Parts for your 1990 Suzuki Jimny-Strut mounts

1990 Suzuki Jimny strut-mounts — are they used?

The 1990 Suzuki Jimny (also known locally as the Sierra/SJ413/Samurai) doesn’t use strut-mounts. Technical sources including the Suzuki SJ413/Samurai/Sierra factory service manual (suspension section), the Haynes Suzuki SJ & Samurai manual (1982–1998), and Suzuki’s parts catalog diagrams for SJ-series models all describe front and rear rigid live axles with semi-elliptic leaf springs and separate telescopic shock absorbers. There’s no MacPherson strut assembly and therefore no strut top mount on this vehicle.

Why no strut-mounts? A strut-mount is part of a MacPherson strut setup, doing double duty as a spring perch and a steering pivot/bearing at the top of the strut. The 1990 Jimny uses a different architecture entirely: solid axles with leaf springs carry the vehicle, while standalone shock absorbers control damping. Steering happens at the axle’s knuckles (kingpin bearings), not via a strut top. Because shocks are separate components, they mount with simple eye or pin bushes to the chassis and axle—no strut towers, no strut bearings, no strut-mounts required.

Owners chasing clunks, vibration or vague handling on a 1990 Jimny should look at the wear points that actually take the loads off-road and on corrugations. Instead of strut-mounts, attention should go to:

• Leaf spring bushes, shackle pins and hangers
• U-bolts and spring seats (correct torque after off-road work)
• Shock absorber upper/lower bushes and pins
• Steering knuckle (kingpin) bearings and swivel hub seals
• Chassis and crossmember mounts for cracks or elongation

Regular servicing in Aussie and Kiwi conditions should include inspecting those bushes for cracking, perishing or excessive movement, checking shocks for leaks and dented bodies, and verifying ride height and axle alignment after any hard trip. Greasing where applicable, replacing tired rubber with quality rubber or polyurethane, and re-torquing hardware after a shakedown drive will usually solve the noises people often attribute to “strut tops” on other cars.

For context, even the later (1998-on) coil-sprung Jimny models use live axles with separate shocks, not MacPherson struts—so strut-mounts still don’t apply there. If someone suggests fitting strut-mounts to a 1990 Jimny, they’re likely mixing it up with small hatchbacks and crossovers that do run MacPherson fronts.

Popular questions about 1990 Suzuki Jimny strut-mounts

Does a 1990 Suzuki Jimny have strut-mounts?
No. The 1990 Jimny/Sierra uses live axles, leaf springs and separate shock absorbers. There’s no MacPherson strut, so there’s no strut top mount or strut bearing to replace.

What should be checked instead of strut-mounts on a 1990 Jimny?
Look at leaf spring bushes, shackles, U-bolts, and shock absorber bushes. Also inspect steering knuckle (kingpin) bearings and swivel hubs. These components handle the loads that strut-mounts would on a strut-equipped car.

Can MacPherson struts be retrofitted to a 1990 Jimny?
Not sensibly. It would require major chassis, axle, and steering redesign. Even later Jimnys with coils still run separate shocks, not MacPherson struts, so there’s no practical upgrade path to strut-mounts.