My 2009 XK 5.0 has failed its MOT on a couple of items.

The first was offside and near side rear track rod end ball joint boots being split and letting in dirt - fair enough.

The other was both rear (left & right) lower suspension arm lower ball joint dust cover on outer joints also having failed. The problem here is that looking at the parts diagram, I cannot see any ball joints on the lower suspension arm. Am I being dumb here? Anybody familiar with the rear suspension able to say what they are probably referring to?

Thanks, Brian

 

I don't recall a lower ball joint on the rear stub axle knuckle only encased bushes.

Could they possibly be referring to the upper control arm ball joint instead ???

 

That’s what I was thinking but having looked at the upper arm, the ball joint looks ok.

My concern is that they can order up the parts and repair the car but they will end up ordering the wrong part. Either that or there actually isn’t a failed component…

 

I'm guessing the sway bar links? Those are the only other ball joints in the rear and the lower end does attach to the lower arm.

 

That would make sense. I had a quick look at them but they seemed ok to my untrained eye. If it is them then at least they are reasonably easy to fit and probably not too expensive.

 

Just because the inferior boot material has disintegrated does not instantly equate to a defective suspension part. I've read a number of threads that some of our suspension parts go far beyond the loss of the protective boot and it might be more cost effective to wait until the part actually starts making noise or fails before going for the expense. Just my opinion.

 

They are cheap by comparison and should be difficult to move rotating the shaft. If they moved easily by hand they should be replaced regardless but that doesn't address your MOT concern. They note the dust boots are the issue. They should be either torn or grease escaping then. I don't know anything about MOT so not much help as to what they refer too. Sounds like a PIA.

 

And it can also go the other way no signs of damage , ripped or torn boot however it has collapsed internally

 

Unfortunately the UK MOT test does not account for this. If the boot has failed leading to the 'possible ingress of dirt' then it's a fail.

I'm going to drop by the test centre this morning and ask them to show me what exactly has caused the fail.

 

OK, all is now clear. The lower suspension arm 'ball joints' are in fact the lower arm suspension outer 'rose joints' looks like a bush. Unfortunately the bushes are not available as a separet item from Jaguar apparently so the whole lower arm needs to be replaced.

This is not going to be cheap...

 

Rear Lower Wishbone Bushes - Pair

Rear Wishbone Arm RH - C2Z31678P - Aftermarket

Rear Wishbone Lower RH - C2P16878P - Aftermarket

 

Unfortunately that's not the bush. It's the big one that is on the lower arm connected to the wheel assy:

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#...0suspension%60

 

I had the rear control arms and stabilizer bars replaced on mine. Expensive but worth it -- the ride difference was immediately noticeable.

 

Check Europare in the UK, exclusive official JLR aftermarket supplier.