XJ Anti-Sway Bar Mounts -- Report

["Kirbert" <palmk@mailer.gadcomm.net>]

Addco has provided me with a set of aftermarket brackets and urethane 
bushings that fit the front anti-sway bar mount on the XJ-S **PERFECTLY**!  I 
kid you not, it'd almost be worthwhile to order a set just to be able to 
fully appreciate just how beautifully these parts fit the car.  They are 
far and away more satisfactory in fit, function and appearance than the 
original Jaguar parts were!

Anybody interested in a set of these front anti-sway bar mount brackets and 
bushings should contact:

	Addco
	715 13th Street
	Lake Park, Florida 33403
	1-800-505-0147	or	561-844-7881

and ask for a set of "S" style brackets and bushings.  Note that you will 
need to specify the diameter bar they are for; for the typical stock XJ-S, 
the front bar is 7/8".  If you have any questions, I suggest you talk with 
John Carlson at extension 16.

For those with an XJ6, it is my understanding that the same bracket and 
bushing kit will work for you too -- except that the stock bar is 3/4".

Price?  This set of two brackets, two bushings, and a small packet of special 
grease lists for less than $15.

The plot is actually a little thicker than meets the eye.  Addco's "S"
series means the brackets have offset holes, but it doesn't actually refer
to a specific design.  They normally don't sell these parts separately but
rather in an anti-sway bar kit to fit a particular car, and an "S" series
bracket to fit one car can be quite different from an "S" series bracket to
fit another car.  The brackets they sent me, which fit like they were
designed for the car, were in fact designed to fit a 1967-68 Chevrolet
Impala -- a car which isn't even listed in their catalog any more.  There
may be some logic there; Jaguar tended to design parts to be interchangible
with commonly available parts where possible, usually Chevy, and the time
frame of that Impala corresponds pretty well to when the XJ series of cars
was being developed.  However, now that I have broken ground here, I think 
you should be able to ask for the "S" series brackets to fit a Jaguar XJ and 
you will get the right parts.  If you happen to get a receptionist that 
hasn't gotten the word, however, make sure she doesn't send you a "D" series 
set based on their catalog -- it's all wrong, the "D" series will not fit.

Addco urethane bushings come with no split; evidently you are expected to 
slide them over the end of the anti-sway bar.  Forget that, it'd be HARD!  I 
just took a razor knife and made a split.  A little of the special grease -- 
included with the kit -- makes the razor cut that much easier.

I really wasn't looking for a performance improvement here; my original 
bushings were looking kinda ratty, I like urethane better than rubber for 
such applications, and the opportunity arose to try these Addco parts.  
However, a brief test drive showed that they did, in fact, add a small 
measure of stability to the car -- and my car, with sticky tires, a rear 
anti-sway bar, and aftermarket steering rack mounts, is already pretty 
stable.

You can accuse me of advertising for Addco if you want.  I will admit that 
Carlson sent me this kit free of charge, apparently in appreciation of my 
telling him the various errors in his catalog's offerings for Jaguars.

By the way, I concur with Randy Wilson's comments about the use of urethane 
end-link bushings on an XJ -- it is NOT recommended!  If your end link 
bushings need replacing, you should either get the original Jaguar rubber 
parts or purchase generic rubber end link bushings (available at any auto 
parts store) and cut about 1/4" off the back end to shorten them.

Also note that, for either the XJ-S or the XJ6, Addco offers a 1" front bar; 
however, I wouldn't recommend going that way without adding a rear bar, and 
that is another issue.  Addco presently doesn't offer a suitable rear bar, 
leaving the XJ owner with the options of finding Jaguar parts (early XJ-S had 
a 9/16" rear bar, Sportspacks come with 5/8") or some other aftermarket 
suppliers.  I discussed this with Carlson, and he may change his offerings, 
and he may contact me if/when he does, in which case I will update the group.

I'll add a note about installation.  When replacing anti-sway bar mounts, it 
is best to have the car sitting on its wheels.  I used concrete blocks 
with jackstands in place in case the blocks crumbled under the load; ramps 
would have been better and safer.  It is also helpful to be able to jack one 
side of the car or the other a little bit to get the anti-sway bar to move a 
little one way or the other to make fitting parts easier.

 -- Kirbert      |     If anything is to be accomplished,
                 |     some rules must be broken.
                 |          - Palm's Postulate

---

• Prev by Date: Re: Rare XJ S for sale
• Next by Date: Re: How I love my Jag but not my speedo
• Prev by thread: Fantastic Brake Service !
• Next by thread: XJ6 2.8L S1
• Index(es):
  • Main
  • Thread