Parts for your 1987 Suzuki Jimny-Struts

1987 Suzuki Jimny “Struts” — what’s actually fitted

Technical sources agree that the 1987 Suzuki Jimny (SJ413/Sierra/Samurai) does not use struts. The Suzuki SJ413/Samurai Factory Service Manual (1986–1989, Suspension section), the Suzuki Electronic Parts Catalogue for SJ413, and well-known repair manuals (e.g., Haynes and Gregory’s for SJ410/SJ413/Sierra) all show live axles front and rear on leaf springs with separate hydraulic shock absorbers. There’s no MacPherson or Chapman strut assembly in this model.

Why no struts? The Jimny of this era runs a ladder-frame chassis with solid axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs. The leaf springs locate the axle and support vehicle weight, while separate shocks control oscillation. A “strut” is a structural member that acts as both the damper and a load-bearing guide for the wheel hub, typically used in independent front suspensions. Because the ’87 Jimny uses solid axles with leafs, there’s no need—or space—for a strut tower or a strut-type upright.

So if someone’s hunting “1987 Suzuki Jimny struts”, they almost certainly need shocks or related suspension bits. Common service and upgrade targets include:

• Front and rear shock absorbers (standard, heavy-duty, or long-travel types)
• Leaf spring packs, bushes, pins and shackles
• U-bolts (and post-install re-torque after a few hundred kilometres)
• Steering damper (helps tame shimmy on rough roads or with bigger tyres)
• Bump stops and shock bushes

Good maintenance habits go a long way. Inspect shocks for oil weep, dented bodies, cracked bushes, and uneven tyre wear. Watch for bouncy or floaty behaviour, nose-diving under brakes, or the rear hopping over corrugations—classic signs the shocks are tired. Check spring eye bushes and shackle pins for play, and keep an eye on ride height side-to-side. After any suspension work or off-road trip, recheck torque on U-bolts and shackle hardware.

For mixed on-road and weekend trails, a quality gas-charged shock with factory-length travel usually rides best. Touring or frequent off-road? Consider heavy-duty or long-travel shocks that match any lift and spring rate, pairing mismatched springs and shocks will feel ordinary and can limit articulation. If a store lists “front strut” for this model, it’s a catalogue mix-up—this Jimny runs separate shocks, not struts.

Popular questions

Does a 1987 Suzuki Jimny have struts?
No. It has solid axles with leaf springs and separate shock absorbers, plus a steering damper on many models. There are no MacPherson-style strut assemblies on this vehicle.

What should be replaced instead of struts on a 1987 Jimny?
Typically shocks, spring bushes, shackles, U-bolts, and sometimes the steering damper. If ride quality is rough or tyres are cupping, start with shocks and inspect the leaf-spring hardware.

How can someone tell if their Jimny’s shocks are worn?
Look for oil leaks, cracked bushes, and uneven tyre wear. On the road, excess bouncing after speed humps, poor control on corrugations, or nose-diving under braking all point to tired shocks.