Questions on Nissan Auto Hubs

I have just replaced the OE auto hubs on my GU with manual hubs.

After three and a bit years of pucking around with them I had had enough.

When you engage 4WD but leave the hubs in "auto" they CLUNK in and out as you are on or off the power. They are great for very short bursts when you get stuck in sand and quickly lock in 4WD, drive a short distance and then get out of 4WD, like when you're dressed for a wedding and get stuck trying to take a short cut across a paddock. But I found that if I didn't stop and reverse a bit, they would engage when I'm a few K's down the road and the sound of grinding teeth at 80 klm is horrible.

I found them totally unsuitable to be left in "auto" for any more than a few minutes while 4WDriving. The loud CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK is a bit of a put off.

Also, some very ill informed ppl on this forum are of the opinion that you can pull the 4WD lever down while travelling up to 40 klm/h because you have "auto" hubs.

WRONG !!!

As with most [not all] 4WD's the hubs need to be engaged first, then, at anytime can you engage 4WD while driving, as long as you're driving in a straight line and your rear wheels aren't spinning.

Ditto
whenever (1 or 2 times) i've had any problem i'ts been of my own doing, as Patrol.driver stated.
I dont otherwise have an issue with them at 150000km
Quite happy.

I have no problem with mine. Remembering to back up a bit after returning to 2H is my only problem.

I do "lock" them if I'm likely to use the diff lock (unless I forget, even then I have had no problems), but for all other running i leave them on auto and have not experienced any problems.

Mine work perfectly 190000k on this patrol and 4wd can be engaged and disengaged on the move never had to lock hubs manually regardless of terrain,was same on previous patrol both gu

I have never had a problem.

When we did the Simpson crossing I got out at Birdsville and went to unnlock the hubs with the wheel brace only to find that I had not locked them in on the west side of the desert. I came across on auto and never had a problem.

With the having to back up a bit to get them out when going back to 2wd what I do is knock it into neutral while still coasting slowly on the dirt then flick the stubby lever into 2wd before engaging a forward gear and driving away. n If the green 4wd warning light does not go out I stop back up about a car length and try again.

I am also willing to engage them on the move provided I am going slow and they are not under load.

In short I like them.

Duncs

Have done 60k and done some decent 4x4ing and never had a problem with the patrol auto hubs. Works like a charm. To disengage i stop push into 2wd reverse 2 meters here them drop out and away i go.

Tim

Im like others, have heard of nightmares, but mine worked fine for 3 days of pure sand drivin at Robe and then up the Warraweena station in flinders... but i manually locked mine day 1 at robe, but auto for the rest

Another bouquet for the Nissan auto hubs, had them for 73,000 kms and not a problem. I do always, well almost always, remember to reverse when going back to 2WD. And I have had no problem engaging 4WD on the fly, obvioulsy being sensible with speed and no load.

Cheers

Captain

Never had a problem with mine either although I have recently fitted AVM manual hubs.....not to overcome any problem with the hubs but rather to allow me to use low range (albeit 2WD) on hard surfaces. This is especially so as I don't wish to ride the clutch when reversing the boat or camper up our rather steep driveway...also gives me some low down grunt to assist my 2.8 engine.

Thanks guys.

Most questions answered and if I can adapt them up I might give them a try, mainly because they are not just the normal straight auto hub, as these have the benefit of being able to be fully locked for extreme situations.

And now for the complete newbie question.

What's the difference between the Patrol auto/lock hubs and the Landcruiser hubs that don't have this option? (Remembering I'm a complete newb at this stuff)

Is it as simple as one is for full time 4wd and one is for part time, or is it more complicated than that?

Cheers,

Demented

Like many other users - i have had no probs with my auto hubs ( touch wood ) i found that it easy to get the 4x4 to di engage when comming out of 4x4 mode ( for manual car ) just a quick stab on the power then foot off accelerator then back on again will dis engage it - the idea is to remove pressure from the drive line.

i can get my 4x4 light to go out within a few meters. on any terrain, angle and so forth with this meathod

Boc

gooday all,
I bought a GQ new in 97 and it had auto front hubs on it , and it has been on the CSR Simpson and many other trips ,still have the vehicle love it and the auto hubs are great . I pull the lever into H4 any time and at any speed up to 100kph ,
the only time I had trouble is when I repacked the brgs and the hubs and assembled one side wrong , (clunk clunk ) my mistake !!!
cheers mechpete.