[Ben.]

Hey guys, just signed up looking for some help and advice with making a jimny a bit more capable off road. I'm taking a budget conscious approach, just to give me a bit more confidence off road, not looking to build a serious comp truck or the like.

I've done a bit of research, but am getting lost in conflicting info, and my own lack of understanding about the interchangeability between different models, but more on this later. So far I've narrowed it down to the following series of parts:

1.5" lift from jimnybits in the UK, cheap, easy install, will give a little more clearance.

Lock rite in the front, cheap, easy install, being in the front only it won't compromise normal driving (99.9% of what the car does) not worried about the ratcheting or clunkiness off road obviously.

Rear, looking at the chinasoong air locker, cheap (see the theme here) wont effect road manners, and when combined with the front locker, should see a good improvement off road. I originally was thinking of an LSD rear for improved road manners at the sacrifice of traction off road bit there doesn't seem to be a great deal available.

Lastly a slightly wider wheel with a set of all terrains, 215/75/15 or 16, not 100% sure on tyer size, that just seemed to be fairly common looking at other people's setups.

Now the questions I have are:
Front diff, I was looking at some sort of something from somewhere, and it said there was a couple of different diffs, either an 8 bolt or 10 bolt from memory, the issue is that the change over point was listed as 03, when mine was built, how do I determine which one I have and from that, which part number lock rite do I need? I recall something along the lines of 1510 or 1512 off the top of my head but will have to double check that. Is the jimny diff interchangeable with a Sierra item? (With regards to the lockrite bits)
I believe 1or 2 people on here have one, if any of you guys have installed it yourself, does the carrier need to be removed to do so? I know most don't, but some do.

Tyres, is the size appropriate?

Rear diff, is there any decent LSD available at a reasonable price? Suzisport doesn't get much love.

Cheers,
Ben

[jimny_timmy]

First up welcome

Secondly. The auto locker won't fit the front of any jimny.

I'd personally advise you to do the lift and tires and drive it for a bit. Those things are easy mods and won't require any other mods. You may find that your terrain doesn't require lockers. If it's just a "I'll put them on and drive it in a breeze" it will get old real quick.

You can airlock both front and rear. Front will require upgraded cv's and axles which are going to set you back approx $1000, then the locker etc.
rear is fine to drive as is

[jimny_timmy]

And as for LSD... can't say I've ever heard of/seen one for the jimny

[zukenutter]

I'm with Tim, just a small lift, 215/75/15 tyres, go for MTs for extra traction, puts the lockers on hold for a while. 215s will fit stock rims perfectly.

[Jezza86]

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 28304.html
only LSD front and rear for a jimny ive seen

its a torsen, Torque, sensing LSD. that means if you lift a wheel, it do sent work. it multiplies the torquefrom the slipping wheel to the non slipping wheel by a factor of 6

IMO, better off with lockers

JoeBlow (JML) will have his own CAP lockers coming to the market after some product testing. Jimny rear testing in the near future with front further off.
these will be reportedly cheaper then the ARB units. importantly with your chosen wheel size, you may be able to avoid chromos even with a front locker.

[Mike57]

zukenutter wrote:

I'm with Tim, just a small lift, 215/75/15 tyres, go for MTs for extra traction, puts the lockers on hold for a while. 215s will fit stock rims perfectly.

Good advice

[bone]

Mike57 wrote:

zukenutter wrote:

I'm with Tim, just a small lift, 215/75/15 tyres, go for MTs for extra traction, puts the lockers on hold for a while. 215s will fit stock rims perfectly.

Good advice

^^^This^^^

First thing I did to my Jim, good starting point and relatively cheap for the gains.
I put on some Maxxis MT753 Bravos on, not the most aggressive muddies but very durable (i.e. budget friendly!)
They just kept on going and going

[shep]

Don't listen to them. My jimny had 600km on the clock when I put a 4" lift, 30x9.5 tyres and geared it.

All I changed is I went slightly bigger with tyres. Hopefully joe sorts his lockers soonish as lockers is what I want next.

[zukenutter]

Or yeah you could just do that. Lol!

[Ben.]

Sorry I thought I saw it on here but it was another forum where a guy had an auto locker in the front of his jimny. I'll have to sign up there and ask him what sort it is. I would really like to get a locker or two in it, I'll put it down to a personal thing, even though I'm sure it's not entirely necesary.

Never saw those torsens before, they would be great on the road but if you get a wheel in the air they are no better than an open centre, had that trouble in the past trying to get various supras and soarers up steep driveways lol.

I agree though I might go for a more aggressive tyre as it's going to be a second set of wheels anyway, not run all the time.

Thanks for the help thus far, much appreciated.

[Gwagensteve]

Ben. wrote:

Never saw those torsens before, they would be great on the road but if you get a wheel in the air they are no better than an open centre, had that trouble in the past trying to get various supras and soarers up steep driveways lol.

Torsens work very well off road, but they have to be left foot braked. As a result, they're best suited to automatics. They will basically lock if they're left foot braked hard enough. I've driven a H1 (military type) hummer offroad, these have Torsens standard, and that's how they work- in hard terrain you basically stand on both pedals.

Steve.

[Jezza86]

would be really interesting with linelocks.

[Gwagensteve]

Sort of. There's a degree of modulation required- it's not a set and forget thing, but I see where you are going.

A cleverly written ESC program could make a car with Torsens a monster

[Jezza86]

yeh with esc kicking in without the need for hitting the breaks. esc/ abs are half way to computer controlled line locks.
wonder when the ECU crowd will get onboard and supply flashable/ programmable ESC computers so we can fiddle.

[Seth2013]

I concur with the above. small lift, good grippy tyres and NO SWAYBAR !! - extend your front brakelines if your scared of snapping them, but really unbolting that swaybar is the best free mod I've found to date - keeps the wheels on the ground which means you don't need the locker anyway. lockers make you lazy and will make you want a lower gears, wider track, etc. etc. $$$$$. keep it simple!

modern traction control systems amaze me, they are incredible (watch the new range rovers off road)

LSD's in 4x4's are a sore point for me - I've only ever see them let people down when they really need them to work properly. having said that, I broke the airline to my ARB locker not long ago - left me blowing hot air around

[MISSN2]

I have a 2" lift and 215/75/15 how would the ride be with no sway bar on the road? I have been thinking of taking it off but do 600km a week for work.

[Gwagensteve]

Takes minutes to remove and refit, so maybe give it a try?

[MISSN2]

Ok thanks will give it a go.

[zukenutter]

On road it'll handle like a wet sponge. Some people say they didn't notice a difference but it's not true. The front will dive into corners and it's unstable at highway speed. In general it's very wallowy.
But maybe, as others have said, you won't notice. Maybe I'm just sensitive.

As Steve says, only takes minutes to remove so worth trying but I think best done when you plan to go off road. Mine comes off when I get to where I'm going and generally goes back on for the drive home.

[Jezza86]

zukenutter wrote:

On road it'll handle like a wet sponge.

like a boat. you certainly notice the wind a lot more.

[Marko_SJ]

Agreed with the handling of a boat made out of wet sponge comments.
Far more noticable on a jimny than on a sierra with the sway bar out.

It is worth it though.

[neofitou]

Here's my stock reply, looking at it it needs some serious updates now, but you get the idea.

Before asking for mods, what terrain do you drive that you need the mods for?
Are you likely to hit a roo or do you need a winch because you like getting bogged by yourself? = bull bar
Cant get up bumpy hills? = locker
Cant get up bumpy and slippery or loose surface hills? 2 lockers
Camping by yourself? = drawer system
Camping with hot french girlfriend? = roofrack
Need to talk to other people? Uhf
Boat, jetski? = trailer hitch
Old fella or kids? Trailer hitch, camper trailer
Jimny too slow? M15 or 16
Jimny way too fuckin slow? M18 or j20
Not enough tourqe? Gears.
Tires too small? 215s
Ruts too big? 235s
Rocks too big? 30s
Rocks in the ruts too big? 31s
Rutted bogholes with bumpy bits? 33s
Rocks bigger than the car? 35s
Tires dont fit in the guards? Trim guards
Still dont fit? Bumpstops
Still dont fit? Guard chop
Tires come off the wheels? Beadlocks
Sandy or dusty? ATs
Muddy? MTs
Wet? Snorkel.
Friend with sierra? Front recovery point
Friend with patrol? Rear recovery point
Dog? Seat covers
Cant see the rocks? Rock lights
Cant see the track? Light bar
Cant see the roos? Spotties

Suspension mods should be considered once you get in the 235+ realm as should seriously beefing up the drive line over 30s.

I highly recommend just putting on 215s and driving for a while.

I'm geared on 30s with no lift and still have my sway bar on, and very happy with its performance,
I use my car on the road mostly atm, so the sway bar is still on. I may remove it for more difficult trips in the future, and plan on a quick release system when I go bigger.

[Jezza86]

neofitou wrote:

Dog? Seat covers

"things on this list that apply, that i have not done"

[Marko_SJ]

shep wrote:

Don't listen to them. My jimny had 600km on the clock when I put a 4" lift, 30x9.5 tyres and geared it.

All I changed is I went slightly bigger with tyres. Hopefully joe sorts his lockers soonish as lockers is what I want next.

He didnt finish his list.

4 inch list, 30*9.5s and gearing, then wanna sell it, to buy a better suzuki.