Suzuki Club UK

Hi guys!

I'm a newbie to this forum, and I hope that this first post will result in one of its readers being able to help me. Let me start by saying that I've looked through existing threads to see if it's already been covered, but I can't see anything connected to my query.

My wife owns a 1998 Vitara 2.0 Ltr automatic (see attached photo) - a great car with super-smooth transmission and plenty of power in reserve when needed. It's a reliable and robust car, and we've got no plans to get rid of it so long as spares remain fairly easy to come by and affordable.....and that brings me to the point of my post.

The car has just failed its MOT on a few items - most of which can be sorted for a reasonable cost - but one item that it has failed on is "excessive play in steering column flexible coupling." Although the flexible coupling itself is a fairly small part, and seemingly inexpensive for vehicles where it can be bought separately, it seems that it is not available to buy on its own for the Vitara, but only as part of a replacement lower steering column - a genuine Suzuki part (part number 48220-62A11) which costs a whopping £500! My mechanic has unsuccessfully tried to source a second-hand lower column or flexible coupling, and so I'm turning to this forum in the hope that somebody can help me source a serviceable and reasonably-priced replacement coupling or lower steering column to get the car through its MOT. From the recent searching that I have done I understand that the correct lower column (part number 48220-62A11) is also fitted to the Suzuki Escudo, Sidekick, and X90.

Any help or pointers in the right direction on this issue would be much appreciated. If I can't get hold of one then I fear that we'll have to scrap the car, which would be a real shame. Thanks in advance for any help.

I might actually have a part that will fit. It's a brand new genuine Suzuki lower steering column for a vit. It has a slightly different part number but I'm 99% it will fit yours after looking at some part catalogues. If you can measure the length of your lower column I'll measure this one to check.

I'd accept £100 for it.

ScottieJ wrote:It has a slightly different part number.....

Maybe because of air bag model variants?

Hope he sees your reply, looks a decent option to get back on the road

Hi ScottieJ

Many thanks for your reply and the glimmer of hope! If the part that you have fits my car then I'd be happy to give you £100 for it. ATM the car is at my local garage and I am away on holiday. So, as I'm not able to measure the existing column personally, can I please ask you to provide me with the length of the one that you have there, along with its part number. Then, I can forward a link to this thread to my mechanic who'll be in a better position to confirm its suitability or otherwise. If it was suitable for my car, would you be willing to package and send it via a parcel company to the garage in Somerset where the car is, for the appropriate cost please? I'm keeping everything crossed that this turns out to be a good lead, as my wife loves this car!

Look forward to hearing from you.

Mike

I can post it no problem, should be able to get it into a small parcel for Royal Mail so it will be cheap to post recorded.

It's 47cm long in total, 46cm between the ends of the actual column not including the rubbers. Suzuki have standardised splines for steering components as well so it should fit in that respect.

Let me know if you want it and I'll send you a PM with payment details and to get the address for shipping off you etc.

It's a nice looking vit so hopefully we can keep it on the road for you

Thanks Scott

If you fit the one from Scottie don't bin your old one. If it's just the rubber coupling thats knackered it may be worth measuring and trying to find out if the coupling for the Grand Vitara may fit. I see nobody selling the joint for the Vitara, only the GV. I can't find the sizes anywhere so Febest may need contacting (if they are willing to help) or maybe one of the suppiers. I know with a brand new unit yours will be fine for years but it would be nice to know if others could be repaired as new are very expensive and used seem very rare.
https://shop.febest.eu/bushing-for-stee ... -gvsq.html

Hi guys!

Firstly, very grateful to you all for your input to this issue. Scott - I took the liberty of taking note of your column's part number from the sticker affixed to it, and then checked that part number, along with that of the original MOT-failing column, with a very helpful guy by the name of Kevin at DACARS - Suzuki spares specialists who I suspect you already know about. Kevin had the advantage of having one of each column at his premises and, as a result, was able to tell me that, although the two columns were very similar, there were minor differences that might well have prevented a totally straighforward fit of yours on to my car. So, in the end I was able to source a used lower column with the exact part number for £41 all in - posted directly to my mechanic for fitting. Had Kevin confirmed that your column would have been a direct replacement, then I would have bought yours from you.

Guys, I really appreciate all of your help in trying to assist me in getting the car back on the road with as little hassle or expense as possible - UK Suzuki owners are very lucky to have this club forum and the huge bank of knowledge that collectively comes with it

Great result!

Thanks for the DACAR recommendation, 'new name to me, have added to my contacts list

http://www.dacarsuzuki.com/

No worries, glad you got it sorted