ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: thermal on March 01, 2005, 03:11:35 PM
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hey, im new to 4wheeling, suzukis, and this forum. im checking out a couple samurais in my area this weekend and was wondering what problems to look for. one is basically stock which is preferable, but another is built up just the perfect amount and I'm really leaning towards that one so far. im just afraid of wheeling damage. are there any common problems with samurais that I should look for or ask the guy about? or maybe just any questions to ask, as i'm even new to buying a car. sorry if these are dumb questions but i'm quite the rookie.
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if it has for wheels and runs......your golden! ;)
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if it will pass a mechanical inspection or close buy it up and hammer down ;D ;D
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Samurai's are very easy to repair and common enough for cheap parts. So if there might be anything (allmost) wrong with it you could repair it with a decent wrench ;D I'd say if you want it easy, go for the built one if you want to have fun wrenching go for the standard one ;) good luck
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thanks for the input. the built one's (86) got 125k miles and the stock's (87) got 108k. how reliable are sammy engines? i always hear about old yotas and subarus lasting forever, and other makes that like to break down early. is there any rule of thumb for milage on a samurai when it starts going downhill fast? i definently want the majority of the little money i have going into making it a beast instead of keeping it running.
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Well, while SOME Suzuki motors fail early (150,000 miles), most go well beyond that. If you change the oil and filters on a regular basis, the things are like Timex watches - they take a lickin, and keep on tickin!
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u can pick up another sami 1.3 for less than $200. or u can get an tracker 1.6 8 valve for around $500 shipped to ur front door. have u worked on cars before. repaires like brake pads, oil change, plugs and wires. if u can do these things then it want be hard to keep ur sammi in top running condition. when u offroad u r eventually going to break something. so get handy with wrenches sami parts r cheep its the labor at the shop that will eat into ur pocket.
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ive rolled mine once an had it on its side, each time it started right up and continued on!!!!!!! ;D
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how preferable are getting wider axles like toyotas on samurias? I heard the wheelbase is really narrow and tipping is a problem. does it get to the point where you feel you cant do as much because your afraid of rolling?
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you can tip them if your being stupid on a trail, but all around driving its not to bad they dont really go that fast anyway! but if you want stability go toyota, its not eazy or cheap but it works great, also a thing u can do is get a wheel with a back spacing with wheel spacers that will help toooo!
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Check this out.! http://www.justruns.com/gallery/album146
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I've seen stock Sammy's do a lot of crazy stuff, without being 'tippy'. The 'roll-over prone' idea that a lot of people have about Suzukis is a myth and a fabrication of lies by some publisher.
If you want to learn more about it, do a search on here and I'm sure you see all of the threads related to it.
Good luck in your decision!
~Nate
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There is some good info in this thread for you. The sammys are generally reliable and good little vehicles.
Check the vehicle out like any other used vehicle you would look at. Common engine problems that you may find include carb problems which can be corrected with a rebuild kit and leaking oil from the distributor ( a really easy fix with an o-ring). If you can, do a compression test on it. Also take it out and try 4 wheel drive. Pay attention to the clutch on the built sammy as they can overheat in a built truck and become glazed pretty easily. Check for smooth shifting of the tcase, needing a new shifter sheet bushing is common. Listen for noise in the tranny the bearings sometimes need replacement.
Now the biggest thing that I would be looking for besides general mechanical is the rust. Check all of the floor boards particularily in the back. Pull up the carpet if it has any. Check the rear wheel wells behind the fender flares. You will need to pull back the interior panel and look from the inside. Check the front wheel wells behind the flares from inside the engine compartment. The other spot to look is in the rockers but this is not easy to check without removing the plastic covers that are on them.
Hope this helps.
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I thought that I would get more comments about that link than that ???
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I thought that I would get more comments about that link than that  ???
Theres probley not much more that can be said. ;D
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12 mm,14 mm, 17 mm wrenches and some blind courage and you cant go wrong buying a sammy. good luck in your decision on which one to buy, and have some piece of mind in knowing that you have the best support team in the world...us!
jason
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Heres the truth behind the roll over story.
Roll overs in Samurais are a problem when you execute an S shaped turn on pavement at moderate speed. That means you turn one way to avoid a wreck, then over steer causes you to over correct in the opposite direction, causing the samurai to spring upwards on one set of springs while it is turning into that direction.
This is a common problem with all high center of gravity short wheelbase vehicles. It does not actually matter how wide your tires are set as far as i understand it. It is a matter of springs and momentum.
It is also possible to flip a sammy if you are going fast and suddenly start turning the wheel all the way over without regard to common sense. But you can flip anything like that.
I am not an experienced offroader, but i cant think of any reason a sammy would be more prone to tipping off road than anything else. Its all a question of keeping your weight more or less centered over your footprint.
The only ways i can think of to reduce the tendancy of a sammy to flip in highway avoidance manuvers would be to reduce spring, increase wheelbase, reduce traction, etc..... none of which sound like good ideas to me.
I am on my third sammy, and the first one with any modifications, they have all been great little trucks, more fun than an atv and you can bring your family along for the ride. I take a lot of flack from my brothers in law, who are big pick up guys, when they see my sammy towing along behind my avalanche. But i figure its a better deal than a honda rubicon, and its street legal.
The only problem i can think of that is serious is the rust issue. If you have the time and resources its better to tackle it immediately, and coat with something rust resistant. My new sammy has hercu-liner, new paint, and a painted undercarriage, but i can still see rusty spots inside the body behind the seat belts etc......
Good luck with it!!!