So after Wagtail, the review of the "damage".
The Jimny has being off-roading since being converted by KAP, six weeks after it was purchased new in 2003. The advantage of this is that it is still very low mileage (23,000 from new), the disadvantage is that its age is beginning to show.
Whilst at Wagtail the clutch all but gave up, the Panhard rod detached, the suspension made some clunking noices, the CV clicked loudly and the handbrake was useless again.
Whilst cleaning it down today, a few things became apparent.......
The first, shown in the picture above is the scoring in the axle tube from the Panhard Rod bush failure (the panhard is jury rigged into place in the picture to let me steer it in the garage)
Equally concerning is the brake pipe, ripped off the axle and hanging down. The damage in the pipe shows it was close to failure (see above)
Also, when jet washing the other wheel, the water foamed up into thick foam??? Therefore there is something contaminating the other wheel that causes the water to foam (Brake fluid??)
And so to the suspension...
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But from the rear....!!!!
Drivers front indicator, distance to ground - 35 inches
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Passengers front indicator, distance to ground - just under 38 inches!
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Passengers rear light cluster, distance to ground - 43 inches
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Drivers rear light cluster, distance to ground - just under 41 inches.
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Still, looks a good lift when viewed from the passenger side!!
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So its into the garage for a rebuild. The suspension was a 3 inch lift but has clearly seen better days. Therefore I need to replace it. Trailmaster do not do a three inch lift so, having looked around, I have decided to create my own. Shock Absorbers are on the way and the Springs are in production, so look out for the "BigJimny Lift" arriving in a shop near you soon!!!
{kunena_discuss:23343}