Three years ago I installed NEW, expensive Bilstein shock absorbers in the front of my X308 from 2000. Also installed NEW shock absorbers top mounting plates.
About a year ago, I got a very loud rattle on the RH side of my jag. Garage found nothing.

Today, I had new, cheapest Chinese shocks mounted and WOW, no more rattle.

(The Bilsteins are still GOOD !?)

I dont understand it and neither does my garage .

So for the moment I am pleased with it.

 

I find that a Bilstein failed in that short amount of time very hard to believe. I’m not saying it’s impossible, just not very likely in my experience with them. I would still recommend Bilstein shocks to anyone today.

The aftermarket front upper shock mounts are terrible. I call them marshmallows. You install a new A/M set and lift the vehicle off the ground seemingly once and the mounts (marshmallows) collapse and don’t return back to their original shape. In many cases after just a few lifts off the ground, the metal components cut through marshmallows and just turn to mush after the engine bay heat gets ahold of them. Years ago while doing rear upper shock mounts on an XJ40, I found that the smaller upper shock mount bushings were very close to the same diameter and thickness as the original X308 front upper shock mount bushings. I took an original front mount and disassembled it, replaced the crumbly original bushings with oem Jaguar rear upper shock mount bushings and it worked flawlessly. A press and a few tools are necessary though but, it looks, functions and rides like original without the ridiculous Jaguar price for their mounts. My opinion is that the mounts are the issue vs the shocks but, I’m not there to experience it either. I know you said the noise is gone and I hope it stays that way for you.

 

Loud rattles are generally when things back off. I would have at least jacked the noisy corner up and got a bar in there to see if anything had play or was loose.

Lower shock bushes and the aforementioned upper shock mounts are the culprits - the only time I've seen a Bilstein shock fail was when a towing strap was used to winch against it, it bent.

You have a good shock for when the cheap one fails.

 

I am in complete agreement about the bushings and shock mounts.
They require inspection often.

 

Thanks !

I also replaced the shock mounts. So you guys think these marshmallows are replaceable ? I could only find 2 new ones with the "plate". So where can these "marshmallows" be bought seperately please ?

The Bilstein shocks still seem good we thought but since whe had no idea where the rattle came from, we just changed the lot. And Yes, the whole front has been checked and even new ball joints everywhere.

 

4 needed to do both sides. These are a little bit concave as opposed to the original ones on the bottom picture.

I don’t know how well the aftermarket plates come apart and go back together, only the original ones. I’ll see what I can do to post some pictures to provide more information.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...03,vanden+plas

these are 21 bucks and work great.

 

I’m glad they’re working out well for you Randy.

Unless they changed their formulation recently, I haven’t seen one good set yet. I will say that they would likely last much longer way up north even though I know it still gets hot up there. Down here in the south, they just don’t stand a chance in my experience. Before the aftermarket front upper shock mounts became available, we had even gone as far as getting a solid tube of rubber in a specific squishiness (can’t think of the the actual term. Density maybe?), we’d cut our own individual bushings with a bandsaw, drill out the center hole to a specific size and press them into the original customers shock mounts. They worked out quite well and seldom had issues with them. I wouldn’t badmouth those A/M mounts if they worked out good for our customers (and myself) because who wouldn’t want something cheap and easy vs all the homework and trial we had to do.

I know Blackdog uses silicone as a replacement bushing (at least years ago they did) and as soon as heat was on it they would flop all over the place.

 

384932476468
ebay item number

i wonder if these might be adequate.

 

In that eBay listing, those look to fit the front upper shocks on a series 3 (1987 and older sedans). The ones I posted are for an 88-94 XJ40 specifically for the rear topmost bushing as a replacement for the front uppers.
Nice try though! 👍

 

Yes, that listing changed. They no longer carry the 2" diameter ones.
Please excuse that errant posting.

 

I got inserts for the front shock towers from this company: https://www.resuspension.com/5153-se...f-0750-xx.html (size 2.0 x 0.75 x 0.625 in).
I bought white (medium) first but found them too hard. Then bought and fitted red (soft) ones and they appeared to have very similar "squishiness" compared to the original ones.

 

My X308 from 2000 seems to have the (yellow) "rubbers" pressed or so into the towers. inside looks like the outside, I still have the "old" towers and I am thinking now of trying something with a small mould and pour half-hard polyurethane. I have seen that stuff used for heavy trucks shock absorber retainers ...

 

"I got inserts for the front shock towers from this company: https://www.resuspension.com/5153-se...f-0750-xx.html (size 2.0 x 0.75 x 0.625 in).
I bought white (medium) first but found them too hard. Then bought and fitted red (soft) ones and they appeared to have very similar "squishiness" compared to the original ones."

Thank you for finding that site. Strange how it says "as low as $1750" but offer no purchase option
other than $35.

 

the rear upper trick works and last 1000x longer then the uropoor

 

They are $17.50 a piece.