[Bretski]

Hi All...

My son has an 09 Jimny with less than 90k on the clock.

Stock Suspension and Hiway Tyres only accessory is an ARB Bar.

It's developed a bad "Shudder" in the steering at around 80-85kph. We've had it to the local tyre shop and they've redone the wheel balances and checked underneath. Was a little bit better for a few weeks and now is bad again.

Any Ideas...

Thanks

[watermouse]

Very common. In a nutshell It is to do with the kingpin bearing preload in the steering knuckles. It can be fixed with shims available from Suzuki, to increase the preload, giving the knuckle more drag and damping the inherent instability in this kind of steering setup.

If you search AZ you should see more than a few topics on the issue.

[Bretski]

watermouse wrote:

Very common. In a nutshell It is to do with the kingpin bearing preload in the steering knuckles. It can be fixed with shims available from Suzuki, to increase the preload, giving the knuckle more drag and damping the inherent instability in this kind of steering setup.

If you search AZ you should see more than a few topics on the issue.

Thanks Mate

[vet 180]

watermouse wrote:

Very common. In a nutshell It is to do with the kingpin bearing preload in the steering knuckles. It can be fixed with shims available from Suzuki, to increase the preload, giving the knuckle more drag and damping the inherent instability in this kind of steering setup.

If you search AZ you should see more than a few topics on the issue.

This. I drive my car reasonably hard and therefore get mine re-shimmed around every 6 months / 20,000kms. I pretty much just consider it a maintenance item these days.

[Bretski]

Thanks Vet180.
Do you do this yourself or get workshop to do it?

vet 180 wrote:

watermouse wrote:

Very common. In a nutshell It is to do with the kingpin bearing preload in the steering knuckles. It can be fixed with shims available from Suzuki, to increase the preload, giving the knuckle more drag and damping the inherent instability in this kind of steering setup.

If you search AZ you should see more than a few topics on the issue.

This. I drive my car reasonably hard and therefore get mine re-shimmed around every 6 months / 20,000kms. I pretty much just consider it a maintenance item these days.

[Gwagensteve]

It's pretty easy to do yourself so long as you have a fish scale and pickle fork or other means of pulling a ball joint. Make sure you have the shims on hand along with the factory service manual.

[Mike harris]

Like the guys have said it's a common problem

Best way I've found to see if it is this, is rather than checking for play in the hub/ bearings/ king pins ect with the wheels straight, put it on slight lock either way. Then check for play up and down / in and out.

You'll be quite amazed a little bit of steering lock and then check for play, we have had some with serious amounts of play, just straight none and then loads just off straight !!

[Bretski]

Thanks guys... unfortunately I'm too time poor at the moment to tackle this myself and I don't really have the correct tools. Anywhere recommended on Brissy Outter North to get this done that's not gonna require refinancing.

[Gwagensteve]

A pickle fork and fish scale will cost <$50 total. You’re up for bearings and some shins either way.
Assuming you have to drive the car somewhere and be without it for some period I think doing it yourself is both the quickest and cheapest option.

[cairns27]

The bush way of doing it is to just take the shims out. Check that it's not too tight..good to go... rebuild it when you get some money.

bye

[Gwagensteve]

I think that’s back to front for a jimny. I believe adding shims increases preload in a Jimny.
Happy to be corrected, that came from a Jimny owner who spent some time chasing shudder after installing free wheeling hubs.

[gbcrown]

I have a similar problem. I have replaced the kingpins. I would like to check the preload and shim correctly but I can't find the procedure. My Jimny manual doesn't have anything and all I have found on the internet is a trial and error method nothing with a fish scale.
Also I have only found a UK supplier of a kit. Is there an aussie supplier?

[cairns27]

You're probably right steve. When I first started playing with the shims, I just went to an engineering place and they gave me different size shim stuff. Just punch holes in it.

bye

[Gwagensteve]

It IS a trial and error method using a fish scale and adjusting shims to get the correct preload.

Err on the high side.

I can't help with the factory service manual - I don't have one for a Jimny.

[pete_79]

Pretty sure Zukenutter posted some good photos and info in his Jimny build.

And these days you can buy digital luggage scales really cheap ($9 at Kmart or Officeworks).

[losfer]

here is the technical service bulletin.

Attachment:

Jimny_Wobble_Service_Bulletin.pdf

before carrying out this work there are other things to consider.

if you have ever replaced king pin bearings you will notice "notches" in the outer bearing race where the travel of the assembly rotates.

you would not follow the technical service bulletin unless you are firstly sure that your king pin bearings are in a1 condition.

I have tackled this problem many times and have a process that i follow to eliminate it. not just the bearings or shims , there are many other things that can cause it.

[losfer]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I think that’s back to front for a jimny. I believe adding shims increases preload in a Jimny.
Happy to be corrected, that came from a Jimny owner who spent some time chasing shudder after installing free wheeling hubs.

yes that is correct , on a jimny the shim is in a different place to the sierra so it adds preload .

[cairns27]

I take it to losfer mate, not a big job when you know what your doing.

bye