2004 x-Type Estate Brakes and one More.

[Jagnumpty]

So ... the rear brakes on my Jag. What moron raided which scrap bin for the bolts? m14 on the front and m12 on the rear, both with smaller, non standard head sizes. Then the slider bolts are 5/16 UNF. WTF? is this still the 19th century? Then there's the single bolt underneath. 13mm, too small; 14mm too big; 1/2" AF too small; 9/16" AF too big. So what pigging size is it?

Jaguar Land Rover? Jaguar Lost the Friggin' Plot more like.

And one more niggle: There's a strong ticking sound from the right end of the engine that changes as a direct ratio to engine speed. Any ideas, old cums and chummettes?

[Jagnumpty]

So ... Are all modern Jag owners too proud to work on their own cars? Am I just one of the last of a dying breed that are willing to get a bit of dirt/grease on their hands?

The lack of responses make me think that I must be.

[JOE-DOT-COM]

Hi Jan

I also do all my own work on my cars, especially my Jaguar

At least if I do it myself, I know its been done right, Nowadays garages want to do a quick fix, services and plug a tool in and reset it

Labour prices on garage work has gone daft, years ago if you engine failed or cambelt went, you took it the garage, they took the engine out and rebuilt it like new, now there not interested and I don't think a lot of mechanics know how, these days cars are been scrapped because the cambelt has snapped and I've seen many sold as spares or repair, just because the clutch has gone

keep up the good work

cheers

Joe

[Jagnumpty]

Nice to hear of another greasy handed son of ... toil.

Have you seen the price they're demanding for a clutch change on the 4WD X-Type? Over a frigging grand! And it's not as if most of us have the machinery to lift out the engine to DIY. In my youth I've removed engines with my bare hands on the Friday, rebuilt them over the weekend and gone to work in the same car the following Monday. Smaller engines, of course. Now I'm well into my 60's that's way beyond me and even many lighter jobs can be beyond my abilities if I take all the meds the GP and hospital prescribe for me.Don't get me started on the cost of replacement key/remotes. Thank the Gods for High Street key cutters and their programming equipment!

As far as the unknown sized bolts heads are concerned 'my' mechanic owes me a favour since he's (not) been fixing my Dodge Ram for the past 4 months and not got very far on it. I'll ask him to remove them for me tomorrow and then retorque them when I've finished the full overhaul.

Derusted, sand blasted, primer coated and painted.

[johnw777]

Nice work with the calipers!

The noise you asked about, what engine have you got, also can you clarify which side?

[Jagnumpty]

Thanks.

It's the 2.5 and the noise is from the right hand / driver's / off side.

[david moore]

great job looking at the photo, not many of us about as you say? as I'm doing my front brakes even now with new vented discs and new pads to fit but this is all ive done so far (pic) as my caliper is still attached. this is drivers side ,hope to get the caliper to look the same painted. will post more photos when done. good luck with fitting yours when it comes to installing them. dave.

[Jagnumpty]

I'm sorry to say this, but this is my last Jag ever. Any company that has so much contempt for its customer base does not deserve my loyalty.

Why?

The 2 bolts I need to remove on the rear calipers have ... get this ... five sided heads!

And £265 for a key with remote? !Removed! Turpin had the good grace to wear a mask. For that money I could have a similar system fitted to an 'old' car and get 3 remotes included.

Once this one is finished and MOT'd it's off to another mug; and good riddance.

[david moore]

I know how you feel with what you say and car companys just want you to spend spend spend !  I say build the car that is practical in always, my tool kit just gets bigger and heavy.  anyway good luck .... hope your next car is as we would say is old school,  (easy to work on) dave.... 

[Jagnumpty]

Thanks again.

Have you noticed how twee the 'swear' filter is on here? I have to put Richard Turpin rather than his common name. I'd be stuck if I used President Richard Millhouse Nixon's usual monicker; and as for talking about the small S/thorpe North East of Doncaster ...

God knows what I'll get to replace the Jag. Only time will tell, but BMW is NOT and option.