48mph wobble??????? help/advice wanted please

Thanks for all of this - I'm going to get the king pins sorted AND fit a steering damper kit - but which one??
I assume these kits don't affect std insurance and don't need declaring - I am assuming using bolt ons not welded - Armstrong raptor or pro comp all at Jimny bits
Advice based on experience please and on a "normal" use standard car
I'm going to keep this one until the 4th Gen are sensible money (in a couple of years I guess) so its worth spending a bit
Cheers
J

I think a start is to get the kingpin bearings checked and replaced and take it from there.

Once the wobble is essentially fixed, then a steering damper is a personal choice. They tend to be fitted to off road modified vehicles as the larger tyres usually fitted are more likely to induce wobble, it just keeps the extra mass a little more under control.

When I first purchased my Jimny found the steering (no wobble) a little light on the road compared to my other vehicles and any pot holes, of which we have many, would move the steering more than I liked. I fitted a damper kit from eBay, a bolt on one, it made the steering feel a little more like a "normal" car on the road to me. Our Jimny now feels very similar to the VW Polo TDI it replaced.
I have read on here that some don't like dampers as it removes the self centering of the steering, but I have to say this has not been the case on my Jimny, it's great and one of the better things I've fitted.
It the kit is nothing special, the chassis bracket has a notch for the cross tube to get it inline better with the steering rod and uses a cheap Land Rover steering damper. If I recall it was the "standard kit".
For road use I see no reason to pay for premium brands and my cheap end kit is still working perfectly so quality / life expectancy is not an issue.

My experience above is based on my 2009 totally standard road only use Jimny.

A damper is something you can fit yourself in .5 hour with only basic tools if you don't want to involve the garage.

Re insurance :- no impact at all on insurance along with my roofrack and towbar. Just tell them at renewal, they don't care at all about these items.

Have fun
Mike
Edit:-
Kit on eBay that looks the same as the one I fitted but different supplier
ebay.us/nReq0f

Had the same problem with shimmyitus so had a pre MOT check at the local Suzuki dealers, I struck it lucky as the guy doing the check is an MOT tester too! Anyway, he said the King Pins were solid.
Personally, I would fit an S Damper first (cheapest option) to see if it stops your problem.You may be pleasantly surprised as I was! www.bigjimny.com/index.php/forum/6-jimny...ay?start=4680#228124

Kingpins being solid doesn't always mean they're good. I have had a set that exhibited no movement but on closer inspection that was because they were rusted solid and the pins were rotating in the inner races.

I agree with Lambert. I had one in the past that was completely "solid" when testing for wear. It was only when dismantled was it clear it had completely rusted up

Sent from my moto g(7) plus using Tapatalk

I bought my car knowing that all of the suspension was original and very tired at 72k on a 13 year old 05' plate car.

I set about changing springs, dampers, bushes, track rod ends, bearings, across each axle, doing both sides when one needed service. With the front end rebuilt and in top condition, I fitted a steering damper and enjoyed the heavier feel and the reduction of road chatter in the feedback. Found it much more solid and more in keeping with how I felt a car should feel.

Then I fitted Trailgear H/D steering bars, they are very strong bars fitted with Toyota LJ rods ends which are maybe a 3rd bigger than the Suzuki originals. You have to ream out the steering arms to accept them, the ream is supplied in the kit. Vast improvement in steering feel, cars feels larger almost like an LJ.

Getting all of the steering and suspension components in good serviceable condition is the first step. Not always changing but at least inspecting and servicing/exchanging as required. Damper bushes and Panhard bushes a classic example of two small jobs that can bring big improvements....

Fitting a steering damper would be step 2 (damper kits start around £60-70, 20 min diy fit) you may be happy with it at that. If not fitting the Trailgear H/D bars would be about as much as you can do (£230ish and 1 hours labour to fit).

sniper