Parts for your 1987 Suzuki Jimny-Centre bearing

1987 Suzuki Jimny centre-bearing — is it actually there?

Based on the Suzuki SJ413/Samurai Factory Service Manual for the era (1986–1988), the Suzuki Electronic Parts Catalogue used by AU/NZ dealers, and common workshop references such as the Haynes SJ/Samurai manual, the short‑wheelbase 1987 Suzuki Jimny/Sierra does not use a centre-bearing (also called a centre support/carrier bearing). The standard SWB driveline runs one‑piece propeller shafts front and rear with universal joints, so there’s no carrier bracket or intermediate support in the middle of the chassis. Centre-bearings appear only on longer‑wheelbase Sierra/Jimny variants with two‑piece rear shafts, which weren’t the typical 1987 SWB Jimny many owners know.

Why it isn’t used on the 1987 SWB Jimny comes down to simple, robust design. The vehicle’s short wheelbase and mid‑mounted transfer case keep both prop shafts short. At those lengths, a centre-bearing isn’t required to control shaft whip or critical speed, even at highway kilometres. Fewer components also means better articulation off‑road, less alignment fuss, and fewer wear points to rattle loose after a weekend on corrugations. Suzuki’s approach suited the Jimny’s light weight and modest torque, so a one‑piece shaft with well‑sized uni joints did the job without extra supports.

Owners chasing parts listed as “centre-bearing” for a 1987 Jimny are usually seeing catalogue bleed from LWB Sierra/ute models or later variants that ran a two‑piece rear shaft. For the classic SWB 1987, the right play during servicing is to forget the centre-bearing and focus on what’s actually fitted:

• Universal joints: check for play, rust dust, and binding, replace if there’s any clunk on take‑off.
• Slip joint/spline: clean and grease with the specified chassis grease, look for excessive lash.
• Flange bolts: torque to spec and mark for movement, recheck after off‑road trips.
• Driveline angles: if lifted, correct pinion/transfer angles to avoid vibration.

If an owner does have a long‑wheelbase Sierra or ute conversion with a two‑piece rear shaft, then yes, a centre-bearing is part of that setup and should be inspected for rubber isolator cracking, roughness, and misalignment. But for the common 1987 SWB Jimny/Sierra, a centre-bearing isn’t relevant because it simply isn’t part of the factory driveline design.

• Does a 1987 Suzuki Jimny have a centre-bearing?
• How can an owner tell if their Sierra/Jimny uses a centre-bearing?
• Can a centre-bearing be retrofitted to reduce vibration on a lifted Jimny?

Does a 1987 Suzuki Jimny have a centre-bearing?
For the standard short‑wheelbase 1987 Jimny/Sierra, no. Factory documentation and parts catalogues show one‑piece front and rear prop shafts with no centre support.

How can an owner tell if their Sierra/Jimny uses a centre-bearing?
A quick look under the middle of the vehicle will show it. A centre-bearing sits on a bracket supporting an intermediate shaft. If there’s a single, continuous rear shaft from transfer case to diff, it’s the SWB one‑piece setup with no carrier bearing.

Can a centre-bearing be retrofitted to reduce vibration on a lifted Jimny?
Generally not needed on the SWB model. Vibration on lifts is usually pinion/transfer angle or uni‑joint related. Correct driveline angles, good uni joints, and a properly greased slip joint fix most issues without adding a two‑piece shaft and carrier.