Front hub clicking, occasionally.

[mudski]

Its only happened twice in two months. But right after doing the same motion, I suppose you call it.
I reverse out of my driveway, proceed to move forward and I hear this really loud noise from the from hub like its trying to engage itself. As I stop the car I hear a clunk, then its all fine.
Now. If I convert my auto hubs to manual, not buying new free wheeling ones, convert the originals, should this stop this problem?
I haven't taken my truck out on its maiden voyage yet as I still have a couple of things to do first. Now this is one of them. So I don't want to ignore it, as it has only done it twice, go out 4by'ing and only to find out the hub is not engaging properly.
Thanks.

[Ade]

On my auto hubs, sometimes after engaging the 4wd, I will reverse her for a foot or two just to ensure that the hubs are disengaging. I can tell they're disengaging when I hear a clicking sound from each hub. But most of the time I didn't have to do this though..

Ade

[Robo]

If you can replicate it, get someone to stand ,lay near by and see listen if ya can tell better where it's coming from.
and try not to run em over, lol.
sounds like it could be a CV clicking.
cheers

[Xtreme 4x4 Sport]

Have the same thing happen to mine. Faulty FW Hub. Fit some manual ones and also make sure that you have the correct oil in the transfer. I used to just put in 4wd and drive forward and then change into 2wd and solved problem (short term fix as it locks the hubs in until you reverse).

Cheers
David

[my third 256]

too much greace in the hub

[mudski]

Thanks guys. I will first convert my auto hubs to manual. Also how do I check the CV's? It only does this in 2wd. Since I've had the car its only been in 4wd once...
Plus it has only done it twice in the few months I've had the car so getting someone to listen for it would be impossible...

[Xtreme 4x4 Sport]

Thanks guys. I will first convert my auto hubs to manual. Also how do I check the CV's? It only does this in 2wd. Since I've had the car its only been in 4wd once...
Plus it has only done it twice in the few months I've had the car so getting someone to listen for it would be impossible...

The noise is not in the CV's.

But to check, best bet is to get a service book because you have to dismantle the front etc remove rotors & stubs after that you are there. But as stated the noise is not the CV's.

Put your hubs on and problem solved.

Best hubs are genuine. GQ ones fit, but make sure that you get all the bits that are needed.

Cheers
David

[nissannewby]

If its a cv you will hear it clicking at full lock when 4wd is engaged. So as above replace the hubs X2 with david :)

[mudski]

I am converting the auto hubs to manual tonight. Seems an easy process and then they are manual...

[vk3mnm]

I'm kinda having this problem in my 07 patrol, its happened twice to me also, but I get a ratcheting noise from the front hub, as I slow down the noise slows with the speed until I come to a stop, then a small clunk and its gone away, any idea what's causing this?
I'm thinking the auto hub mite be a bit gummed up and binding, I'm going to pull it down and take a look but for now anyone have any ideas?

Cheers Illya

[threedogs]

VK3 sounds like your problem is the same, check all the above.

[vk3mnm]

VK3 sounds like your problem is the same, check all the above.
Will do threedogs
cheers mate

[pjhicks3]

Grease issues was something pretty common on these vehicles, I worked at a nissan dealer for some time, and every second vehicle that had wheel bearings repacked, came back a week later with a ratcheting type noise from the hubs. the issue is the free wheeling hub being "sucked" in while you are driving along. Easy fix, remove the hubs, clean all off every bit of grease from the free wheeling hub, and then regrease it, being careful not to put too much, but ensure you have enough in there..
we replaced a set of wheel bearings on a GQ about a month ago at our workshop, and this happened shortly afterwards...

[vk3mnm]

Grease issues was something pretty common on these vehicles, I worked at a nissan dealer for some time, and every second vehicle that had wheel bearings repacked, came back a week later with a ratcheting type noise from the hubs. the issue is the free wheeling hub being "sucked" in while you are driving along. Easy fix, remove the hubs, clean all off every bit of grease from the free wheeling hub, and then regrease it, being careful not to put too much, but ensure you have enough in there..
we replaced a set of wheel bearings on a GQ about a month ago at our workshop, and this happened shortly afterwards...
Thanks pjhicks3
Kinda had a feeling it would be something like that, seems to only do it after I have reversed out form somewhere and move off in a forward direction, went and got a workshop manual today so ill have a go at cleaning and regreasing.

Thanks for the help fellas, and sorry for jumping in on your thread mudski.

Cheers Illya

[mudski]

Old Thread anyways vk3...No probs there. Anyhow, I converted the auto hubs to manual by removing the actuator plate and there is no more clicking.

[Ian Carruthers]

Hi I have this exact noise with manual locker on right side, once it starts you have to make a complete stop else it wont go away - will be stripping down this weekend and checking grease amounts as suggested - What did u find?
Ian C

[mudski]

Hi Ian. My hubs were the Nissan auto locking hubs. Like I said I just removed the actuator plate to make them now manual locking. As for you case, being manual hubs in the first place. I don't know...

[Murph the surf]

Had the same noise with my original auto hubs
Changed them over for a set of heavy duty AVM manual hubs
Problem solved
Cheers
Murph the surf

[SKID]

Can you show me a pic of the actuator plate you mention, so I know what to leave out and what to put back in please....

[NissanGQ4.2]

Can you show me a pic of the actuator plate you mention, so I know what to leave out and what to put back in please....

Actuator Plate = Auto locking mechanism, have updated the other thread: http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?596-Fixing-GQ-GU-auto-hubs

[bazzaboy]

The auto hubs on my new 2014 Y61 started making one hell of a racket a few weeks after buying it, while traveling to and from work. A couple of weeks after that, after it's first trip to the High Country, it never did it again. Right or wrong, I put it down to always manually locking the auto hubs when off road. No noises since?

Bazza

[the evil twin]

Yep, spot on Bazzaboy, thats the correct way to use the Auto hubs.
It used to be in the Owners manual but maybe they took it out.

'Auto' is for 'one off on the fly' work like tooling along and coming to a bit of sketchy track when you flick from 2H to 4H.
That means you don't have to stop and get out to lock the hubs.

'Lock' is for any extended 4WD operations, especially if you will be reversing and/or rolling backwards and forwards at any point.
Auto hubs will unlock in certain 4WD conditions if in the Auto and not the Lock selection and that is what damages them if you put power on at the inopportune moment as they are re-engaging

[john316]

just found this as I was looking through... Mine is an old GQ and the right hand side hub packed it in big time, so much so that I had to take the hub out to be able to get it to the doctor. the splines and the auto mechanism were pretty much stuffed but the fix was as easy as picking up a manual set from the local wrecker which were checked out and looked perfect. Put them in myself and have had the old girl towing a one tonne camper up and down some pretty rough tracks in the high country with long steep climbs etc and have never had a problem with them since. As an old dude getting out to engage the hubs is what I have always been used to so its no biggie. Better than the old girls that couldn't free wheel... does anybody periodically lock them up to circulate the oil in the front hub any more? good practice...

cheers

John