanks for the info. So it looks like the conclusion is that this is not typical but within parameters for a car driven in a congested environment by an overly aggressive driver. As the pads were recently replaced I'd hopefully get a longer life out of the current set if purchased.

 

You still need to check for correct parkbrake release, though.

 

I looked for information and found references to the handbrake remaining on without warning on earlier S-Type models. Also that 2004 XJs may unabe to release the brake. http://answers.edmunds.com/question-...blem-2434.aspx

Is this a confirmed issue with a 2007 XJ, and is there a procedure to fix or detect it?

 

It will probably be an issue with the XJs, it is definitely an issue with the S-type. As you will understand, with the S-type there were far more sold than the XJ from 2003-on, so this issue came to light with the S-type first.

I think it is work checking with the Jaguar Main Agent near you. If there is a TSB they will have it. I don't think we are talking large money to fix.

There is a recall here in the UK for brake pipes running to the rear brakes due to corrosion - the agent should also have this recall detail as it affects all the cars up to a certain VIN

 

 

My fronts did 48K and were the originals and still had some life left but I had it done as part of the 50k service. The rears are still good at 53K miles and at the last service they tech said they still had a good 10k left in them. I am a reasonably sedate driver as was the last lady owner....

- Tim

 

I replaced mine with aftermarket parts. The OEM brakes (pads/rotors) seem to be very disposal. Many have had better luck with aftermarket parts on the brakes as I have. Sounds like a built-in obsolescence to me!!