The short answer
Treat any change in brake feel, any new noise from a wheel, and any wobble in the steering as a reason to get the car checked. Dry the brakes after water, use engine braking on descents, and ask your dealer about the reported steering wobble service bulletin if your car is a 5-door on stock tires.
Do
- Listen for humming, grinding and squealing
- Check pad and shoe wear at services
- Dry the brakes after water and mud
- Use engine braking on long descents
- Ask your dealer about the steering wobble bulletin
Do not
- Ignore a soft pedal or a pull to one side
- Ride the brakes down long descents
- Drive on with grinding noises
- Ignore a wobble when braking
- Work under a car that is only on a jack
How the brakes work off-road
The Jimny is generally fitted with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. Check your own car. Water, mud and sand reduce braking right after a crossing, and long descents heat the brakes and the fluid. That is why engine braking and Hill Descent Control matter. See Hill Descent Control.
- After water: brake gently and repeatedly until they bite normally
- On descents: use a low gear and the engine, instead of riding the pedal
- Brake fluid: replace it on schedule. It absorbs moisture and boils when it is old and hot
- Pads, shoes, discs and drums: have them checked at every service, and sooner after hard trips
Wheel bearings
Wheel bearings carry the weight of the car on every wheel. Water, mud and grit shorten their life, and so do loads and big offsets. A failing bearing usually hums or growls, and the noise rises with speed and may change when you steer.
- Listen for humming that gets louder with speed and changes when you turn
- Check for play: with the car safely supported, rock the wheel top and bottom, and look for movement. See jacking safely
- Check after water crossings, and after deep mud or sand
- Do not drive on a noisy bearing. A bearing that fails can lock a wheel or let it come off
The reported steering wobble
In India, Maruti Suzuki is reported to have issued a free service bulletin for steering wobble under braking on 5-door Jimnys. The reports link it to the kingpin assembly causing early brake disc wear, and say it applies to cars still on the stock 195/80R15 tires. Ask your dealer whether your car is covered, and tell them if you have changed the tires or wheels.
See common weak points for more on the steering parts.
Warning signs
| Sign | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Humming that rises with speed | A worn wheel bearing, or uneven tire wear. |
| Grinding when braking | Worn pads or shoes, or something stuck in the brakes. |
| Soft or long pedal | Air or moisture in the fluid, a leak, or worn parts. |
| Pulling to one side when braking | A sticking caliper or uneven wear. |
| Wobble through the steering when braking | Disc or kingpin trouble, as in the reported bulletin. |
| Squealing | Pad wear indicators, or dust and moisture. |
Pick the symptom
Tap what you notice to see what to check. This is not a diagnosis.
Tap a symptom (6 to try)
Symptom: Humming that rises with speed
- Possible cause
- -
- Check first
- -
Common mistakes
- Ignoring a soft pedal. It can mean failure is near.
- Riding the brakes downhill. They overheat and fade.
- Driving on a humming bearing. It can fail and lock a wheel.
- Ignoring a wobble when braking. It can point to worn parts.
- Guessing torque. Use the manual's figures.
- Working under a jacked car. Use stands, and never rely on a jack alone.