hubs

[spautoparts]

hi. today i picked up a 2005 terrano. somebody told me that they have fixed hubs.... what does this mean and how is it different to my 2001 terrano?

 

[jims-terrano]

2001 was around the switch over from Auto Locking Free Wheeling Hubs.

Fixed hubs are a lot smaller and is as it's name suggests fixed so that the front transmission turns with the wheels. The movement of the wheels is transmitted up to the transfer box. There is no drive to the front wheels until 4wd is selected inside the vehicle.

Auto lockers are a similar size to a coffee mug, may be not quite as deep. They only engage when 4wd is selected and the rotation from the engine is transferred through the front transmission turning the wheels. You have to drive approx 4 feet in the opposite direction to disengage the hubs once 2wd has been selected. The rotation of the road wheels is not transmitted to the transmission and supposedly increases economy.

If you are unsure what you have remove the centre cap from the road wheel and take a photo and post on here.

Personally I'd love a pair of fixed huns to convert my project truck. I ended up fitting manual hubs on my other truck as the auto lockers kept breaking.

 

[spautoparts]

cheers for that.... its defiantly got the fixed ones then because they look different to my other ones and a lot smaller. there also held on with nuts rather than allen key bolts.
I tried to take one off earlier to get to the wheel bearing but it was stuck fast. is this normal or has something seized?

 

[solarman216]

cheers for that.... its defiantly got the fixed ones then because they look different to my other ones and a lot smaller. there also held on with nuts rather than allen key bolts.
I tried to take one off earlier to get to the wheel bearing but it was stuck fast. is this normal or has something seized?

on the fixed hubs you need to remove the circlip under the cap on the hub, Rick

 

[spautoparts]

on the fixed hubs you need to remove the circlip under the cap on the hub, Rick

That explains that.... i even went at it with a lump hammer and chisel trying to separate it haha what a numpty.
Are the fixed hubs pretty much maintenance free?

 

[solarman216]

as far as I am aware they are just a solid lump that join shaft to hub, bit of grease on the splines on assembly is about it, Rick

 

[rustic]

Fixed hub versions tend to wear out the Universal Joints on the front prop shaft, as Nissan in their cost cutting regime, saved a few pence by not fitting grease nipples to the UJ's or sliding joint.
So no maintenance possible...:doh

Earlier auto hub versions, all had grease nipples, and only ran when 4 wheel drive was selected, so these will last for ever unless abused.
Rustic

 

[spautoparts]

Fixed hub versions tend to wear out the Universal Joints on the front prop shaft, as Nissan in their cost cutting regime, saved a few pence by not fitting grease nipples to the UJ's or sliding joint.
So no maintenance possible...:doh

Earlier auto hub versions, all had grease nipples, and only ran when 4 wheel drive was selected, so these will last for ever unless abused.
Rustic

funny you should say that... i bought it cheap due to it having problem. it was vibrating and was undriveable over 30 mph. i took off the front propshaft and now it runs sweet. the joints on the prop are well and truly....... SHAFTED:lol

 

[jims-terrano]

Nipples rule!

Yeah they dropped the grease nipples, my old 05 plate had a terrible noise and vibration starting between 40 and 50mph. Turned out to be a rusted out uj bearing and also the sliding joint was worn probably due to the uj being stuffed. Replaced the whole front propshaft with an earlier version with grease nipples which fixed it.

Don't forget the hubs are maintenance free as such but the wheel bearings still wear and have to be replaced or adjusted in a similar manner to earlier versions. Surely once the bolts or nuts are removed from around the fixed hub it should pull straight off from the end of the drive shaft.

 

[jims-terrano]

funny you should say that... i bought it cheap due to it having problem. it was vibrating and was undriveable over 30 mph. i took off the front propshaft and now it runs sweet. the joints on the prop are well and truly....... SHAFTED:lol

As my earlier post check the slider joint. Basically hold both ends of the propshaft and try to bend it if you see what I mean. Obviously you can't bend it but you'll feel the movement.

Replacement uj bearings from Milners actually come with grease nipples too.