Theory out the window...lol

 

That's measured from center of wheel to underside of wheel arch.

 

Sorry on the delay! Haven't been by my computer the last few days. I did torque everything when it was on jacks which I learned after the fact is not the proper way of finishing the job. That said, I do not think it has really affected things much as the car has settled in to a pretty good level. I have a feeling that either my old springs were really shot or that the PO had installed 0.5-1" lowering springs. I recall when I took them out that they were at least that amount shorter than the new ones. Also, the rears looked different from what I researched the stock rear springs to be which again leads me to believe that perhaps the car was lowered. Right now, I have maybe 0.5" of difference between the front and rear with the rear sitting slightly lower. I wish that was not the case but I am not going to go in and tackle the job again over it.

 

How many miles have they done?
Does anyone have an idea of the "Shocker" life expectancy?

Thanks
Mark

 

Depends upon what kind of life they have led. Constant pothole abuse can ruin a shock in short order. Long highway runs on roads in good shape will produce a very long shock life in most cases. We replaced the shocks on my wife's 2006 XK8 at the same time we replaced the factory front shock mounts as the vehicle was approaching 100,000 miles. The car had been well cared for so the factory shocks were still in fairly good shape (except for the annoying rattling coming from the right rear shock due to its internal valve snapping off and rattling around inside the shock body as they tend to do)....

 

Ah Thank you..

So more or less standard,sherr wear and old age, sounds like a sensible thing to do at 122K miles!
Another job for then list! Argh...

 

Just as purely anecdotal comparison; the shocks on my car were replaced at 65,000 miles under warranty by a previous owner with the correct CAT type. The car now has 186,000+ and they seem to be working perfectly and also have the correct fender height measurements. Which seems to be a miracle considering the usual likespan of the top shock mounts which still appear to be centered and intact.

I try to miss every pothole, but occasionally one sneaks up on me and grit my teeth. Just trying to make them last as long as possible.

I don’t think one can assume the shocks are worn out at any certain mileage. But the top mounts, those are another story.

Z

 

Hi and thank you Zray
So the top mounts seem to be the worst culprit for failure and 186,000 on shocks is damn fine to me!

Ok, well I collect the beast early August, once MOT is gained, I can then sent photos etc. to one and all!

Thanks

Mark

 

OK all,
Now I finally have my XK8, and albeit with a few problems, I love it... I did a round trip from Malvern to Eastbourne and back via London last week..Over a couple of days I hasten to add.. 27.7 MPG
So Problems so far..
1 Jittery on the motorway like unbalanced wheels(they are fine), so diagnosed knackered shocks all round..
Also I read that the front shocker top mount bearings regularly fail? is this so and should they be changed at the same time?
2 The climate system..... does not!..
Tried full reset, no difference..The code reader when done on it test shows 14.. which reads..
14 Water temperature input malfunction Instrument cluster output Refer to PDU..
Does anyone know what that means in English?

3. G'Box is some times slow to first take off.. then perfect(forward and reverse).so I am gentle with it. A fluid and filter change called for me thinks?

Good news is that the Chains were done at 100K by Jaguar dealer

Thoughts please from the illustrious company on here please

Thank you in advance..

Also it did come with a XKB reg number, small bonus!!

Thanks in advamce

Mark