[Wazza463]

G'day all.
my dad and I just went into partnership and bought a 1999 Suzuki Vitara. (woohoo!!!!!!). currently 237000kms on the clock (engine rebuilt at 199673kms)
just got a few questions about things to do with the Gear box, Bearings, Seatbelts, and Bull bars.

Gear box and bearing stuff:
ok, so when we took this little beasty for a test drive the obvious noise of a bearing was making itself known (very loudly too), it didn't occur in fourth gear (because there is no side loading on the bearings due to fourth running straight through, apparently, is that correct?), and prior research pointed to this meaning the "noisy" bearing was the input bearing in the gear box. Is this all correct in theory?
also fourth gear has worn synchromesh and spits the gear out if you don't hold her in. is that a relatively easy job to replace?
Apparently all this has been occurring for some time.

Seatbelts and Bullbar:
the seatbelts are frayed, so does anyone know where you can get brand new ones that suit specs? and the big question is the Bullbar,living in the mountains means we kinda need one, damn you kangaroos!!!!!!!!!!!! .
I have been trying to find info on year model specs and what parts are interchangeable. I haven't found anything to do with bull bars so does anyone know what models of vitara/sierra have the same specs for this kind of thing, and what models will fit ours?

Thanks all
Jack and Warren

[fordem]

First - let's determine exactly what you have - many of the answers to your questions may change based on that - is it 1999 Vitara or Grand Vitara? And if it's a Grand Vitara, which engine?

For the Australian market Suzuki would have introduced the Grand Vitaras in 1998, and I believe discontinued the Vitara, so a 1999 vehicle should be a "Grand".

A noisy bearing that shuts up in fourth is most likely to be the input shaft bearing, but, if I were going in there for that, I would be changing all of the bearings - jumping out of fourth is not a worn synchromesh problem, I would suspect more an engagement hub or possibly a shifter fork issue - the gearbox is relatively simple to work on, but note that term "relatively" - it's not a complex gearbox, do you have experience assembling & disassembling gearboxes? do you have a press, bearing separators, etc. - if the answer is no to any of those, it might be best to find some one else to handle the task.

[bumstein]

Seatbelt Solutions in Welshpool WA can reweb your existing seatbelts. Not sure where you are but I’ve had seatbelts done there, I just lost them the belts and they post them back as good as new!!

Those number: ‭9258 3666‬

[Wazza463]

thanks guys. in answer to your question it must be a 1998 model (its a JLX Vitara 2 door) I think I misheard the bloke who is selling it to us. no experience on gear boxes yet, but we have a mechanic in the family, and a good friend is a diesel mechanic so we were hoping to watch on as they gave us a hand (hopefully using the beer economy). thanks for the help with everything, ill need to send those seatbelts away...

[fordem]

Wazza463 wrote:

in answer to your question it must be a 1998 model (its a JLX Vitara 2 door) I think I misheard the bloke who is selling it to us.

It doesn't answer my question at all - but - I don't really need an answer - you're the one who needs to know - sooner or later, you're going to ask a question and the answer to that question will be dictated by the answer to my question.

As I mentioned before, Suzuki introduced the Grand Vitaras in 1998, and I believe, discontinued the Vitara, so, a 98 should/could be a "Grand" ..., and yes, there were two door (three actually) JLX Grand Vitaras.