alan (86.27.148.235) - Fri Oct 31 18:19:24 2008

i have had this problem since owning the car, the discs have been renewed all round along with pads and handbrake shoes, tracking has been checked and reset, bottom ball joints have been replaced, all bushes have been checked, steering rack has been checked along with the ball joints. as i drive and apply the brakes albeit gently the steering wheel shakes from side to side as though the discs are warped, and i am ready to pull my hair out. PLEASE is there anybody out there with more knowledge than me and the mechanic that services the car?

PS all the shock absorbers have also been replaced.

Reply #1 c bacon (20.138.1.245) - Mon Nov 10 07:29:41 2008

I had exactly this problem too. I replaced front discs/pads and the problem initially went away, but came back after a few weeks. Got wheels re-balanced, no change. Someone told me it is caused by holding the car on the brakes after heavy stop, causing uneven cooling and warping the discs. In an attempt to 'un-warp' them I did a few high speed braking manouvers to get the discs really, really hot (on some deserted roads just in case I got fade !) and then drove for a while without braking at all so they cooloed off gradually and evenly. I was surprised to find the problem went away the next time I applied the brakes. I put it down to either my theory above, or possibly contamination on the disc surface that burned away as I toasted them.

Reply #2 JD (86.149.40.90) - Sun Mar 8 10:30:21 2009

I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY XJ8 AS ALAN AND C BACON , I HAVE JUST FITTED NEW DISC PADS AND ON CLOSER INSPECTION MY MECHANIC SAYS THE DISC`S ARE LIKE AN OLD 45 RECORD ALL THE CIRCULAR LINES ARE THERE TO BE SEEN AND WORN BADLY , AND THE MOT PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM WITHOUT TAKING THE WHEELS OFF AND WOULD BE TEMPTED TO FAIL THE CAR PLUS THIS SITUATION WOULD RUIN ANY BRAKE PADS THAT WOULD BE FITTED , DO YOU THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF NEW DISC`S , NEW PADS , NEW TRACK ROD ENDS / TOP AND BOTTOM BALL JOINTS , RE-BALANCING WHEELS , STEERING RACK CHECKED , NEW BUSHES ALL ROUND THE FRONT ETC , THAT BEING THE CASE THIS WOULD BE VERY VERY EXPENSIVE , AS OPPOSED TO DOING ALL THIS WOULD IT BE BETTER TO TRY THE THEORY C BACON FIRST , HOW LONG C BACON HAS THE CAR GONE NOW WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM RESURFACING PLEASE . KIND REGARDS JD .

Reply #3 COLIN (79.79.160.156) - Mon Jun 15 16:58:26 2009

I to have the same problem.

Purchased my car 4.0 sovereign (R reg)2 years ago from a private seller, didn't notice the judder as it was mainly slow town driving on the test drive but on the way home I braked from 70mph and the whole car juddered, pretty frightning.

Replaced all discs and pads, there was hardly anything left on the front pads and the n/s front disc was blue with heat and hairline cracks.

To bring the story upto date...It's been into Jaguar specialist had front discs and pads replaced 3 times, new front n/s brake caliper and new front n/s flexi brake hose. They are sure the problem lies in the front n/s brake somewhere but don't seem to be able to cure it.

Quite frankly i'm fed up of getting it fixed and a few weeks later it's back to square 1. I only drive it gently, very light braking, does mostly town work and never gets much above 50mph.

It is (like all xj8's a very nice car to drive but ruined by bad braking problem.

Has anyone sorted this problem yet?? If so please let me know.

Colin (Dorset)

Reply #4 Tony (195.93.21.34) - Tue Jun 30 12:41:05 2009

Try braking very hard and see if the judder disappears, if it does it's not the brakes it's a suspension front thrust (upper) arm bush or whatever Jaguar choose to call it. BMW's have the same problem and we sell a load of discs to people who think they have a brake problem. try your brakes i this way and if they don't judder shout loudly at your Jaguar 'specialist'.

Reply #5 carlos lopez (216.189.181.165) - Mon Aug 3 11:24:34 2009

I want to buy a 2004 xj8 from a friend but do not have much money other than what I am paying for this gorgeous car. I drive 100 miles a day from home to school and part time work. I do not want to be working for $12 an hour to pay for car repairs only. What can I expect from this car?

Reply #6 Hermione Plank (82.27.227.252) - Fri Sep 25 08:33:30 2009

You can expect dodgy brakes. :)

Reply #7 pj (93.107.145.38) - Thu Oct 22 13:05:48 2009

I have the very same problem and i have changed the discs 4 times, i was told to buy discs and pads from Jaguar the last time and they are gone again, it is not the bearings or calapers and I can't find a solution, if anybody works it out please let me know

Reply #8 Raquel (89.145.219.4) - Wed Nov 4 12:49:48 2009

Well you wont be surprised to hear that I also have the same problem which has been for over 2 years, in this time the discs have been replaced 6 times we also by recommendation of our main dealer replaced all the wheels and by know 2 full sets of tire's.

Our dealer has been so helpful but ran out of solutions so after some negotiations with Jaguar Coventry our dealer arranged for the car to be delivered to the Jaguar factory for further investigations I must point out that Jaguar Coventry were very kind to supply us with a replacement car during the 6 weeks that our car was with them!!!.

Jaguar have now returned the car to us claiming that the problem is solved with the car a letter attached now bearing in mind the above repairs we ourselves have done to the car we found this letter rather insulting.

"Whilst your car has been at Jaguar cars plant our engineer carried out o full road test prior to carrying out any work and found items of concern that would also be of relevance when considering any reported vibration concern. The wheel trims were found not to round and the tyres were worn unevenly and have a mismatched tread patterns. Wheels and tyres in this condition will not perform as they are intended according to the original design specification of you car"

They have advised us to replace the Wheels and tyres. AGAIN!!!!!

The letter also stated that any further work the car may require related to this disc problem will not be on a free of charge basis.

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