4WD noises

[scrumpydude]

On my last off-road expedition (towing a harrow around a field) I noticed a clink-clink-clink-clink sound coming from the OSF when on a decent turn in 4x4. It didn't need full lock and when I say "noticed" it was really obvious.

What could this be?

The truck just went through an MOT recently. It needed new front brake pads. Does that involve anything with the front shafts or related mechanicals. I'm a bit suspicious it does as the truck threw its NSF hub cover a few days after being in the garage. Of course you only realise what 'that sound' was when you notice the missing cover hours later.

Are the front wheels permanently driving the shafts with the 4x4 selector lever engaging drive to the front from the transfer box. I'm guessing 4x4 engageent doesn't happen at the hubs.

Any ideas welcome (including a source for a replacment hub cover).

 

[jims-terrano]

If the people fitting the pads also replaced the disks then the front hub would have been removed as the disks fit on the back of the hub. So that willof meant the wheel bearings disturbed. There is a circlip to remove to get the hub off the end of the drive shaft.
Now hopefully being the 3 litre and face lifted model you will probably have fixed hubs rather than auto locking free wheeling hubs. Easy way to tell is the auto lockers are large and held with long alan key bolts. If memory serves the fixed hubs besides being smaller are also fixed with nuts.

I have had auto lockers click on my previous vehicle, I thought it sounded like as kids putting a plastic spoonon your bike frame for it to click onthe spokes of the wheels if that makes any sense.

On other vehicles I have had front drive shafts make a clicking noise when the wheels were turned. Not had a terrano do this on mine at least.

If you have fixed hubs then the front transmission will be turn with the movement from the front wheels but it is not powered until 4wd is selected.

I guess if the circlip inside the hub has not been fitted or has come loose then the driveshaft may wheel be loose and make some sort of noises.

Sorry I’m not a mechanic but have been around these trucks for many years and had to replace disks and hubs over the years but the last time would have been about 6 years ago.

Have a look in the downloads section of this forum and see if there is anything relating to the hubs, driveshafts and disks.

 

[solarman216]

Yes Jim is correct however it could well be the drive shaft Birfield joint making the noise as with fixed hubs there is nothing in there to make a noise, My Mrs motor had fixed hubs but removed them for fuel economy as when on the road the front diff etc are all sapping energy, so some place I should have a couple of hub covers about, when and if I find them I will post here, Rick

 

[scrumpydude]

My only other experience with hubs is on a series land rover where you had to get out and twist the plastic centre (Superwinch) or the hub itself (Fairey) to get them to lock. The missing Terrano hub cap is nothing more than a plastic ornamental bowl that goes over the hub (unlike the hefty Landover ones). Don't think I had new disks. So the mystery continues.

A ratchet is my best description of the sound.

Thanks for the replies. Will report back when I have the answer.

 

[jims-terrano]

Can you take a photo of the hub and post it on here.

Yes I know the manual hubs that you mentioned, you can buy them for these trucks which is what I ended up doing on my original motor because I got sick of repairing the auto lockers.

Also another thing ro think about is all the prop shafts on the older vehicles had grease nipples for the joints. The later trucks were cheapened and the nipples were missed off so the joints tend to wear out too.

The ratcheting noise is sounding like when my auto locking hubs went faulty.

 

[jims-terrano]

This link is to one of the downloads on here regarding the auto locking hubs, the very first photo shows one in situation.
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/downloads/workshop/wk37.pdf

 

[scrumpydude]

Here's some photos of the hubs.

 

[scrumpydude]

Another one

 

[scrumpydude]

And another.

 

[Banshee]

Scrumpydude, you have fixed hubs there mate, very very little to go wrong with those.

Given the noises that you've described, it sounds to me like you've got a failing CV joint. In my experience, these are not serviceable. If you want to confirm it's the CV's, if you jack a wheel in the air and man handle the wheel back and forward with 4WD engaged, that's sometimes enough I've found to re-create the noise that you are hearing to confirm the CV is duff.

Buying 2nd hand CV's is false economy with these I've found. Blocky found some new ones at a very reasonable price on eBay of which I've purchased 2, to refit to my Terrano when I get round to rebuilding it this year. I can't vouch for their performance yet as I've not fitted and used them but I wasn't disappointed with the quality when I removed them from the box.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142327280650

The description says 2.7 but I've put 2.7 CV's on a 3.0 before and not had any issues.

Good luck :thumb2

 

[jims-terrano]

Yep Banshee is 100% with his diagnosis and your fixed hubs.

 

[solarman216]

Errmm what did my post 3 say? Rick

 

[Banshee]

Errmm what did my post 3 say? Rick

Just reinforcing your post Rick and adding my own experiences too, you deffo called it first :thumbs

 

[scrumpydude]

Cheers for the info everyone.

Looking like there are no other options as to what is wrong.

That eBay link says near side. Are the driveshafts sided?

 

[Banshee]

Cheers for the info everyone.

Looking like there are no other options as to what is wrong.

That eBay link says near side. Are the driveshafts sided?

They aren't sided mate, interchangeable between both sides :thumb2