88 Suzuki - Front end problem

My 88 Suzuki has the Following symptoms
EXTREME tire wear on outer 2" of front tires
Remaining tire surface looks almost new as far as tread wear
These tires are OLD
I have had the vehicle for several years and this problem seems to have
been there all along.
Recently the vehicle began to have a serious "wiggle" when driving straight.
Seems ok in curves and turns, but when driving straight at speeds over 40
mph
the wiggle is so severe that the steering wheel can be felt bouncing back
and forth in my hands (still controlable but ovious.
I took it in for a "Front end alignment" hoping to get their opinion
They said I needed the Wheel bearings replaced and the Steering Damper
(Shock)

I just replaced the wheel bearings - Inner and outer on both front wheels.
While there seems to be some improvement (less violent wiggle in the
steeriing weheel)
This obviously did not solve the problem.

The Old wheel bearings were not obviously damaged, slightly discolored but
no other apparant damage.

Could the remaining wiggle be "Just an alignment issue"
There are no other "OBVIOUSLY broken parts" visual inspection only

Any ideas wouold be helpful, since the Mechanics already diagnosed this as a
wheel bearing issue I assume your guesses are as good as theirs right now

Before buying new tires I assumed I would need a front end alignment.

--
My toys!
Where are my toys?
I can't do this job without my toys!

what i would do now is get a front end alignment done. as you now have
sorted the wheels bearings. if anything else has more play in it then it
will show up. I owuld also sort the steering damper out as well . Has the
suzuki got a lift?

hope this helps


"xyzzy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My 88 Suzuki has the Following symptoms
> EXTREME tire wear on outer 2" of front tires
> Remaining tire surface looks almost new as far as tread wear
> These tires are OLD
> I have had the vehicle for several years and this problem seems to have
> been there all along.
> Recently the vehicle began to have a serious "wiggle" when driving
straight.
> Seems ok in curves and turns, but when driving straight at speeds over 40
> mph
> the wiggle is so severe that the steering wheel can be felt bouncing back
> and forth in my hands (still controlable but ovious.
> I took it in for a "Front end alignment" hoping to get their opinion
> They said I needed the Wheel bearings replaced and the Steering Damper
> (Shock)
>
> I just replaced the wheel bearings - Inner and outer on both front wheels.
> While there seems to be some improvement (less violent wiggle in the
> steeriing weheel)
> This obviously did not solve the problem.
>
> The Old wheel bearings were not obviously damaged, slightly discolored but
> no other apparant damage.
>
> Could the remaining wiggle be "Just an alignment issue"
> There are no other "OBVIOUSLY broken parts" visual inspection only
>
> Any ideas wouold be helpful, since the Mechanics already diagnosed this as
a
> wheel bearing issue I assume your guesses are as good as theirs right now
>
> Before buying new tires I assumed I would need a front end alignment.
>
> --
> My toys!
> Where are my toys?
> I can't do this job without my toys!
>
>
>

Thanks for the reply,

No it is a completely Stock Suzuki,
The Damper should be fairly inexpensive, and is due for replacement anyway
so I Will do that before the alignment. Thanks again.

"James BIGFOOT Holloway" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> what i would do now is get a front end alignment done. as you now have
> sorted the wheels bearings. if anything else has more play in it then it
> will show up. I owuld also sort the steering damper out as well . Has the
> suzuki got a lift?
>
> hope this helps
>
>
> "xyzzy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > My 88 Suzuki has the Following symptoms
> > EXTREME tire wear on outer 2" of front tires
> > Remaining tire surface looks almost new as far as tread wear
> > These tires are OLD
> > I have had the vehicle for several years and this problem seems to have
> > been there all along.
> > Recently the vehicle began to have a serious "wiggle" when driving
> straight.
> > Seems ok in curves and turns, but when driving straight at speeds over
40
> > mph
> > the wiggle is so severe that the steering wheel can be felt bouncing
back
> > and forth in my hands (still controlable but ovious.
> > I took it in for a "Front end alignment" hoping to get their opinion
> > They said I needed the Wheel bearings replaced and the Steering Damper
> > (Shock)
> >
> > I just replaced the wheel bearings - Inner and outer on both front
wheels.
> > While there seems to be some improvement (less violent wiggle in the
> > steeriing weheel)
> > This obviously did not solve the problem.
> >
> > The Old wheel bearings were not obviously damaged, slightly discolored
but
> > no other apparant damage.
> >
> > Could the remaining wiggle be "Just an alignment issue"
> > There are no other "OBVIOUSLY broken parts" visual inspection only
> >
> > Any ideas wouold be helpful, since the Mechanics already diagnosed this
as
> a
> > wheel bearing issue I assume your guesses are as good as theirs right
now
> >
> > Before buying new tires I assumed I would need a front end alignment.
> >
> > --
> > My toys!
> > Where are my toys?
> > I can't do this job without my toys!
> >
> >
> >
>
>

"xyzzy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> My 88 Suzuki has the Following symptoms
> EXTREME tire wear on outer 2" of front tires
> Remaining tire surface looks almost new as far as tread wear
> These tires are OLD
> I have had the vehicle for several years and this problem seems to have
> been there all along.
> Recently the vehicle began to have a serious "wiggle" when driving straight.
> Seems ok in curves and turns, but when driving straight at speeds over 40
> mph
> the wiggle is so severe that the steering wheel can be felt bouncing back
> and forth in my hands (still controlable but ovious.
> I took it in for a "Front end alignment" hoping to get their opinion
> They said I needed the Wheel bearings replaced and the Steering Damper
> (Shock)
>
> I just replaced the wheel bearings - Inner and outer on both front wheels.
> While there seems to be some improvement (less violent wiggle in the
> steeriing weheel)
> This obviously did not solve the problem.
>
> The Old wheel bearings were not obviously damaged, slightly discolored but
> no other apparant damage.
>
> Could the remaining wiggle be "Just an alignment issue"
> There are no other "OBVIOUSLY broken parts" visual inspection only
>
> Any ideas wouold be helpful, since the Mechanics already diagnosed this as a
> wheel bearing issue I assume your guesses are as good as theirs right now
>
> Before buying new tires I assumed I would need a front end alignment.

Since you laready did the wheel bearings and I am assuming the
alignment at this point, I would start looking at tire balancing. My
truck does the exact same thing when a wheel weight gets knocked off
when off-road. Easy way to test is to put the rear tires on the front
and visa versa. If it changes the behavior, then I would look at the
tires. If they are that old, they might be separated and that can
cause this also.

Derek

PR, See my post below, but also,
Are there any good websites aimed at suzuki?
I found only about 4 and they were not very active.
What about suppliers?
I sent away to one place and bought the HAYNES SUZUKI SAMURAI repair manual.
And now every Month they send me their Damned JEEP catalog. Geez, you'd
think that after buying a Samurai manual they'd get the hint I don't care
about parts for JEEPS.
Frustrating thing is I see plenty of Zuki's out here in Colorado, I'd think
there would be enough business to get some more going.

Mike -
xyzzy

"PR" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Xyzzy,
> Does this zuk have a lift? if so how much? What U need 2 look at
> is the Kingpins.....If it is lifted we need to look at Drag-link
> angles... U might need a Z-link or a Drop pitman arm......I would also
> run 2 steering stablizers 1 in the stock location ( NAPA Heavy Duty )
> and 1 in front of the front Diff. but behind the Draglink....its a
> SUZUKI we can fix it don't worry........see pic of my 88 Suzuki
> Below...11" of lift ,6 to1 T-case gears,186 to 1 crawl ratio, Rolln' on
> 32x11.50 MT/R's and still runs 80 on the highway
>
> The Dirt Weasel
> "JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner"
>
>


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http://bbs.off-road.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=offroadsuzuki

This was my favorite web site to visit when I had my SJ410 Pickup, huge
amount of knowledge & experience on their BBDS.

Norm

Todays update,
Well the story so far - replacing bearings made the shaking less
Replacing the Damper has really made a difference, in fact I think the
remaining movement is due to the alignment - The next step Thanks for all
the help!

One further question though!
As I mentioned yesterday CarQuest cross referenced my Damper and gave me one
that was a good 6" too long with the wrong connections on both ends, when
they called their Tech Line I was told they don't carry the part and I'd
have to go to the Dealer.
NAPA had a cross reference to a part which "FIT" but!!!!
The Stabilizer is Not an Identical replacement, The connector on one side is
too thick, and I had to leave off the lock washerto get the nut to go half
way on (I'll have to grind it down on a warmer day, or remember to check it
regularly. The stabilizer is also a different diameter (Thicker) Which I
believe is good since it appears to be a heavier Duty than the original
But - IS this common
"xyzzy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My 88 Suzuki has the Following symptoms
> EXTREME tire wear on outer 2" of front tires
> Remaining tire surface looks almost new as far as tread wear
> These tires are OLD
> I have had the vehicle for several years and this problem seems to have
> been there all along.
> Recently the vehicle began to have a serious "wiggle" when driving
straight.
> Seems ok in curves and turns, but when driving straight at speeds over 40
> mph
> the wiggle is so severe that the steering wheel can be felt bouncing back
> and forth in my hands (still controlable but ovious.
> I took it in for a "Front end alignment" hoping to get their opinion
> They said I needed the Wheel bearings replaced and the Steering Damper
> (Shock)
>
> I just replaced the wheel bearings - Inner and outer on both front wheels.
> While there seems to be some improvement (less violent wiggle in the
> steeriing weheel)
> This obviously did not solve the problem.
>
> The Old wheel bearings were not obviously damaged, slightly discolored but
> no other apparant damage.
>
> Could the remaining wiggle be "Just an alignment issue"
> There are no other "OBVIOUSLY broken parts" visual inspection only
>
> Any ideas wouold be helpful, since the Mechanics already diagnosed this as
a
> wheel bearing issue I assume your guesses are as good as theirs right now
>
> Before buying new tires I assumed I would need a front end alignment.
>
> --
> My toys!
> Where are my toys?
> I can't do this job without my toys!
>
>
>