Terrano clonking help

[TimRoland]

Hi everyone,

New to the site and Terrano ownership, just bought my brothers ex police 03 plate 2.7TD. I would be grateful of a little help.

I used to own my own garage but spend most time in the motorsort arena these days, mostly a Trackday company, so know my way around the tool box

The terrano has a really nasty noise on the front. Its only in 4wd, in rear wheel its brilliant, quiet and easy to drive. But in 4wd, going in a straight line forwards or backwards is fine, but anything more than half lock it makes a dreadful clonking noise, and on hard lock it pretty much locks the car solid, front only.

We have had it on the ramp and a visual check reveals nothing, CV joints 'feel' tight etc (I suspected these at first)


Help with this would be most helpfull

Thanks

 

[briggie]

Hi everyone,

New to the site and Terrano ownership, just bought my brothers ex police 03 plate 2.7TD. I would be grateful of a little help.

I used to own my own garage but spend most time in the motorsort arena these days, mostly a Trackday company, so know my way around the tool box

The terrano has a really nasty noise on the front. Its only in 4wd, in rear wheel its brilliant, quiet and east to drive. But in 4wd, going in a straight line forwards or backwards is fine, but anything more than half lock it makes a dreadful clonking noise, and on hard lock it pretty much locks the car solid, front only.

We have had it on the ramp and a visual check reveals nothing, CV joints 'feel' tight etc (I suspected these at first)


Help with this would be most helpfull

Thanks

ex police ???? .... omg it will be knackered then :augie:lol ..... seriously sounds like your hubs need a service

 

[briggie]

look in the quick links and downloads section for hub service ........ heres one from a 1997 tdi maverick ....... may be the same , i dunno , someone will be along shortly to advise better , but this is a idea of what to do :thumb2


http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/downloads/workshop/wk37.pdf

 

[briggie]

welcome to the forum :thumb2

 

[TimRoland]

Great thanks. Tried the downloads yesterday but wouldnt work for me.

For an Ex Police its remarkably good, clean, 13 oil changes in 103,000's! (Shame I feel like Im driving Moby dick)

I'll check out the link and look at the hubs next couple of days.

:thumbs Thanks

 

[TimRoland]

welcome to the forum :thumb2

Thanks :thumb2

 

[briggie]

does your truck have auto or manual hubs ? , im guessing its got auto hubs , if so , it is feasable that you havent disengaged the hubs properly .... when returning to 2wd from 4wd , reverse for a few feet to disengage the hubs

 

[spudd]

Hi everyone,

New to the site and Terrano ownership, just bought my brothers ex police 03 plate 2.7TD. I would be grateful of a little help.

I used to own my own garage but spend most time in the motorsort arena these days, mostly a Trackday company, so know my way around the tool box

The terrano has a really nasty noise on the front. Its only in 4wd, in rear wheel its brilliant, quiet and easy to drive. But in 4wd, going in a straight line forwards or backwards is fine, but anything more than half lock it makes a dreadful clonking noise, and on hard lock it pretty much locks the car solid, front only.

We have had it on the ramp and a visual check reveals nothing, CV joints 'feel' tight etc (I suspected these at first)


Help with this would be most helpfull

Thanks

DONT use 4 wheel drive on tarmac only on loose slippy surface. you will wind up transfer box and destroy.03 doesnt have auto hubs.

 

[jims-terrano]

Right first things first, welcome aboard:thumb2

The 4wd system on these T2's is not meant to be used on hard surfaces. Also you need to find out if yours has Auto Locking Hub's or Fixed Hub's. I doubt that it will of been converted to manuals but easy to tell as it will have a rotary selector on the out edge of the hub. If you are unsure about your hubs take a photo and post it on here. When you have had it in 4wd you should drive in the opposite direction for a few feet to disengage the auto hubs, generally you'll hear a click. Chances are it wont of been in 4wd very often and may well of been damaged due to incorrect use or the lack of use. Manual Locking and Fixed ubs really wont give you much trouble. The autos are the problem, they are a great idea and work fine when looked after and used correctly. Mostly it's the "Brake Ring's" just inside the hubs that break. Check out this link for the manual and find the exploded view of the hubs. http://bebrs.pie-dabas.net/Webs/Terrano/R20/fwd.pdf There are stacks of posts regarding the auto lockers. I can honestly say that I doubt it will be anything more serious than the front hubs.

Jim

 

[clivvy]

welcome to the club! I agree with the above, check the hubs again and work from there.

 

[lacroupade]

As Spudd says, the 03 will definitely have fixed hubs which can be engaged on the fly at any road speed. In theory you don't need to reverse as pulling the selector lever forward again should be enough to disengage 4WD...but in reality I find on both my MkIII and MkIV that it sometimes takes the odd gearchange or two before it disengages.

If its been that well looked after it should be in good order TBH...103k miles is nothing on the 2.7.

Is your green 4wd light on? If it is then its defo in 4WD obviously....but the light has been known to fail so don't trust it 100%.

If it IS stuck in 4WD and its transmission windup thats your problem its easy to check on the road (although it doesn't really explain the clonking). Just reverse on full lock and you should feel the wheels 'skipping' as the tyres try to release the tension induced by windup....its a very definite and noticeable phenomenon on full lock, but more so in reverse. Doesn't do it in 2WD and as has been said, 4WD on these is ONLY for slippery conditions like snow, sand or mud, definitely not dry tarmac .

Normally clonking would be the steering stops - they used to have rubber covers but they wear away quickly and its easier just to grease them....the noise can be horrendous but its usually only evident on full lock or close....can be an awful metallic graunching noise that will scare the shite out of someone not used to it LOL.

Other thing to check is front anti-rollbar linkages and bushes where the links connect to the wishbones....these fail fairly easily and often the ball joint detaches itself but are easy to replace and the links/bushes cost about £15 a side from Milners Offroad.

Lastly, its probably not an issue but worth changing the oil in the rear axle - it has an LSD and MUST only use LSD-specific oil. But often overlooked and can cause funny noises or behaviour at the back end.:thumb2

BUt apart from relatively small things like this these trucks are pretty bombproof, especially the engine if you look after the cooling system - so I'd be tempted to check and possibly change the three drivebelts as well.

 

[TimRoland]

My hubs look like this

 

[TimRoland]

Then just this to tension bearing

Greased up steering stops too so will try later

 

[terranobreakershropshire]

solid hubs.... so id check your cv's with a fine tooth comb!

 

[TimRoland]

Thanks :thumb2

How much are the CV joints to replace? New and 2nd hand?

Seen them advertised from £45 - £80 new, does that sound right?

Fitting them is not a problem.

Are these hubs common? Better or worse?

 

[makeitfit]

Can you just clear up if you were in four wheel drive on the road when you got the clunking ? :nenau

 

[TimRoland]

Can you just clear up if you were in four wheel drive on the road when you got the clunking ? :nenau

I tried it accross the garage front (circa 40 yards?) concrete. In 4wd, gently manouvering backwards and forwards on varied locks. Also tried it in the forest on gravel.

Very bad clonking (clanking) as lock is increased but stopped when vehicle gets close to locking up! Was very careful not to push it either time.

Did sound like CV joints (30+ years in Motor trade) but many comments about hubs made me question.

Thanks

 

[makeitfit]

That's a shame, sounds like you're right :doh Pitty as hubs are easy
Still straight forward but much more stuff to undo
Good luck :thumbs

 

[TimRoland]

Terrano clonking update

Ok all fixed.

Clonking turned out to be very worn outer CV joints.

So, generally worn CV joints would sound like a clicking noise, usually on lock moving slow enough to hear it. I have diagnosed MANY over my lifetime. The diference with this, hence my request for info, was that,
1: Im not familiar with the 4wd transfer mechanics so thought it may be something specific
2: The 'clonking' as opposed to the usual clicking noise, was not characteristic of a cv joint, and these were REALLY clonking!

So 2 new CV joints and the Terrano is good as new. Transformation.

CV joints were £84 each, and took me circa 4 hours to fit both.

Job done :thumb2

Now I got to decide wether to keep it or not! If anyone is interested let me know and I'll post pics and info, wouldnt mind a cheaper Terrano (VERY impressed with this one) wouldnt mind trying an Auto.

 

[R1cho]

mine is an auto but i find i'm getting a fat left leg from lack of use :lol:lol still a very nice drive though and still handles very well off road, just have to know how to handle the auto gear selection box