What did you do to your X308 Today?
#4121
Took it easy this weekend and knocked out a few small things that have been bugging me. Added some sticky foam pads between the forward dash edge and the windshield, to stop the buzzing/rattling it was getting. 95% gone now, only happening on very rough roads, and at that point there's enough other things rattling that it's not a huge deal. Greased all 4 rear UJ's.
One thing that's bothered me forever, that I've been putting off, the steering wheel creaked whenever turning it. Took the wheel off, took it to bits completely, and put copious amounts of felt anti-squeak tape between the plastic back cover and the wheel itself, particularly the rubber/leather sections. Dead silent now, as it should be. What a difference it makes, wow. The small things that you get used to in these old cars, that are so big when they're resolved.
Now, about that sunroof rattle...
One thing that's bothered me forever, that I've been putting off, the steering wheel creaked whenever turning it. Took the wheel off, took it to bits completely, and put copious amounts of felt anti-squeak tape between the plastic back cover and the wheel itself, particularly the rubber/leather sections. Dead silent now, as it should be. What a difference it makes, wow. The small things that you get used to in these old cars, that are so big when they're resolved.
Now, about that sunroof rattle...
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chris-jag (06-05-2020)
#4122
#4123
#4124
#4125
Started the re-paint
Well, it's time to start re-painting the car. Now all the 'serious' mechanical repairs are done, I promised Spring/Summer 2020 was the right time. Some will know that over the last few years I've put together a set of spare panels, in really good condition, and spent months stripping them to bare metal, then etch priming and finally getting them flat and primed. I have the front Wings (Fenders) 4 x Doors, Trunk Lid, Bonnet/Hood, and Bumpers.
The plan is to start at the front and work backwards, here's the Front Bumper...
Before the Side Markers, Indicators, and Fogs
You can see the old girl sat outside waiting for her new bits!
After the Sides, Indicators and Fogs
I think they turned out OK? After the polisher and some 'T' Cut it should finish up fine, will post pics of each panel as I get them painted up..
Paul
The plan is to start at the front and work backwards, here's the Front Bumper...
Before the Side Markers, Indicators, and Fogs
You can see the old girl sat outside waiting for her new bits!
After the Sides, Indicators and Fogs
I think they turned out OK? After the polisher and some 'T' Cut it should finish up fine, will post pics of each panel as I get them painted up..
Paul
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chris-jag (06-05-2020)
#4126
#4127
Swapped out my existing wheel hub for a cheap old vertical link from ebay, and discovered that the crashing sound from bumps in the road was coming from a bad wheel bearing. I've checked all the other usual suspects but never thought the wheel bearing would make that much noise and effect.
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nilanium (06-08-2020)
#4128
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#4129
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ericjansen (06-22-2020),
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#4130
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Z07Brandon (06-06-2020)
#4132
When it rains, it seems to pour:
Went out for a little drive and had the rear spring make a significant twang- that needs investigating. A frame removal?
Then had an annoying scratching noise develop at the front that sounds like the shield scraping on the brake disc. Those admiring glances from passersby must just be curious ears. :-)
I'm also getting quite a big reaction to holes in the road, so maybe the lower control and bushes need replacing?
The jag jobs are never done!
Went out for a little drive and had the rear spring make a significant twang- that needs investigating. A frame removal?
Then had an annoying scratching noise develop at the front that sounds like the shield scraping on the brake disc. Those admiring glances from passersby must just be curious ears. :-)
I'm also getting quite a big reaction to holes in the road, so maybe the lower control and bushes need replacing?
The jag jobs are never done!
#4134
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chris-jag (06-27-2020)
#4135
What I did today was drive it, which has become a relatively rare occurrence recently! I think I have only driven my VDP three times in the last two months.
Last weekend we did drive 80 miles to visit with one of our granddaughters and went for brunch at a recently corona-opened restaurant............ sort of felt weird eating out!
Today I drove to Wally World (ARRGGHHH......I know what you're thinking, but I park waaay out in the boonies, next to the solar-powered robot police/camera unit), it's good for avoiding door dings, and I need the exercise anyway.
The good thing about only driving occasionally is you appreciate the comfort, the smoothness, the luxury, the style and the beauty of the X308 just that little bit more.
Last weekend we did drive 80 miles to visit with one of our granddaughters and went for brunch at a recently corona-opened restaurant............ sort of felt weird eating out!
Today I drove to Wally World (ARRGGHHH......I know what you're thinking, but I park waaay out in the boonies, next to the solar-powered robot police/camera unit), it's good for avoiding door dings, and I need the exercise anyway.
The good thing about only driving occasionally is you appreciate the comfort, the smoothness, the luxury, the style and the beauty of the X308 just that little bit more.
#4136
Today...
Finished a 1500 mile road trip in the XJR. She handled it beautifully, with the small exception being the drivers side upper shock mount bushing giving out on the way home. Bumps and potholes became vicious.
Ordered a new one on the road and it was waiting when I got home... but I ordered the wrong part (a pair of non-cats mounts). they wouldn’t fit over the cats shock due to a taper inside the hole on the bushing.
I wanted to get her back up and rolling so I ran a 12mm drill bit through the mounts to remove the inner taper. That made them fit perfectly. I did have to hold the shock with duct tape wrapped around it and a vise grip in the wheel well to keep it from spinning as I removed the upper nut. Overall I’m happy with the URO part, and it seems to do fine. We’ll see if it holds up long term.
Problems that still need solving:
1: my fuel gauge likes to drop to empty at random after I’ve used a quarter tank (it works perfectly when I’ve got 3/4th of a tank or more).
2: the abs/trac light is starting to intermittently show up again - time to pull the box off and solder it again...
Ordered a new one on the road and it was waiting when I got home... but I ordered the wrong part (a pair of non-cats mounts). they wouldn’t fit over the cats shock due to a taper inside the hole on the bushing.
I wanted to get her back up and rolling so I ran a 12mm drill bit through the mounts to remove the inner taper. That made them fit perfectly. I did have to hold the shock with duct tape wrapped around it and a vise grip in the wheel well to keep it from spinning as I removed the upper nut. Overall I’m happy with the URO part, and it seems to do fine. We’ll see if it holds up long term.
Problems that still need solving:
1: my fuel gauge likes to drop to empty at random after I’ve used a quarter tank (it works perfectly when I’ve got 3/4th of a tank or more).
2: the abs/trac light is starting to intermittently show up again - time to pull the box off and solder it again...
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chris-jag (06-27-2020)
#4137
#4138
I you do that again, you prevent the shock shaft from turning by inserting an Allen key down the center.
Finished a 1500 mile road trip in the XJR. She handled it beautifully, with the small exception being the drivers side upper shock mount bushing giving out on the way home. Bumps and potholes became vicious.
Ordered a new one on the road and it was waiting when I got home... but I ordered the wrong part (a pair of non-cats mounts). they wouldn’t fit over the cats shock due to a taper inside the hole on the bushing.
I wanted to get her back up and rolling so I ran a 12mm drill bit through the mounts to remove the inner taper. That made them fit perfectly. I did have to hold the shock with duct tape wrapped around it and a vise grip in the wheel well to keep it from spinning as I removed the upper nut. Overall I’m happy with the URO part, and it seems to do fine. We’ll see if it holds up long term.
Problems that still need solving:
1: my fuel gauge likes to drop to empty at random after I’ve used a quarter tank (it works perfectly when I’ve got 3/4th of a tank or more).
2: the abs/trac light is starting to intermittently show up again - time to pull the box off and solder it again...
Ordered a new one on the road and it was waiting when I got home... but I ordered the wrong part (a pair of non-cats mounts). they wouldn’t fit over the cats shock due to a taper inside the hole on the bushing.
I wanted to get her back up and rolling so I ran a 12mm drill bit through the mounts to remove the inner taper. That made them fit perfectly. I did have to hold the shock with duct tape wrapped around it and a vise grip in the wheel well to keep it from spinning as I removed the upper nut. Overall I’m happy with the URO part, and it seems to do fine. We’ll see if it holds up long term.
Problems that still need solving:
1: my fuel gauge likes to drop to empty at random after I’ve used a quarter tank (it works perfectly when I’ve got 3/4th of a tank or more).
2: the abs/trac light is starting to intermittently show up again - time to pull the box off and solder it again...
#4139
Didn’t even realize the inside was an Allen key. It didn’t look like one... I feel like it was perfectly round. Maybe I’m mistaken. At that point I was in “figure it out” shade-tree mechanic mode, and duct tape was the answer.
Last edited by xjrmageddon; 06-16-2020 at 10:11 AM.