KingPin Shim Kit

KingPin Shim Kit

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4.3 average, based on 7 reviews

£3.50



Product Information
Specification

Kit of shims to pack out King pin Bearings on a Suzuki Jimny (note: this DOES NOT fit SJ Models)

There is a fair bit of information around about the Jimny "Death Wobble". Suzuki Jimny owners will know that sorting out the Kingpin Bearings and Wheel Bearings is the main cure for problems with wobble. However, this is not the complete cure in some cases. I know from other websites that people have completely rebuilt the front end of their cars and yet still suffer from wobble. This has reached the point where Suzuki has brought out a kit to help reduce the problem. Suzuki apparantly say that the Jimny was designed for small wheels and that larger wheels change the loading on the bearings and result in "harmonic wobble". This is partially born out by the number of instances of wobble in Jimny "O2" variants - with large factory fitted alloy wheels. Suzuki has now brought out a kit for vehicles affected by this and (as only Suzuki can) charge a fortune for it.

I have looked at what is in the kit and put a DIY version together and, of course, I had to test it out on my car.

A link to the "How to" describing how to change the bearings on a Jimny is HERE

You can find out more about curing Death Wobble here - https://www.bigjimny.com/mediawiki/index.php/Death_Wobble

 

The kit consists of small shims that increase the loading on the Kingpin Bearings.

NOTES:

1. These are NOT the same as the SJ shims which start by decreasing the load on the bearings and increasing the load as you remove the shims. This kit is NOT for SJ owners despite the set-up being almost identical

2. As stated this kit INCREASES the load on the bearings. Clearly there can be consequences of this, premature wear and bearing failure. If you are going to do this then you are responsible for the results!

3. The Suzuki Technical bulletin suggests you should only shim the TOP bearing. Try the top first!

DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!

The kit I have put together comprises of 3 shims per Kingpin bearing, there are 4 bearings so there are twelve shims in all.

The shims are in a selection of sizes - 0.2mm, 0.5mm and 1.0mm

This will let you put together different sizes:

0.2mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm 1,5 mm and (if you are really desperate!) 1.7mm

Installing them is a trial and error process. First of all - YOU HAVE CHECKED AND REPLACED YOUR KINGPINS BEARINGS AND WHEEL BEARINGS HAVEN'T YOU. This is not a cure for worn out bearings!

First jack the car up and undo and lift the brake caliper clear by undoing the bolts on the rear of the caliper carrier.

Undo the bolts on the steering bars (one on the drivers wheel and two on the passenger wheel)

Split the steering joints with a splitter, the hub has to be completely free to move around from left to right.

Undo each Kingpin and slip on a shim. Do both the top and bottom at the same time and then tighten the kingpins back up. Try moving the hub from left to right. If you are doing the "Suzuki" method you should pull the hub with a spring balance and measure the starting "pull". This is really difficult so I did it by hand. Add and remove shims until the wheel moves smoothly but firmly (not too loose) from side to side. Sometimes it feels "lumpy", this is not desirable and add or remove more shims to remove it - strangely adding more shim thickness can remove it. Do not get it to the point where the hub will not swivel. Take your time and get it to a point where you are happy that it is firm but not at the point where you will wear out the bearing in 5 minutes.

So what's it like?

Well I have got the firmest steering I have had in a long time. It is smooth with no wobble. I can still feel bumps in the road steering the car (bump steer) but no wobble!

Mine took 0.7mm on the drivers side top and bottom and 0.2mm on the passenger side lower kingpin.

 

Product CodeSHIMKIT1
ManufacturerBigJimny
ConditionNew
Weight0.03kg

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating: 4.3

Finally, death wobble fixed.

12345
I bought my 2014 un-doctored Jimny 18 months ago with 65k on the clock. It had horrendous death wobble around 40 - 50. I changed kingpins, kingpin bearings, drag rod links, steering rod links, discs and pads, 4 * springs & shocks. Death wobble persisted. Brakes were binding, so replaced a caliper and rebuilt the other. Still had death wobble. Had wheels re-balanced twice. The shims were one of the first things I'd bought but I never bothered with them because I'd decided to the job 'properly' by replacing the kingpins and bearings. As a last resort I fitted a medium shim to each top bearing. No more death wobble - not even a slight wobble. All those parts and it's been eliminated by those 2 shims ...Mike (30 Dec 2021, 21:20)

Wobble solved

12345
We had terrible death wobble on our Jimny, which has a 3" lift and wide tyres on for farm use, particularly around 25-30mph. I'll admit I was a bit sceptical that something so simple would cure the problem but it really has been amazingly effective. Took about 2 hours to fit and test but the wobble has been more or less eliminated, even under braking. Would definitely recommend given the value: even if it doesn't work it's worth a try.Jonny (16 Nov 2020, 14:41)

It did it!!

12345
The kit worked perfectly on my '09 Jimny with modified suspension and bigger tires. Previously tried replacing the off-road tires (they were unevenly weared down) with more urban ones, but the wobble was indeed worse! Putting these shims made the wobble disappear 100%. Couldn' t be happier with the result! Jacobo (1 Feb 2020, 06:56)

It Works

12345
No more "Death Wobble". aufallenvieren (12 May 2016, 04:43)

No more steering wobble.

12345
Shims were a perfect fit. Completely fixed the steering wobble at 40mph on my 07 JLX. Mine took 0.2mm on the passenger side top and bottom, and on the drivers side 0.5mm top and 0.2mm lower. Very happy with the result. Matt (7 May 2016, 20:02)
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