So did a lower spring swap out and while there did the mounts, bushings, dampeners etc. The rear shocks were beat but the fronts felt strong. No worries all is new now. The upper mounts do not look stock to me. but they are very flat. Were these lowering mounts and is there such a thing?

Wondering if these are useful to any of you. All comedic comments and snide remarks welcomed.

Cheers, Mike

 

URO, the ones inside the metal case are just as flat, if not worse.

 

Question, what did you use as replacements? You most likely replaced like with like and kicked that can down the road.
l do not understand how those URO mounts still have a market.

 

Not everyone belongs to this forum, so they have no knowledge of the mounts you guys developed.

 

That's true. There seems to have been a huge drift from forums to ****book groups and l have, to an extent gone with that drift, but it seems no matter how many owners post about their mount woes other members of those same groups seem completely unaware of the issues until they themselves actually suffer through the same experience.

 

I think the problem is availability, they look for shock mounts for the car and the only ones for sale are the URO mounts so those are the parts that people get myself included. You can't get the custom made shocks that don't fail from any online store so you have to buy the URO mounts and install them or buy the URO mounts and send them off to Baxtor or someone else to have them cast a bush inside.

It would be really nice if a company like Adamesh or someone would start manufacturing better shock mounts or even Jaguar even so people can buy them and install them right away.

 

That's my point , people CAN buy them and install them right away. My cast in place is more of a local option due to the extra freight but l do a kit to rebuild existing mounts, about 15 minutes a side to install and then its back in with the assembly. I've been doing that for more than a couple of years now but it's frustrating trying to get the word out to the broader jag community of what's available.

 

Without these forums I would have probably relied on my Indy to spec the bushings from URO for my 01 coupe.

But since I over research everything, I was lucky enough to

A. Find a shop that would allow me to supply my own parts and

B. Find a mad genius in N. Carolina who offered a better option.

 

I would say maybe Ebay might be a good place to use as an advertisement or one of the more well known Jaguar parts specialists perhaps. Those are the places I look first for parts and if they have you're parts there then people will probably buy them over the URO mounts. The URO mounts are all over Ebay and Moss for example even sell them but if you can sell them there instead people will likely shift to you're mounts if they are known for being better whcih they are.

 

Wayne has had several conversations with suppliers such as Energy Suspension in order to educate them regarding his and Steve's brilliant custom upper shock mount solutions in hopes of them getting interested in taking over the process. Thus far, no interest. Probably due to what their corporate beancounters consider to be a very limited market. What they fail to realize is that EVERY SINGLE ONE of the remaining worldwide XK8 / XKR stock needs this solution right away....

 

Hopefully they come to their senses at some point. Moss I shoudl think would be more interested as they are more into the classic and quality side? They stock the URO parts as well which is where I got mine from. Moss Motors I mean. Suspension Mountings - X100 XK8 & XKR - Steering & Suspension - XK8 & XKR (1996-2005) - XK (1997-2014) - Jaguar - Select Model (moss-europe.co.uk)

 

I live in the UK and sourced a set of top mounts. They collapsed under spring pressure when I took the spring compressors off. Within 2 weeks one was off centre. I currently use a lever to centre the mount after driving the car. I have built a new set using Baxtors inserts and highly recommend his kit it is excellent. He provides good instructions and his kit is of excellent quality. Would advise any owners who are unhappy with the top mounts they have to source his kit.

 

Can I just get the bushes and replace the foam bushes with the ones from baxtor?

 

Yes, he does a excellent kit and has figured out the best way to ship to the Europe and around the world for that matter.
We collaborated for over a year, so what he has will fit most anything (old ones) that is around.
Be sure and let the car down and rolled around before torque is applied to any of the shock nuts and bolts, upper or bottom.
Baxtor will supply the dos and on don'ts's, Be sure and clean up all the surfaces and pay attention the the ring surrounding the spring and fits on the large rubber donut. They get a very deep impression of the spring on some and a small 70A 1/8 inch (4MM) cut gasket works great. Lots of home supply stores sell these sheets in small pieces.
I should add, that the holes in the metal sometimes have very sharp edges, epically where the bottom has been welded on. The top easy enough with a half round file, the bottom can be easy with a Dremmel tool and a pointed stone. I have seen many inside bushings cut in half, right around the hole.
Be surre to paint these surfaces after hitting them with a bit sandpaper. they never had anything other than a coat of black paint. no primer, your choice.

 

In my case I am new to the XR8. I researched here in parallel to looking online. Summit Racing I have used for a long time and have no complaints. They were URO mounts after I did the research and would not take a return so they went in. Wayne was kind enough to give me a call If he had a set ready and I could return mine different outcome for sure. I will see how they fair. The car is in AZ so delivery from Summit was one day and minimal shipping.

Is there any reason to keep the old springs and front dampeners? Bilstein does not rebuild them like Koni do they?

Wayne- I'll shoot you the old mounts so you have a core. Thank you for all the help. Now to solve the rear camber " find some shims"

Cheers, Mike

 

Mike, the springs if low in the measurement are not of use, it would cost as much to have them retempered as to buy new. As for the shocks, if one is good, I kind of a hoarder, so would keep one and if it has a good bottom bushing, even better. Might just get someone out of trouble.
You have done very well to get as much done as you have and thank you for the offer of the old ones, I'll PM you a address. I did notice the price at the post office is up. Hard enough to keep the prices down as it is.

 

Hello All,
I am new to this forum also, how do I get those Baxter shock mounts?

 

For "baxtor" (Steve in Australia), send a PM to him....

For '"cjd777" (Wayne in North Carolina), send a PM to him....