2008-Shocks/springs
#1
2008-Shocks/springs
I have a 2008 XK which is long over due for shocks. I appreciate the smooth ride of the stock suspension but desire the xkr ride+handling.
I spoke with bc racing and their products will not work for me, only because they cannot support a stock ride height, must be 1” (or more) lower. That lowering would cause me to drag the front middle and rear of the car too often in the areas where I drive/live.
So, back to square one.
Can I install xkr spring/shock assemblies on this 2008 xk (yes it has cats). I’ve search ed wrecker yards and have found several lower mileage units (~45,000mile).
Will an xkr spring/shock assy bolt up and function properly on an XK?
They are all listed for coupes and I have a conv…is there in fact a different set used on the convertible?
Any and all advice appreciated.
wj
I spoke with bc racing and their products will not work for me, only because they cannot support a stock ride height, must be 1” (or more) lower. That lowering would cause me to drag the front middle and rear of the car too often in the areas where I drive/live.
So, back to square one.
Can I install xkr spring/shock assemblies on this 2008 xk (yes it has cats). I’ve search ed wrecker yards and have found several lower mileage units (~45,000mile).
Will an xkr spring/shock assy bolt up and function properly on an XK?
They are all listed for coupes and I have a conv…is there in fact a different set used on the convertible?
Any and all advice appreciated.
wj
#2
Key issue is can they operate with CATS? 07-09 used a 2-stage system, '10+ a multistage system. Bilstein made the ones for the 4.2 XK, and speaking from experience the front Bilsteins are very difficult to source. I know the XKR's are a different unit, but not sure of the details of where they can be found. I suspect some will be forced to delete the CATS units as time passes and simply go with regular shocks.
EDIT: I looked for the XKR's, and Rockauto seems to have the Bilstein CATS units for the '08 XKR (front and rear) for $260 each. Get 'em while they're hot.
EDIT: I looked for the XKR's, and Rockauto seems to have the Bilstein CATS units for the '08 XKR (front and rear) for $260 each. Get 'em while they're hot.
Last edited by panthera999; 01-17-2024 at 05:48 PM.
#3
I've been putting this off for sometime for $$$$ reason. It looks as if I need to bite the bullet and do something.
The 07-09 (US) xk150 be it xk or xkr used cats, 2 stage. So my question, hoping someone has already done this, is are the xkr units a bolt in? and is there a diference between coupe and convertible as to the units used.
wj
The 07-09 (US) xk150 be it xk or xkr used cats, 2 stage. So my question, hoping someone has already done this, is are the xkr units a bolt in? and is there a diference between coupe and convertible as to the units used.
wj
#4
time will tell
I appreciate your thoughts
wj
#5
I spoke with bc racing and their products will not work for me, only because they cannot support a stock ride height, must be 1” (or more) lower. That lowering would cause me to drag the front middle and rear of the car too often in the areas where I drive/live.
Any and all advice appreciated.
wj
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SNAPCHAT (07-16-2024)
#6
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#7
I cannot recall any other members that have gone through more spring and shock set-ups on a 07-09 (4.2) than myself and Jahummer, and he's definitely the go-to guy when it comes to BC coilovers.
The entire strut unit (xkr) will bolt straight up to your xk with no need to compress any springs or recalibrate the CAT module. (However, with the XKRS struts, I believe a software update is recommended.)
The colours used to identify the struts are the following:
Xk - Black
Xkr - Green
Xkrs - Yellow (and yes, there was a short run on the 4.2; funny enough, the springs were made for Jaguar by Eibach.)
I would have to get the verniers out for the rears; however, by memory, the xk front spring are 14mm in thickness and xkr 14mm
Another note to consider is the xk, when fitted with the xkr struts, will sit approx 3-5mm higher upfront then the xkr due to having less weight over the axle no s/c (I actually shaved my xkr spring down to compensate this)
The entire strut unit (xkr) will bolt straight up to your xk with no need to compress any springs or recalibrate the CAT module. (However, with the XKRS struts, I believe a software update is recommended.)
The colours used to identify the struts are the following:
Xk - Black
Xkr - Green
Xkrs - Yellow (and yes, there was a short run on the 4.2; funny enough, the springs were made for Jaguar by Eibach.)
I would have to get the verniers out for the rears; however, by memory, the xk front spring are 14mm in thickness and xkr 14mm
Another note to consider is the xk, when fitted with the xkr struts, will sit approx 3-5mm higher upfront then the xkr due to having less weight over the axle no s/c (I actually shaved my xkr spring down to compensate this)
Last edited by steve_k_xk; 01-18-2024 at 06:42 AM.
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#8
wj
#9
I cannot recall any other members that have gone through more spring and shock set-ups on a 07-09 (4.2) than myself and Jahummer, and he's definitely the go-to guy when it comes to BC coilovers.
The entire strut unit (xkr) will bolt straight up to your xk with no need to compress any springs or recalibrate the CAT module. (However, with the XKRS struts, I believe a software update is recommended.)
The colours used to identify the struts are the following:
Xk - Black
Xkr - Green
Xkrs - Yellow (and yes, there was a short run on the 4.2; funny enough, the springs were made for Jaguar by Eibach.)
I would have to get the verniers out for the rears; however, by memory, the xk front spring are 14mm in thickness and xkr 14mm
Another note to consider is the xk, when fitted with the xkr struts, will sit approx 3-5mm higher upfront then the xkr due to having less weight over the axle no s/c (I actually shaved my xkr spring down to compensate this)
The entire strut unit (xkr) will bolt straight up to your xk with no need to compress any springs or recalibrate the CAT module. (However, with the XKRS struts, I believe a software update is recommended.)
The colours used to identify the struts are the following:
Xk - Black
Xkr - Green
Xkrs - Yellow (and yes, there was a short run on the 4.2; funny enough, the springs were made for Jaguar by Eibach.)
I would have to get the verniers out for the rears; however, by memory, the xk front spring are 14mm in thickness and xkr 14mm
Another note to consider is the xk, when fitted with the xkr struts, will sit approx 3-5mm higher upfront then the xkr due to having less weight over the axle no s/c (I actually shaved my xkr spring down to compensate this)
wj
#11
Now we're getting somewhere. Prodded by jahummer's comments I got back in touch with bc racing and the news is good. Here is part of an exchange with them...
I just looked into the in-house vehicle testing that we did on this specific vehicle. It looks like out of the box, it will lower the vehicle about an inch, but it can actually be raised to OEM height, if not slightly above.
This is a rare occasion on one of our kits, but not impossible. For the XK/XKR kit, it does look like it is possible to retain OEM height.
It is important to note that when adjusting our suspension, that threads are visible through the hole on the lower mount. Raising the vehicle any more than this can cause the damper to rip out of the lower mount.
I hope this information helps you!
Now I need to make a decision.
wj
I just looked into the in-house vehicle testing that we did on this specific vehicle. It looks like out of the box, it will lower the vehicle about an inch, but it can actually be raised to OEM height, if not slightly above.
This is a rare occasion on one of our kits, but not impossible. For the XK/XKR kit, it does look like it is possible to retain OEM height.
It is important to note that when adjusting our suspension, that threads are visible through the hole on the lower mount. Raising the vehicle any more than this can cause the damper to rip out of the lower mount.
I hope this information helps you!
Now I need to make a decision.
wj
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jahummer (01-19-2024)
#12
Now we're getting somewhere. Prodded by jahummer's comments I got back in touch with bc racing and the news is good. Here is part of an exchange with them...
I just looked into the in-house vehicle testing that we did on this specific vehicle. It looks like out of the box, it will lower the vehicle about an inch, but it can actually be raised to OEM height, if not slightly above.
This is a rare occasion on one of our kits, but not impossible. For the XK/XKR kit, it does look like it is possible to retain OEM height.
It is important to note that when adjusting our suspension, that threads are visible through the hole on the lower mount. Raising the vehicle any more than this can cause the damper to rip out of the lower mount.
I hope this information helps you!
Now I need to make a decision.
wj
I just looked into the in-house vehicle testing that we did on this specific vehicle. It looks like out of the box, it will lower the vehicle about an inch, but it can actually be raised to OEM height, if not slightly above.
This is a rare occasion on one of our kits, but not impossible. For the XK/XKR kit, it does look like it is possible to retain OEM height.
It is important to note that when adjusting our suspension, that threads are visible through the hole on the lower mount. Raising the vehicle any more than this can cause the damper to rip out of the lower mount.
I hope this information helps you!
Now I need to make a decision.
wj
The following 3 users liked this post by jahummer:
#13
#14
Not at all. The rubber bit you’re looking at isn’t a shock mount, it’s a spring isolator. What makes shocks feel different’s combination of spring rates and dampening, both of which are adjustable/customisable with the.BCs. Keep in mind any non-CATS strut’s going to eliminate that feature. Active dampers are quite effective at masking roadway texture.
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#15
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#17
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#19