Lude Generation

Guys - I hope you won't mind this post, because it concerns my Jaguar XJS.

I am of course an owner of 3 fine Preludes too, and regularly post on here about them, so I hope you'll offer a little advice to something that's slightly 'off topic'?

Aside from my Preludes, another love of my life(!) is a 1989 Jaguar XJS 3.6. It is developing a noisy diff, and making a whining sound (as opposed to a grumble or rumble) related to road speed (the faster I go, the higher the pitch). I fear the bearings are going, and it needs a rebuild...

Does anyone know a good place that can recondition it (it's a limited slip diff, with 80k miles on it) in the UK? It's not a Jaguar diff as such, as Jag bought them in from OEM suppliers. Could be a Dana, but I am not sure.

I posted on the Jag forum but most of the folks on there are in the United States. They were full of helpful suggestions if you live in Texas!

cheers,

David

have you checked and replaced the oil? before you look to get it rebuilt?

Yes - it's got clean EP90 oil in it. I'm just about to change both rear wheel bearings too, for good measure, but am pretty sure a rebuild is on the cards. Question is, where/who?

Not sure, and not related to jags, but the rear diff on the old Toyota hilux vans has to be shimmed, when they go noisy, they usually only need that doing!! Not much help I know but a thought. As to your question, i could only assume an old school jag specialist maybe We have a old 1989 v12 xjs that is our boss's car he had imported from California, we need a jag specialist really

Just thought, you put standard ep90 in a LS diff?? Arnt they ment to take special LSD oil??

Yes, but it's got some friction modifier additive in too. So I don't think this is the problem. Once again, I fear I need a rebuild!

Ok. Would you not attempt it yourself?? There must be a how to somewhere on the interweb!!!

http://www.tomlenthall.co.uk/

http://www.ajsengineering.com/index.html

Yep, sounds like main shaft bearings worn out, to me.

I don't know of any jag specialists as such, but whenever I buy Practical Classics and flick through, I'm always struck by how many jag specialists there are (loads advertised) and how easy it seems to be, to get parts. Pick up a copy in Smith's and have a flick through maybe?

Rebuilding the gearbox wouldn't need to be a specialist per se though, as you say, I'm pretty sure they would have used 'standard' aftermarket diffs (as they did with gearboxes) on the xjs, so try contacting some local engineering firms (engine and gearbox overhaul/reconditioning companies). They are a bit thin in the ground with today's disposable society, but there are still some about. I'd be tempted to go for an old-skool one that's been around for ages (Gosnays, as an example of one near me). They'll have seen them before and know what they're doing and e able to bash it out reliably, cheaply and quickly.

Where are you space?