Auto hubs locking in when in 2 wheel drive

[Nobby]

have been having trouble with front hubs locking in on the open road. they are the original hubs. travelled 260,000km should I replace with free wheeling hubs or genuine parts. Is there another solution to the problem.

[timbar]

after 4x4ing do you reverse up to release the hub?

[Nobby]

Yes I make sure the light on the dash goes out before taking off. I had the front wheels jacked up off the ground and the hubs would click in by turning wheels. right hand side was worse than the left.
changed the oil in the front diff because it was a bit milky (thought it could be water). had been driving in water as we had a very wet summer.
other oils seemed ok.

[the evil twin]

Did you use the correct Nissan Spec Diff Oil ?

If the Diff Oil is the wrong spec that will also cause uncommanded engagement of the Auto Hubs

[XLR8]

Have you repacked them with grease lately? Too much grease can be just as big a problem as not enough with the auto hubs. If there is too much in there, it will pressurise and they won't fully disengage. Worth stripping them down, give them a good clean and put a thin coating of grease on all parts and reassemble.

[YNOT]

Check this thread for more info on auto hubs; http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?596-Fixing-GQ-GU-auto-hubs&highlight=fixing+auto+hubs

Tony

[Nobby]

will check the oil specs. do you Know what they should be for the front Diff? I know that it holds about 5.5L

[Nobby]

Had mechanic repack front bearings maybe that could be problem. But that was a few K's ago now.
Thought it would have showed up earlier

[Nobby]

that seems like a good alternative to purchasing new auto or manual hubs. thanks 4 the tip. great thread.

[YNOT]

that seems like a good alternative to purchasing new auto or manual hubs. thanks 4 the tip. great thread.

Just a quick forum tip for you Nobby, when you're replying to multiple posts as you did above, click on "reply with quote" (like I did here) so people can see which post you are replying to, your replies will make more sense that way.

Tony

[Nobby]

Just a quick forum tip for you Nobby, when you're replying to multiple posts as you did above, click on "reply with quote" (like I did here) so people can see which post you are replying to, your replies will make more sense that way.

Tony

Thanks for that.

[Silver]

Ignore this one, info applies to some transfer cases, not diffs. Silver

The manuals say that certain models need Dexron II (or is it III) in the front diff. There is a view that is because the thinner oil stops the auto hubs engaging by themselves. The Dexron is the Jap Dexron. However it is difficult to see how this would occur

[Nobby]

I have been asking around town about my problem with the hubs locking up in 2 wheel drive.
could uneven tyres cause this?
I needed two new tyres for rego and put them on the rear of car. (usually put them on the front)
tyres on the same axle are same wear.
could this have an effect??

[the evil twin]

Nah... shouldn't be the tyres esp if they have the same wear.

If tyre dia caused it then the hubs would lock evry time any vehicle went round a corner

[Nobby]

Nah... shouldn't be the tyres esp if they have the same wear.

If tyre dia caused it then the hubs would lock evry time any vehicle went round a corner

ta!! that makes sense.

[Bigrig]

Just a quick forum tip for you Nobby, when you're replying to multiple posts as you did above, click on "reply with quote" (like I did here) so people can see which post you are replying to, your replies will make more sense that way.

Tony

Hey Tony

Could it be a similar problem to the ones I swapped out with you?? Assembled incorrectly after the repack of the bearings? Of the spring in one of the auto hubs (either side) has clapped out??

[YNOT]

Hey Tony

Could it be a similar problem to the ones I swapped out with you?? Assembled incorrectly after the repack of the bearings? Of the spring in one of the auto hubs (either side) has clapped out??

Yes it could be.

Tony

[YNOT]

The manuals say that certain models need Dexron II (or is it III) in the front diff - and that is because the thinner oil stops the auto hubs engaging by themselves. The Dexron is the Jap Dexron.

The hubs and CV's are lubricated by grease, the diff oil is kept out of the hubs by a seal in the ends of the axle tubes. If there is diff oil in the hubs then the seal is leaking and needs to be replaced.

Tony

[Silver]

The hubs and CV's are lubricated by grease, the diff oil is kept out of the hubs by a seal in the ends of the axle tubes. If there is diff oil in the hubs then the seal is leaking and needs to be replaced.

Tony

Agree 100% but is was an explanation I came across for why some models of GQ diff need dexron - which being auto fluid is 'thinner'. I don't understand it either :-(

The explanation was that the thicker diff oil got things turning in the diff - but I agree it doesn't make sense. If the transfer case isn't sending grunt to the front, the diff just does its own happy thing......

Happily mine is not that kind of diff so once I worked that out I didn't take it any further.

I'll go back and edit my post :-)

[Silver]

aha!!! found the source of my inaccuracy. The dexron is recommended for some transfer cases - and I can see the explanation making sense there. Got my wires crossed, apologies all.