Alternative front wheel hubs for '99?

Howdy, long time listener, first time caller.

At the start of February I suffered major brain damage, sold my very reliable and comfortable Mercedes C-Class and picked up this lovely little 1999 Jimny with 109k on the clock for far too much money:



Since then it has been non-stop ingesting the contents of my wallet, including but not limited to, NSF wheel bearing, thermostat, head gasket and a skim, a new head unit and speakers all around, a winch, manual AVM locking hubs and a NSF wheel bearing, again.

Long story short, and the reason for this question, the replacement wheel bearing quickly developed major play, which actually turned out to be the bearing moving within the hub, which is buggered.



For a car that was made basically unchanged for 20 years up to 2018, the front hubs seem to be made of unobtanium in the UK. None of the parts places near me can get them, there's no used ones on ebay that don't look like they've spent 15 years in the sea, and new ones are eye wateringly expensive, shipped from the other side of the world.



What are the odds that a Mk1 98-05 Grand Vitara hub fits the Jimny? From what I can gather the bearings are the same type and dimensions. I don't need the seal at the back for the vacuum hubs because mine are manual. (or the ABS ring for that matter)


Wheel-Size.com tells me that the centre bore, PCD and thread sizes are the same. For £30 i reckon it's worth a punt even if the bearing is cheap rubbish as I now have several nice KOYOs waiting for homes.

Before I pull the trigger on that, does anyone have any experience/alternatives?

Thanks! And send help, the Mrs is trying to take my wallet away


 

Hello and welcome, sorry I can't advise you on the hubs, but someone will be along in a bit that will be able to.

Chinesium (too funny)

For anyone playing along at home, Martin sorted me out a genuine Suzuki hub, shipped within a week from Germany, for £136 to my door.

Thanks Martin!

*gulp*