What Causes Rear Wheel Play in Jimny?

[EvangelineLee]

Reasons for rear wheel play in Jimny include bearing clearance and wheel clearance. Below are the solutions for rear wheel play in Jimny: Bearing Clearance: Rear wheel play is caused by bearing clearance, which results from wear of the bearing balls. Excessive clearance can lead to uneven tire wear on the rear wheels and loud bearing noise, requiring bearing replacement. Wheel Clearance: Open the front wheel steering knuckle front cover and remove the axle hub lock nut pin. Rotate the nut and move the wheel to feel the amount of play (or rotate the nut by 1/4 of the thread pitch, typically achieving a clearance of 0.25-0.35 mm). After adjustment, tighten the lock nut to complete the process. For the rear wheels, adjustment is done via the nut on the axle tube, similar to the front wheels.

[MadelineDella]

Last time I drove my friend's Jimny, I also noticed a loose, rattling sound from the rear wheels. We spent quite some time having an experienced mechanic check it. The rear suspension of this vehicle is a solid axle design, and the most likely issue is aging bushings on the linkage, especially the rubber bushings on the upper and lower control arms—once they crack, there will be play. If you frequently go off-road and experience rough bumps, the bushings on the track bar are also prone to cracking. Worn wheel bearings can also cause play, and you can feel slight wobble when shaking the tire. Another hidden issue to watch for is wear on the outer CV joint of the half-shaft, which can produce a clicking noise during hard acceleration. These components are all in positions where mud and water can accelerate aging. It's recommended to lift the vehicle on a hoist and shake the tires to check each part one by one. Replacing the bushings is much more cost-effective than replacing the entire linkage.

[EverettRose]

I have personal experience with the rear axle clunking issue on the Jimny. Last time, I spent two days tinkering with it to find the root cause. There are three key areas to focus on: First, check the rubber bushings on the entire rear axle's lateral rod (that horizontal stabilizer bar) – frequent off-road driving will inevitably crack the rubber. Then, pay special attention to the control arm bushings, especially the large rubber mount at the front of the lower control arm – if you can stick your finger into the gap, it's done for. Finally, don't overlook the wheel bearing play – in my case, bearing wear caused the tire to wobble sideways by 2-3mm. These metal connectors rely on rubber for cushioning, and over time they lose elasticity like stretched rubber bands. When driving on rough roads, the entire rear axle twists, creating that clunking sound. I recommend upgrading to polyurethane reinforced bushings – they're significantly more durable.

[ColtonFitz]

All Jimny enthusiasts know that rear axle clearance is a common issue. Focus on inspecting the four-link structure: there are a total of 8 bushings on the upper and lower control arms, with the front bushing on the upper control arm being the most prone to cracking as it bears the most torque during off-roading. If the bushing on the lateral track bar cracks, it can cause the rear axle to drift sideways. From personal experience, don’t overlook the axial clearance of the outer CV joint on the half-shaft—when worn, it produces a metallic knocking sound during acceleration. A simple test: without lifting the vehicle, have someone turn the steering wheel left and right while you squat near the rear wheel to observe the relative displacement between the axle and the frame. If it exceeds 5mm, there’s definitely a problem. These rubber components should be replaced every three years.