Suzuki Club UK

Well after looking about a bit for an SJ, then deciding not to get one, i ended up looking at one on monday and went and collected it last night!

Im a totally newbie to the SJ world so have a few questions regarding a few issues it has
1. Massive amount of play in the steering and a bit of a knock. is this just the rag joint? is it easy to replace?
2. First gear selection is pretty difficult, & clutch biting point is low, grind when trying to find reverse. Im going to try adjusting the cable to see if this sorts it.
3. Im getting a bit of knocking from the back end when going over bumps any common problems?
4. Im also getting a knocking at the back when releasing the clutch, iv read this is the UJ and looked at a few guides, might be a bit out of my mechanical skill range to do this myself.

Bar the few things above driving it home was the most fun iv ever had driving! slow, but fun! lol

It is my part time toy, so dont need to do it all at once, will i cause any more damage if the issues above aren't sorted proto?

Any advise comments would be much appreciated.

The steering could be the rag joint, or maybe the kingpin bearings or the tie rod ends.
I would start by jacking up the front axle and giving the wheels a wiggle. If they have a lot of top to bottom play, its probably the kingpin bearings that need replacing.
While its off the ground at the front, get a mate/family member to hold one wheel relatively straight and see how far you can turn the other wheel... They should move a bit but not a lot!!!

Your gear problems sound just like misadjusted clutch. The adjustment bracket is on the drivers side of the engine and I think its easiest to access from underneath. I think you will need 2x 14mm spanners...

The knocking at the back end could be shock absorbers... do you know if the SJ has been lifted at all? If its been lifted too much for the standard shocks they can reach their full extension then make a bump noise.

Problem number 4 does indeed sound like a UJ. We have a few guides on the web site DIY section...
All you really need to change a UJ are some sockets, a hammer, and perseverance!!! Just make sure you measure it as some are different sizes.

as for prioritising... I would do the clutch first as its easiest, then the UJ which can snap and break things, then the steering, then the bumping sounds

you tried tightening up the screw on the stering box ?

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated! il get playing at the weekend.

it hasnt been lifted, its standard as far as i know, looks very standard.

Not tried tightening up the screw on the box yet (only got her last night), but will see if i can see movement in the rag then give the box adjusting a go

Jack the rear up and check the wheel bearings.

Number 3 & 4 could be related, also check all the transfer box mounts and that the U-bolts on the axle have not come loose.

Got the clutch cable adjusted, it was very close to the end of the amount of adjustment that could be made, but it had just enough to make it work properly, now goes in all gears fine and goes into reverse with no grinding.
The clutch release arm or what ever it's called looked like its bent, are they meant to be straight? Looks sort of twisted / bent. Is this how it should be or should I take it off and straighten it, or get another one?

I tightened the steering box and now feels much better.

Regarding the uj there was slight movement, is there supposed to be none?

The clutch arm should be straight, you could always take it off and rotate it around the splines a bit, that would give you more room for adjustment.

A few mm of movement is fine in the UJs if there is a lot of movement it might be best to replace them.

Did you check the wheel bearings for play?

Lol, no I left my jack at my garage that's 10 miles away and didn't want to go back for it, iv got it booked in for a full MOT type check over next week to be on the safe side.

I didn't realise it was on splines....doh

A few pics of the old dear!

I have named Her Bump







i started having a bit of an under bonnet clean, but then had to go elsewhere.....



The bad gear selection was down to a snapped clutch release arm....



So i got one from a breaker....Its different, but works...



Got a new radiator on order and im on the hunt for a few other bits.....

She has done 53k and i have lots of service history, old MOT's, original sales brochure, an original letter regarding driving 4x4's safely and a few other bits and pieces....

She has a bif of rust here and there, but nothing major, although the more i look the more i find....

I want to do some green lane, but never done any before so thinking of doing a course or something, there is a local company (In Holmfirth) that do tuition and might be able to point me in the might direction of some good green lanes.

Hope you like her!