The wrong car....

I have stock gen4 suspension on my gen3. Everything is compatible between the models. My feeling is that the gen4 springs are fine but the shocks are very underdamped. When pushed even slightly hard in a corner the shocks are overwhelmed and the car bounces its way around. I will be switching the shocks when opportunity arises, probably to Bilsteins. Your gen3 Konis would got straight on the gen4.

That's the nail on the head, it's not that it's too soft or whatever it's that there is no control of the motion when the weight shifts and more importantly it's not predictable. Temeraire moves about but it's smooth and predictable even when the mx5 in the enthusiast group in front of you brakes chaotically mid corner Temeraire just leans into the corner a little harder and tries to lift the inside rear. Bellerophon would probably go for a little lay down in the same circumstance. Time to have a proper look at what bc and tein actually offer and then fall down the rabbit hole of corner weight and differential front rear damping balance. Mmm race car!

Lambert wrote:

I'm in turmoil. On Friday I had a panicked request to drop what I was doing and attend to something as a matter of absolute urgency. I did and everything was resolved. However what was evident was that I was in the wrong car as punting bellerophon down a back road I know probably too well, even at legal speeds was far too much for the standard suspension to the point of almost being a ditch finder.  For reference yesterday I drove the same road in temeraire in approximately 5 minutes less point to point without speeding and without drama. What is causing the concern is I'm not wanting 2 race cars but I wouldn't mind being able to get round a corner with some sense of not being in imminent danger. 

I found the stock Gen 4 to be perfectly good on road, it certainly wasn't a ditch finder (at least when brand new). I recall playing with a Lotus Elise when I first got it. The Lotus was obviously way quicker, but the Jimny ran at speed well and was fun and able.

I've had some good experience in other vehicles I've owned from 2wd sports cars, to AWD Impreza's and muscle cars, as well as many other 4x4's. Quite a few of these modded to different degrees too.

What I did find with the Jimny however was, as time went on, it felt less and less planted. It began to feel very nervous on high speed bends and just didn't feel like you could lean on it in the corners any longer. It was gradual at first, but was getting worse. Which maybe what you are experiencing?

When I fitted the 2" JimnyBits Black Raptor Premium suspension kit, it completely transformed it. And suddenly felt way better than it had ever done, very secure and planted in the bends and at high speed.

My honest belief is that the stock shocks were not very good and under damped in stock form and had worn out very quickly, specifically the front ones.

I'd owned the Jimny from new and it had only done 26,000 miles at this stage. Which I think is a poor show on the quality of the parts used by Suzuki. But from new to pre-suspension install there had been a big gradual change, which for the final 6000 miles or so made it feel like a different vehicle compared to new, when I look back on it now. And it was such a transformational change in the handling department by fitting the new suspension.

I'd say think about shocks for yours at the very least. Although I honestly can't fault the 2" kit I fitted. Much better handling, less lean and body roll and rode better too. Plus it was way better off road too, more comfy, more flex, more travel and more ground clearance under the chassis and transfer case.

I don't have any on-road footage, but here is some off road racing footage. And I would drive the Jimny on road with as much gusto when conditions permitted.

Bellerophon doesn't have a lot of miles on but equally i don't know what was being done for the first year when not in my care. But i would likely expect severe consequences from trying that course of yours as things are at the moment. It all just seems a bit unnecessary given how good the gen3 is, almost like they didn't finish the development of all the stuff they changed on the 4. Nevermind.

I too noticed a deterioration in the handling of my second hand Gen 4 after about 25K miles. It became increasingly unstable at speed and in corners. New shocks made a world of difference. Like others, I concluded that the Suzuki originals do not last well.

Lambert wrote:

Bellerophon doesn't have a lot of miles on but equally i don't know what was being done for the first year when not in my care. But i would likely expect severe consequences from trying that course of yours as things are at the moment. It all just seems a bit unnecessary given how good the gen3 is, almost like they didn't finish the development of all the stuff they changed on the 4. Nevermind.

Personally I think Suzuki just used cheap shocks that were only just up to the task when new. They probably worked overtime too if underdamped.

I've rally about in Land Rover's and Jeeps in the past. Even with MT's or rubbish tyres on you could always push hard and feel the grip level. The Jimny was never this good new, but you could still throw it about.

But as said, it just degraded. I suspect some people wouldn't notice if you don't drive hardish. Or just would think that is how they are....

High speed corners, 70mph+ on a dual carriageway became quite terrifying and true butt clenching moments. It never slid about or anything like that, it just didn't feel stable any longer. There is a stretch of dual carriage way not far from me that has a nice sweeping left hander to a round about. It got so bad that you'd have to be at more like 60mph instead of the legal speed limit. You could feel it rocking/pitching sideways, which is what I think made it feel so unstable. No confidence through the steering wheel at all. After the suspension change I could take the same bend at wide open throttle, which on that stretch of road would likely be 80-85mph

Low speed wasn't quite as clenching, but again the vehicle just felt like it lost all confidence and you couldn't "push" on in the corners, as you just couldn't feel the grip level. It wasn't too much roll or lean, the springs were ok. It was the damping I'm sure. Again this transformed with the new suspension and it became much more of a riot in the bends, to the point that I genuinely enjoyed taking it for a spirited drive.

I suspect a quality set of shocks is all yours needs, if its a keeper it'll be money well spent. Although if you do off road it a 2" lift is how IMO it should have come from the factory.