Search found 304 matches

by AKROVER
Fri Jul 04, 2025 6:03 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

I am not done yet. Yesterday’s work started well, but before getting to work I was buying more tools. As I contemplated the tasks ahead of me, I realized that tightening the radius arm rear bolt was going to require a tool I did not have, an 11/16 box end wrench. I took it apart with an open-end ...
by AKROVER
Wed Jul 02, 2025 11:19 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

The car is sitting on its own wheels right now, although the wheels will be coming off for the final steps. Everything went really well this afternoon. I fabricated the last brake line and then stood there wondering what else needed to be done. I greased a couple of fittings, but then decided it was ...
by AKROVER
Wed Jul 02, 2025 12:22 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

Yesterday and the day before were my two most intense workdays on this car so far. I worked 6 hours yesterday and 8 on Monday. I wasn’t expecting so many challenges in assembling things.

My first struggle was with the lower control arms. The bearings on the pivots want to fall apart. There is an ...
by AKROVER
Sun Jun 29, 2025 10:25 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

It was just a couple hour session this morning, but it was productive. I assembled the last two springs and struts. The first one of any task is always experimental, but once I figured out the process, it was just a little bit of physical exercise with a ratchet wrench. I had tried using an impact ...
by AKROVER
Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:48 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

Yesterday and today were relatively light days. Mostly I unpacked boxes of parts that came in. I now have a huge pile of boxes and packing materials to dispose of. I think I am expecting another shipment tomorrow and then just a couple of minor pieces arriving Monday (brake pads) and Tuesday (the ...
by AKROVER
Thu Jun 26, 2025 11:20 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

I had a day where I just need to laugh at myself a little. It was a very good day. I painted the parts I had primed yesterday and they really do look nice. I also cleaned up the cage and the differential. I decided that the rusty iron of the differential would be easy to cover up with a little paint ...
by AKROVER
Wed Jun 25, 2025 10:30 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S



I've always loved these cars, but man, that looks like a big deterrant to actually wanting to own one..


The IRS was designed for the E type which came to the market in 1961. That IRS never really changed much prior to it being used in my car. It was 30-year-old technology when my car was new ...
by AKROVER
Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:03 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

https://take4digital.com/jag29.jpg

The disassembly phase is complete. I got one of the four nuts to release, and I cut the other three. The driver’s lower control arm pivot axle was a bear to extract, but I won the battle in the end. I also removed the outer pivot on both control arms which ...
by AKROVER
Sun Jun 22, 2025 6:37 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

My first attempt with the impact this morning was a surprise success, but then nothing else after that wanted to move so I began the cutting process. I was able to cut two nuts without damaging the studs and then the rotor on the passenger side was free. Well, it was free except that the lower ...
by AKROVER
Fri Jun 20, 2025 4:59 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

I should buy some new wrenches. I had been looking at the GearWrench style. I love having a minimalist toolbox because everything is easy to find, but I am probably operating a bit too minimalist.

It is now 97 degrees outside so I am hiding from the heat. I got an early start this morning and ...
by AKROVER
Thu Jun 19, 2025 11:11 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

Today I began disassembly of the IRS. The first problem was finding out that most of the bolts that I needed to undo were 11/16” which is the only socket I don’t have in ½” drive. I also only owned metric impact sockets which made sense when all I owned was a Nissan and a VW, but not when I have a ...
by AKROVER
Tue Jun 17, 2025 7:24 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

https://take4digital.com/jag28.jpg

The beast is out. I was able to slide a couple of 2X4s into the IRS from the rear that gave me some leverage to control the roll of the assembly. It mostly sat nicely on the jack through the process. It had to come out sideways but I had enough forward and aft ...
by AKROVER
Mon Jun 16, 2025 10:11 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

It was another successful day, although I put in more hours than I expected today.

My first effort was at getting those radius arms disconnected. I really don’t know how we worked on cars before the internet. Between seeing actual pictures of the bushing and reading one Jag enthusiast’s ...
by AKROVER
Sun Jun 15, 2025 6:44 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

I had another good session with the car today. I got all eight main bolts undone. It is a frustrating nut and bolt arrangement with the nuts tucked up behind a frame rail. Luckily none of them were too difficult, but the wrench on the nut was difficult to manage while using a big breaker bar or ...
by AKROVER
Sat Jun 14, 2025 8:08 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S
Replies: 125
Views: 79199

Re: 1991 Jaguar XJ-S

After a couple of nights of sleeping on it and a brief additional effort at trying to get that stuck brake pad to slide out, I decided that I bought the car as much for having something to work on as having something to drive. I have been spoiled by the driving. It is time to do some work. I have no ...