Re:Re:Wandering on the Road

Sorry for so many newbie questions, only been using the Jimny around the village but today had to go to the hospital & then later nipped back into town to go to Wickes. It wanders & tramlines quite noticeably, don't think it's a death wobble it's not that severe, but very noticeable, it was only MOT'd last week & the tester is a mate of my son's, so all the cars get a really good thorough going through, even if he doesn't fail them, he's been known to pass a car then deliver it back to me with the parts that need fitting on the passenger seat with the invoice 

Anyway, spoke to him & he says the bearings, bushes etc. on the suspension are all good & there's no play, so what could it be, not checked tyre pressures today, (I thought I did last week). It's been lifted 2" but has not had the castor bushes fitted could that be a cause, is it also worth having the tracking checked. It's on Insa tyres not sure of the size, 

I would say it sounds normal for the Jimny. My lot Gen 2 to 4 both standard and modified all wander about on the road getting caught in the tramlines. Tire pressures can make a big difference in handling and I find the Jimny likes lower pressures. Roof racks also aren't great on Jimnys. Are they insa turbo mud terrains? If so they are a very aggressive tire on the road.

Jimny's do wander  ​​​​​​
Try not to fight it so hard it just makes you tired. 
Doing castor correction bushes will make the steering feel a little better, also a steering damper a little more better 
But it will always like to wander 

Definitely get the castor angle sorted. It's castor that gives the steering its stability and self-centering characteristics.

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I would say it sounds normal for the Jimny. My lot Gen 2 to 4 both standard and modified all wander about on the road getting caught in the tramlines. Tire pressures can make a big difference in handling and I find the Jimny likes lower pressures. Roof racks also aren't great on Jimnys. Are they insa turbo mud terrains? If so they are a very aggressive tire on the road.
 

Might try lowering the pressures, I think I put them up to the pressures on the B pillar, not sure if they are mud terrains, they don't look too aggressive 

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Jimny's do wander 

​​​​​​
Try not to fight it so hard it just makes you tired. 
Doing castor correction bushes will make the steering feel a little better, also a steering damper a little more better 
But it will always like to wander
 

Never heard of a damper on a car, do you have any further information, it has power steering I take it it's not speed dependant less assist the faster you go?

Are these suitable as our host doesn't list them these are on Fleecebay but it won't let me post a link 186135115123 although I'm not sure I believe the spiel

"Fitment time - approx 10 min per bush - simply knocks in with a mallet"

Mine used to wander and it is not lifted. I always thought the steering was too light and fitted a steering damper, they are only about £80 as a kit (cheaper if you buy the bracket kit then get a cheaper damper off eBay), takes about 15 minutes to fit and transforms the car at 60mph.

I used to find on a long journey my arms would get tired compensating for the twitching steering going over uneven surface or due to wind, but now it is much less effort and I don’t notice the heavier steering at slow speed, even lock to lock.

The general advise for a lift seems to be get castor correctors as well.
Robin

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Are these suitable as our host doesn't list them these are on Fleecebay but it won't let me post a link 186135115123 although I'm not sure I believe the spiel

"Fitment time - approx 10 min per bush - simply knocks in with a mallet"

Yes those will do the job. The 10 min doesn't include the time it takes to remove the old bushes...

It's a natural characteristic of beam axle cars with a steering box. There will always be a degree of slack in comparison to independent front suspension with a steering rack. Try a series 1 Land Rover, they had a mind of their own!

Roger

I too have a steering damper on my otherwise stock plus suspension and it makes Temeraire behave like a normal car in terms of directional stability, way nicer than Spare Jimny. I'm not saying you don't notice the solid axle ride but it definitely only goes where you point it.

If you can fabrication yourself my damper kit cost about 30 quid and a couple of hours 
Use a Mk1 disco damper around 20 quid on ebay

Page 10 if you need an idea how to make one 
In the link below my Jimny