Engine mounts, quick way to check is pop the bonnet and blip the engine in drive with the brakes on, carefully, if the engine lifts that a sure sign, but it could be the other side, so a gentle pry.
It's a common problem, the mounts are hydraulic, can split and loose their fluid then separate leading to clunks and movement.

 

There are a lot of components up front to check. Everything from the engine mounts, to the Vee-mounts (subframe), the sway bar links, shock bushings, both upper and lower, and your control arm bushings. Some of them, if they're bad enough, will cause a shift in the geometry under load which can tweak the angle of the wheel and make it feel that way. Some of them, the only way to tell if they're bad is to go after them with a pry bar and see if there's any play.

 

 

 

You need to use the search function. I had the Uro's on one side and the Mehle on the other both worked superbly well compared to neoprene. The Uro's perform like OEM.

And my guess on your problem: shock mounts, top and bottom.

 

Please include MAKE, MODEL & YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many TSBs address many issues by VIN or MY.

There was a lower column problem but it affected certain cars.

bob

 

 

Test

 

So I usually use the mobile site.. From what I can tell if you use the mobile site it won't post your signature

 

Well, your signature works after all .
I just replaced the engine + transmission mounts on our SLK (110.000km).
Used Uro, and it made a day and night difference, from pretty bad to absolute perfect.
Should see no reason to use them on the XJ as well.

And yes, the left emptied itself when put upside down, totally done.
Might not be your problem, but if never replaced, not bad to do.

 

 

I did all the test, the engine barely moved, still the mounts came out as shown.
You should be able to see leaking tracks from the oil if looked from underneath, brown track on the ball.

Bad shocks don't make noise, but lower mounts and links are a good start.

 

 

Have you read through the TSBs for your car??
Jaguar issues thousands of TSBs for known faults. Why waste time when your problem might already have been addressed???
(unless you would just like to solicit a response and relish the comradery of the forum)

Look at TSB 211-06.

I would advise looking at ALL TSBs for your car to familiarize yourself with potential faults.

We got TSBs and Service Actions/Recalls on a regular basis when I worked at the Jaguar dealer. Reading them was the way to stay current for diagnosis. (Plus if you called Jaguar Technical Hotline repeatedly with questions that were addressed via TSBs, you might have been removed from the list of approved techs allowed to call in)

bob

 

Now THAT should be a nice addition to the rules on this forum ....

 

 

What I did when I had your problem: (all of this could be found in previous threads); I repaired the upper shock mounts with neoprene inserts (the BFH story); put in new green Bilstein shocks (shocks were ok, but lower mounts were dry, just too easy to replace both); replaced the sway bar bushings; replaced drag links; still knock over rough road on left side, which I put up with for two years; replaced both upper mounts with new Uro and Mehle units once they came on the market at a much reduced price: noise over!! Tight ride and steering.

But I also tested for engine mounts, ball joints, and wheel bearings.

I don't mean to insult, but what Bob is suggesting is to review the TSBs and stickies; find old threads which addressed your problem, then ask your question from those old threads: that tells the reader that you have conducted 'due diligence' so your specifics can be addressed. Like you, I hit this forum after buying an old car: pretty soon I hit every issue there had been in X308 series, and the answers were there, with some folks adding new knowledge to what worked and what didn't and what was new in the market place. It is a great forum, saved me over $5000 grand in the years I was more active, allowing me to work on it myself and enjoy the ride.

But, as they were for me, we are here . . .

 

Absolutely that Bob! A knock at slow speeds...

I noticed a good test to be when putting the brake on at very low speeds. If you could feel a knock in the steering wheel, then it is the column. And mine was shagged...