I have a 1996 XJS Convertible.

On a whim, I just replaced my two front upper shock absorber (or strut) bushings. Initially I was checking to see if they were loose, but then one thing leads to another and all of the sudden I'm at the parts store.

I wanted to find out what was the cause of the clunking I heard when going over bumps.

Initially I found one side was a bit loose. The nut itself wasn't loose, but I was able to spin the washer easier on one side than the other. That lead me to believe that the orange foam bushings were failing.

I went to a mom and pop parts store, who typically never have anything I need, and showed them what I was looking for. He went to the back and came back with a Federal Mogul part called "Quick Steer". Its Part #K5252 and it's a sway bar link kit. It was $6 and it had a long threaded bolt, a metal spacer, a nut and 4 rubber bushings.

The reason I am writing about this is that the bushings (unlike some other strut/shock bushings he showed me) were the right size. They were a bit thicker, but they actually fit very well into the cupped metal plate. They even had a protrusion that fit the hole perfectly. The holes were a bit tight around the threaded strut/shock top.

I don't know if these rubber bushings will hold up any better than the original orange foamy bushings, but they did make the clunking go away.

The rubber was pretty hard, but I had no problems screwing them down all the way (using new 3/8" nylon locking nuts). The compressed nicely.

I would highly recommend using them (so far). Does anyone have any concerns with this product substitution?

 

Mine needs those too, but if I am removing a shock to replace a piece if rubber, I figure I will just replace the shock as well.

You did have to remove the shock to do it, right?

 

I use the black rubber ones when I replace the upper damper bushes.
I sometimes find them in the parts store when I wander in the HELP section with all the spacers, grommets etc.

I lift the car a little and turn the wheels to the right (I am right handed).

Remove the upper nuts and bushes/washers.

Reach in and pull the damper DOWN and out of the upper hole to remove the bottom bush and mount washers.

Jam the damper rod to the side so it won't go back into the hole.

Pull down again the install the washers and bush, then guide the damper back into the hole. Install the upper bush and washers.

I done it this way for years and HUNDREDS of Jaguars as the crappy foam bushes fail and crumble.

bob gauff

 

No, I just removed the upper bushings in the engine bay. I did not change the upper bushings just inside the bay.

You don't necessarily need to change the shocks you know...