Re:Kingpin Bearings - Advice

Hi,

My 2011 Gen had a slight wobble in the steering wheel, just below 50mph, so I jacked up the front end and could feel vertical play in the driver's side bearings, but no side to side play, according to the wiki, the classic signs of Kingpin bearings.  The passenger side seemed fine, no play.

I did the driver's side last weekend and the wobble in the steering wheel just below 50mph has almost gone, but I now feel a slight wobble between 55-60mph and although no wobble at 50mph in a stright line a slight wobble at 50mph when going round a corner.

Given that the lower bearing on the driver's side was rusted up, does this point to the passenger side also needing new bearings?  I am sure that if one side has gone, the other will be on the way out.  I am quite happy to do the other side now that I know what to expect.

Or is a slight steering wheel wobble perfectly normal, especially when going round corners, I haven't noticed it before on other cars I own? 
Would a steering damper be the answer or should I be doing bearings and damper, I might as well have it right now I have started.

Ta

Robin

I'd go ahead and just replace the other side's bearings.

Are your wheels balanced? That can also cause the wobble

I would also go ahead and change the other side. Ours had noticeable play on one side, nothing on the other, but both bearing had almost rusted solid.
It's a part you can keep on the shelf should you find all is good on the other side, plus it's a chance to clean and grease if it is.
Re damper.
It's good you are fixing the problem, but I prefer our Jimny with a damper fitted, so I have done all the changes you suggest. The steering feels more "normal car" than the light feel it has without. It has also removed any issues hitting pot holes etc. My Jimny is 100% standard on the suspension / tyre size front, so I have not had any issues with steering self centering and the damper. Only mentioned this as some report problems / don't like the feel, but it's not an problem I have.
Mike

Thanks Guys,

After seeing the rusted lower bearing I am going to do the other side, thanks for confirming my thoughts. If it is not already seized it will probably be on it's way.

I will see where that gets me to and then will probably fit a damper, they don't seem too expensive.

Robin

The nearside tends to be worse as it runs the the rough gutter side of the road, more water, more salt and more pot holes.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Thanks everyone.

Mike, I drove my other car over the weekend and then got in to my Jimny, now that it has been highlighted about the light steering, I can really feel it on the Jimny, so I am going to get a steering damper. I found Jimnybits selling a kit with different dampers, Amstrong, Black Raptor and Pro-comp, not sure which would be best, possibly for my standard Jimny an Armstrong might be best, but wondered if anyone had any recomendations?

There is also someone on eBay selling a damper, that looks like the Armstrong one.

Martin, thanks for the advice, my order for Kingpin bearings for the nearside went in on Sat.

Robin