4wd hassle

[Dakila7]

patulong naman... the ride is a terrano with 4wd option. for the longest time nasa 2wd lang lagi sya. then one time i need to get out of a muddy situation so nag 4wd ako. ok naman kaso when i started to steer ayun... para akong nakikipaglaban and parang may gumagaralgal na gear . am not much of a DIY guy... well at least not anymore tsaka mukhang mas mabuti pang ipagawa ko na lang. ano kaya ang problema and can any of you recommend a reputable shop w/in QC area. TIA.

[HardCharger]

Hi Dakila7,

Just exactly how muddy was muddy? Were you up to the fender wells in mud?

This might be a reason why you had such a difficult time turning your wheel.

Normally the grinding sound you heard comes out when you try to turn on a high traction surface with 4WD engaged. If you were bogged but trying to go in a straight line, then there should be no sound. But since you were trying to turn the wheel while stuck in mud, that may be the reason why you it's "fighting back" and producing a grinding sound.

Did you really wind up killing your front diffs and t-case? I sincerely hope that is not the case.

Do keep us posted.

Good luck.

[Dakila7]

hi hardcharger,

thanks for taking time in posting your opinion.

actually it was not so muddy mga 2-inches give or take, so kahit naka 2wd i'm sure i would have rolled off the mud. inatake lang ako ng arte that's why i engaged the 4wd.

then the day after (nahugasan na yung oto) out of curiosity in a paved road i engaged to 4wd - driving slowly going forward ok naman, no problem. then i try to turn - ayun... there goes the grinding sound again and the steering shakes - this happens if i turn either to the left or to the right.

hopefully hindi ko naman na-damage yung front diffs nor the t-case. kaya nga medyo worried ako and i wanted your opinions / recommendations para i know my next step/s

thanks again.

[Horsepower]

Hmmm. as far as I know, you are not supposed to turn-on 4WD in a paved road... because that'll kill the 4WD system. Unless yan yung automatic type (push-button) na computer controlled na.

[boybi]

I'm not sure if the Terrano have a center differential, if it doesn't have one, then you shouldn't have engaged the 4WD on a paved road.

The grinding sound is called binding. On a paved road, all four wheels should be able to rotate freely and at different speeds especially when cornering. This is what differentials do.

If the Terrano don't have a center differential like the Patrol, the front and rear differentials are locked together and always turn at the same speed, hence, the binding on high traction surfaces like paved roads. It won't be a problem on mud and slippery surfaces since the wheels will just slip.

Do you still hear the grinding sound even if you disengaged the 4WD?

[oj88]

^ Yeah that. You can still turn on 4WD but the center differential should be unlocked if this feature is available.

[Dakila7]

... Do you still hear the grinding sound even if you disengaged the 4WD?

after disengaging the grinding sound disappears and steering goes back to normal..

and thank you so much for your post.

[Dakila7]

^ Yeah that. You can still turn on 4WD but the center differential should be unlocked if this feature is available.

this seems to be a good idea, assuming bro na may center diff nga yung terrano - then i-unlock sya (btw how do i unlock it?). that will enable me to engage to 4wd without the "binding" tama ba"?

[Dakila7]

* boybi

if unfortunately walang center diff yung terrano, that means whenever i engage to 4wd yung takbo ko dapat straightline lang? TIA.

[oj88]

From the numerous sites I visited, the Terano should have a lockable central diff. In fact, certain models even has central diff that can be switched between locked and LSD. Maybe a peek at the owners manual would answer your question.

I honestly have never ridden in a Terano. Though in the Pajero we used to have some 5 years ago, I believe it has two 4WD modes; 4WD and 4WD-L, I think. 4WD-L simply means that the center diff is locked.

[boybi]

* boybi

if unfortunately walang center diff yung terrano, that means whenever i engage to 4wd yung takbo ko dapat straightline lang? TIA.

If the Terrano don't have center differential, you MUST NOT engage your 4WD in high traction surfaces like paved roads. You may engage it only in loose traction surfaces like dirt roads, sands, and muds.

[boybi]

From the numerous sites I visited, the Terano should have a lockable central diff. In fact, certain models even has central diff that can be switched between locked and LSD. Maybe a peek at the owners manual would answer your question.

I honestly have never ridden in a Terano. Though in the Pajero we used to have some 5 years ago, I believe it has two 4WD modes; 4WD and 4WD-L, I think. 4WD-L simply means that the center diff is locked.

The Pajero's transfer case have 2H, 4H, 4H-LC, and 4L-LC.

The 4H mode engages all 4 wheels with the center differential open.

The 4H-LC and 4L-LC will engage the 4WD and lock the center differential.

[oj88]

The Pajero's transfer case have 2H, 4H, 4H-LC, and 4L-LC.

The 4H mode engages all 4 wheels with the center differential open.

The 4H-LC and 4L-LC will engage the 4WD and lock the center differential.

Thanks for the clarification.

OT: You can tell that I didn't get to use that Pajero much (my parent's). Only time I got behind the wheel is when I was backing it out of the garage so I can get my car in and out. :D

[G01]

* boybi

if unfortunately walang center diff yung terrano, that means whenever i engage to 4wd yung takbo ko dapat straightline lang? TIA.

Walang center differential ang terrano, sir Dakila. So never engage 4WD when driving on paved roads otherwide magkakaroon ng axel binding as explained earlier by sir Boybi. The nissan terrano was my first 4x4 vehicle and it got me interested in fourwheeling .

[oceanrider88]

Check your CV joints if they are well greased and if your axle boots are still in one piece. Check the oil level of your front differential. The front diffs make a sound when doing tight turns - its actually the tires grinding. Visit the terrano club at www.4x4ph.com. Filmars is an excellent 4x4 shop right beside UCPB across Rats 4x4 past white plains ave at the start of katipunan. Look for rod. Good luck.

[Dakila7]

sa mga nag-abalang mag-post mga ser.... hardcharger, horsepower, boybi, oj88, G01 and oceanrider88 maraming salamat sa inyo. marami akong natutunan.

[afrasay]

if local terrano yan and not subic walang center locking diff yan. tama si boybi, binding ang tawag diyan. nasa sun visor ng terrano mo yan precaution on using your 4wd system. di naman siguro nasira yan unless you heard a loud "THUG".

[HardCharger]

then the day after (nahugasan na yung oto) out of curiosity in a paved road i engaged to 4wd - driving slowly going forward ok naman, no problem. then i try to turn - ayun... there goes the grinding sound again and the steering shakes - this happens if i turn either to the left or to the right.

hopefully hindi ko naman na-damage yung front diffs nor the t-case. kaya nga medyo worried ako and i wanted your opinions / recommendations para i know my next step/s

Hi Dakila7,

You shouldn't have done that. You really won't be able to turn your wheel on high traction surfaces with your 4WD engaged. The reason for this is that all 4 wheels are with power and you loose the use of your differential which makes it difficult to turn your wheel since all wheels have traction and power.

The noises you heard are normal if you do. And of course, when you disengage 4WD, things go back to normal.

Hopefully, you didn't try to drive it far after hearing the noises and as long as you didn't hear any catastrophic mechanical failing noise, you should be ok but NEVER do that again!

If you want to check your 4WD system, go to an area with loose dirt, sand, soil, etc and turn on your system and try to observe your vehicle if all 4 wheels have power. If they all turn, then your t-case and front diff is still working. Also for your diffs, if you can turn the vehicle with them unlocked without any weird noises then they're still good.

Good luck!

[Dakila7]

mga dudes, just an update i had a chance to use 4wd last sunday the trail was muddy (6 inches of mud give or take) but dont get me wrong i was there just by accident - in fact sort of stranded. i managed to steer thru the flat section just fine... kaso may part na paahon.. not steep though pero medyo mahaba and yung nauna sa akin na jeep was sidelined. so after a few minutes of studying the terrain ahead and continuous prayer i engaged to 4wd buti na lang auto engage yung hubs (salamat technology) much to my amazement i was able to pass thru that sloping part with negligible slips... swerte lang siguro. anyways... i think that would be my last 4wd experience if i could help it. if there's a next time and if i have a choice sana pasahero na lang ako. and because of that experience i have so much respect for the guys who has so much passion for off-roading. mountain bike na alng ako... hehehe.

again.. salamat sa mga nag post ng opinions nila... salamat.

[JJCarEnthusiast]

OT: most 4wheelers manual locking hubs

enjoy naman mag 4wheeling eh that sound is because the front and rear diff is forced to rotate the same way. walang differentation kaya nakakahig ang isang gulong mo.

and, sana hindi yun ang last good experience.