Now don't panic, I am not giving up (yet!)
We have had a catalogue of problems building over the weeks. These cuminated with a trip to the CSMA Off-Road trip to Slab Common today. The steering shook all the way, the clutch juddered as we pulled away. The rear brakes grumbled and groaned. The tyres rubbed on the body work at any provocation.
Then when we were there the front diff deposited its contents of oil out onto the course. Click on the picture below for more pictures.
{boncko msg="CSMA - Slab Common" }/csmamay2010/{/boncko}
So as we limped home a few decisions were made:
 1. Declare the Jimny SORN
2. Strip and re-build the front axle whilst enjoying the boating this summer
3. Replace the clutch whilst enjoying the boating this summer
4. Throrough measure and investigate the overall geometry of the axles and steering, checking if the springs and shocks have gone soft.
This does mean I will not be fitting my adjustable panhard rod conversion to my Jimny over the next few weeks, so if anyone is desparate to try them then let me know else you will have to wait until I fit it all.
So the downside is no off-roading, but there should be some interesting articles to appear.