Bought a very old Suzuki Samurai - In need of some help!

[jmods]

Hi, Im new! I don't want to bore you all will a whole paragraph of text so Im going to try and make it short! I live on a tropical Island in the middle of no-where! Im on a 2 year contract and Ive been here for 6 months, no car very difficult. Car situation here is very expensive......importing cars in extremely expensive so a lot of the cars are shite and very old. Repairs is cheap if there are parts, if not you have to import!

Ive just bought a really old Suzuki Samurai off another expat who is leaving in March. Ive had the car before and driven it (while the owner was away on holiday) There is no way to describe it...its crap, and I mean that in the best way possible. Its a very old car, has some rust and some parts are peeling. But it runs, and that here is a major thing as other expats have bought better looking cars and have had hugh problems with breakdowns etc.

I have had the car and it runs, only issue for me would be the steering on it is very loose. Its been tightened and is somewhat better but its still not great. I got used to it after a few times driving it and its just passed its MOT for another year (last january).

Ive been down to a mechanic who has always fixed the car and dealt with it in its long history on the island. He said that there were parts for the suzuki samurai but according to him to fix the loose steering a new steering box would be needed and that there are none on the island. He said as it was it would run and if I was happy with the steering then it could go on but that if I wanted to fix it or change it I would need to look at finding something in the UK, he said because of the age of the car maybe in some special dealer or scrap yard.

Now my main question here is:

1) Is it possible to find parts for the samurai in the UK and specifically the steering box? I would have no problem shipping it out here....Oh and price??

Sorry if this is very random.....I just thought that you guys were probably the best guys to ask!!

Thanks a million and please do help me!!!!

[Jordi]

I'm sure I have steering boxes lying about and Mike Harris often has SJs and Samurais in for breaking.

We are not commercial breakers though and provide no warranties I guarantee. I will ship internationally and I'm sure Mike does.

All of my parts are just surplus to my requirements.

In order to provide an accurate price we require a full shipping address to work out postage.

For more information PM myself or Mike ( http://forum.suzukiclubuk.co.uk/me ... le&u=14965) or place a wanted ad in the traders section (think you need to have made a few posts before access to the traders section is granted.

[jmods]

Hi Jordi!

Thanks for your reply! Its good to hear that they are available....Do you have an idea of what price range we are talking about? I know I have to provide exact serial number and model of the suzuki samurai but if you could give me a range that would be great.

Due to import tax etc it would be better to ship the part to a UK address. The organization I work for uses an English company to import things. So could you let me know what sort of money we are talking about?

So you sell parts? And there are traders that sell for suzuki Samurais? Are these all second hand parts? New? I am sorry but I am very ignorant in these matters!

Cheers.

[Tramp]

I have to ask, it is a right hand drive suzuki isn't it? Id have thought there is difference in steering boxes between uk and other markets, (it mounts on the other side of the chassis so I'd imagine it has a different mounting arrangement,

Also have you tried 'tightening' the steering box? There is a screw you can adjust to alter the backlash in the box, it's easy to alter and probably worth checking before you fork out to import a replacement box,

If you have trouble locating one I have a couple of spares, I'm warning you though, they are heavy so I'd have thought shipping would be expensive,

Finally, post some pictures up, we love pictures, it's nice to see old well used Suzukis as well as newer ones!

[jmods]

The steering wheel is on the right hand side.....we drive on the left hand side, same as UK. Yeah I imagine weight would be an issue but the organization I work for uses a big company back in the UK and it imports a lot of stuff.

Do you have any idea how much the actual part costs?

Its not really very beautiful Im afraid! Its very old and in need of a lot of love and care! I dont even know exactly what model it is....Its got a soft top....

The local mechanic on the island that has looked after it with all the previous owners for years and years, has tried tightening the steering box and that fixed it a little bit, there is just still quite a lot of play.....he reckons it will last a while yet, but I wanted to see what my options were!

Any idea on price for the actual part?

Thanks a happy to have found this forum!!

[Tramp]

I'd imagine from a breaker the price would be around £25 but that would be second hand plus postage,

If it's right hand drive it will probably have been imported from England or holland, if it's soft top and a samurai (with the badges on the front wings) that's about as model specific as it gets,

We don't mind crusty Suzukis, there are plenty in the uk! Post some pictures, it's nice to see Suzukis from all over the world!

You don't live on the Azores Islands do you? I read a book called 'half safe' where some one travels the world in an amphibious anus and he visits there whilst crossing the Atlantic

[dan_2k_uk]

Just to add to this as its possibly not a standard uk model there's a chance its got power steering.

Thought that worth a mention.

Good luck.

[Jordi]

If I've got got a decent box it would be £25 plus shipping. So long as it is a right hand drive SJ without power steering it will fit. I don't need serial numbers or anything.

I can ship anywhere you want. I should be home on Friday afternoon to check.

I have a lot of spares and occasionally buy non runners / scrappers to break for spares for myself and sell on the unwanted parts. Same for Mike.

If you search ebay.co.uk there are a few people in the UK who regularly have SJs in for breaking or spares for sale.

[Jordi]

Out of curiosity how bad is bad? As they are never very good anyway.

[jmods]

Thanks for all the replies! Ummmmm.....How do I know if it has power steering?? Because if it ever did....there are no traces of it left!

Ill get some images up once I get it....owner is leaving next week. When I say bad, I mean body has some rust.......peeling......the inside is old......seats are a bit worn, etc. The car still runs and has just passed MOT, albeit the local MOT!

Considering its been going on a tropical Island for years and years the car is not too bad, maybe its just me! When driven its ok, only issue would be the steering....quite a lot of play but again you get used to it.

Ill show you guys once I have it!

Thanks again for the help and advice, Im gonna need it!

Cheers!