BigTobyD's Jimny

Glad to see you out and enjoying the Jimny Toby!

Hope it gives you many years of service

Well this one has cost me a fortune so far! Three easy Greenlaning trips and one pay and play session later and so far the attrition rate has been worrying.
1 x rear axle shagged and replaced - £190 plus fitting
Rear trailing arm bushes knackered and replaced - £160 plus fitting
Rear suspension bushes knackered and replaced - £40 plus fitting
Front passenger hub collapsed and needs rebuilding - £65 plus labour
Front driver's hub on its way out and needs rebuilding - £65 plus labour
Alternator failed - TBC plus labour

So I'm in for round £600 plus labour already - Someone please tell me this isn't normal, no way I can afford for it to carry on like this....

Sounds like youve been un lucky and bourght one that was on its last legs . Ive had mine just under a year and used it quite allot off road .pay and play mostly . And onley thing that has gone was one rear wheel bearing . So i think your past the worst lol

BigTobyD wrote: Well this one has cost me a fortune so far! Three easy Greenlaning trips and one pay and play session later and so far the attrition rate has been worrying.
1 x rear axle shagged and replaced - £190 plus fitting
Rear trailing arm bushes knackered and replaced - £160 plus fitting
Rear suspension bushes knackered and replaced - £40 plus fitting
Front passenger hub collapsed and needs rebuilding - £65 plus labour
Front driver's hub on its way out and needs rebuilding - £65 plus labour
Alternator failed - TBC plus labour

So I'm in for round £600 plus labour already - Someone please tell me this isn't normal, no way I can afford for it to carry on like this....

Once the bushes are done then they should be OK. You might want to consider getting poly bushes as they will be harder wearing, although not as much flex as rubber ones apparently (see www.jimnybits.co.uk/shop/jimny/service-i...ushes/prod_1082.html ).

So if your are OK with basic mechanics then you could save yourself pretty much all those labour costs easily.

Bushes: Take the old arms off and arrange with a garage to press the olds ones out. The poly bushes come in two halves so could be fitted easily without a press.

Hubs: I assume you mean the wheel bearings are knackered? Again, take the hubs off yourself, and get a garage to press the old ones out and new ones in. I have done this before and the garage charged me £10 for each hub.

Axle: Get a second hand off the BJ for sale section, plenty of them for sale normally. Fitting is easy enough. Undo the shocks and the radius arm bolts and rear flexi-brake line and it will come out (might have missed something here). Fitting is the reverse. As your are only is Horsham potentially I could help you with this (I am in Redhill), depending on timing.

Alternator: Never changed one, but getting the belts off etc. is easy (have done that before) and I cant image pulling the alternator out is very hard. Certainly there are two easy bolts from the front.

Fingers crossed that's the last of it then, due MOT in 6 weeks though! Many thanks for the offer GuardianAngel, it's much appreciated, but the Jimny is already in the garage, fortunately he's a mate so shouldn't be too painful!

I bought the best bushes (I.e. Most expensive) from Jimnybits, so they should last and still be good and bendy

You need to start doing some work on it yourself. This hobby is too expensive to keep paying others to repair and maintain them.

There's a load of guides on here and we will always help you.

Kirkynut

I have a long and varied history of costing myself more money through mistakes than it takes to pay a professional

Plus, it's scary! :woohoo:

BigTobyD wrote: I have a long and varied history of costing myself more money through mistakes than it takes to pay a professional

I am no a pro but my Dad ran his own mobile car mechanics business for years before he had to give it up due to a stroke. But, he has always helped and advised me, and now other than welding, there is nothing I won't tackle. Even if I have never done it before, I know enough to have a go. I take ages generally but I am thorough :laugh:

Off-roading is expensive and you will pay thousands of you take it to a garage each time it breaks. Like I said I am only up the road so time permitting I can give you a hand or advice.

Oh good, front CV joints gone too! This'll be a new car by the time it's finished / looking forward to a few years worth of trouble free fun after all this!

BigTobyD wrote: looking forward to a few years worth of trouble free fun after all this!

sounds a bit optimistic especially if your regularly offroading lol.