Jaguar XJ-S V12 Bilstein Dampers - Part 1 Front Shock Absorbers
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2022
- This was originally going to be one video but part way through I realised it was going to be too long so I've split it. My Jaguar XJ-S has been on its original 33 year old Boge shock absorbers / dampers its whole life and whilst they passed the MOT 8 weeks ago, the back is a bit bouncy, the whole car a bit floaty, it has a slight oversteer bias and it grounds out too easily on bumps. This car is a rolling restoration but I've treated it to a new set of Bilstein B6 dampers. I've changed the fronts first although I was of the opinion that the rears were the worst. What difference has it made? New rear springs are in the post for the rears. New front springs will follow soon, as will new anti-roll bar link bushes. I've realised that the driver's side (only) of my subframe has more rust scale and flaky paint than I'd like but it's still very solid. Next year I'll remove it, blast it, repaint it and rebush it.
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Thanks for the video, I am doing this job today 250524 and using the same shockers. I found it very difficult to get the new shockers in even using the zip ties ( kept coming off ), as you say brute force wins the day. My XJS is a 4ltr straight six celebration in baby blue ;) Cheers :)
Very interesting, looking forward to seeing the rears done as well
Good job the before and after video.. my son and I have been creating a complete restomod on his 86 xjs.. custom 1-1/4" front sway bar,,1" rear sway bar,, 40 mm front coil drop, 30 mm drop in the rears.. all Teflon bushings in the front suspension and front frame supports.. 18x9.5" rims 245/45 frt and 265/45 rears... It is an unbelievable difference in handling... Custom standalone ECU from mobeck,, custom 3" throttle valves and snorkels,, headers from simply performance,, 2.5" stainless steel exhaust front to back with X-pipe,, and hundreds of more changes and add-ons..
Don't stop improving the car, she won't let you down.. get rid of the archaic cooling system, and she will never die..
👍
If I did not go for the Koni Red shocks some years ago, I would have had these. Cat distractions aside 😂, great video 👍. Well worth re-bushing and blasting the front subframe too in time. Concerning your LED brake light "bulb", I could never get mine to work without triggering the warning lamp so the running lights are LED at the rear but brake lamps are standard bulbs.
I had the originals on my '88 as well apart from being in the same condition as yours the nearside one was bent like a banana as well.
Wow - any idea how that happened? Bottomed out past a tired bump stop maybe?
Hi Jamie - I just found your channel as I've got an almost identical car albeit a 3.6, but it's a 1989 in Arctic Blue and I bought it at the start of this year after it had been standing unused for a fairly long while. Sounds familiar, right?!
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the front dampers - it was an interesting video because I'm just about to embark on a suspension rebuild, starting with the rear. I'm just working out whether to go with 6x Bilstein shocks, or something else. My car has the SportsPack option so I think Bilstein is the correct original equipment.
I may well record progress on my channel in cast it's useful to others.
Good luck with the Jag and I'll look forward to seeing what else you do with it!
Hi Simon, thanks for the introduction and yes, there's a definite familiarity in the journey you're embarking on! The rear suspension really isn't as scary as people make out. I have changed the rear dampers but made a total mess of filming and ended up with a heap of still images while I talked to myself. I haven't had the motivation to go back and try to salvage anything of it!
@@jamieduff1981 Oh no! bad luck, that would really irk me too! If you feel like it, it would be interesting to get your views on what the car handles like with all dampers renewed though.
My car is the third XJ-S I've had and its by far the worst handling, although it's only covered 31k miles in its 33 years. I think it's mostly down to sloppiness in the rear axle, since everything underneath is original except the steering rack bushes. I plan to get the back completely sorted and then see how drastic the difference is before tacking the front, if there's time this winter.
I was interested in your comments about the dampers on your car being up to MoT standard but basically shot - I'm absolutely sure mine will be the same. I'll make a little introductory video about the car when I get time.
Happy Jagging 😀
Was the car improved with the new rear shocks ? I'm about to do the shocks and springs on my Xjs.
Hi, yes it definitely was. The ride is firmer but more comfortable compared to only having the fronts renewed, and the handling is improved as well being sharper and more stable. My car still shows the slightest over-steer bias which isn't right so I've replaced the anti-roll bar link bushes at the front now which improved matters further but I think I need to get a 4 wheel laser alignment done next. One of the biggest improvements though has been simply correcting the right height. Some will prefer the lowered appearance of sagged springs but the practicalities are that it doesn't scrape the exhausts all the time now so I need not brake for dips in the road which don't bother normal cars but always had me cringing previously.
Thanks for the reply. Did you fit the new springs ?
So I have two xjs's at the moment a 1986 car which is nice car. I am just giving the car a thorough service before it's mot in the spring. I also have a 83 which maybe a parts car but I am thinking it's to good to break. Both cars are v12 s . I am looking forwards to the next video. 👍
@@xjs1983 I did fit new springs to the rear. I still need to replace the fronts but one of the subframe to body bushes at the front is starting to delaminate and the subframe really could do with being removed, blasted and recoated so I will leave the front springs til then to save doing the job twice. Good luck with both of yours. Why not have a crack at videos yourself? :)
I put new shocks on my 96 xj12 and it now rides terrible. Way too stiff. Is there any adjustment on kyb shocks for the xj12?
I'm not intimately familiar with KYB but from what I remember they have no adjustment. There is normally a rotating knob on adjustable ones, either at the top or bottom of the tube depending on what would be accessible. You could check with KYB that the damping rates are as designed. If they are and the ride is genuinely bad, then it's probably the springs which are overly soft due to corrosion and loss of thickness. When spring rates and damper rates are matched the ride tends to feel best to occupants. Best of luck :)
Replace your Yellow radiator fan ASAP!!!!! They are known to explode and trash your radiator, bonnet and everything in the front of your engine bay!! They have a new black fan that is quieter and more efficient. DO IT NOW before it's too late. If you look closely at it I bet you WILL find hairline cracks in it already!