[Muzikman]

Well, last Thursday (well Friday morning) I went and pulled a friend of my brothers out of the mud. It was some serious wicked mud. I myself got stuck while trying to get back to pavement.

Anyway, I thought I had heard some odd noises coming from the front end but then everything seemed fine.

So any way, I went wheeling yesterday and sure enough about 100 yards down the trail the front end was "clicking". I am honestly not sure what the problem is, but I have a feeling it's the outside drivers side CV joint. If I turn too sharp now (even in 2wd) I get a nasty clunk. Also, if I take a nice weeping turn, something grabs the wheel and pulls it the oposite direction.

So anyway, I'll be calling the dealer tomorrow. We'll see what they have to say.

 

[B Slater]

Yikes! Keep us posted. Hopefully there is a gopher stuck under there!

 

[S_e_X-Terra]

LOL, I used to have an 89 chevy 4x4, and all my friends called it the clickster because the front cv joints were messed up (and never fixed).
Hopefully yours will be under warranty.

 

[8th Man]

Well, last Thursday (well Friday morning) I went and pulled a friend of my brothers out of the mud. It was some serious wicked mud. I myself got stuck while trying to get back to pavement.

Anyway, I thought I had heard some odd noises coming from the front end but then everything seemed fine.

So any way, I went wheeling yesterday and sure enough about 100 yards down the trail the front end was "clicking". I am honestly not sure what the problem is, but I have a feeling it's the outside drivers side CV joint. If I turn too sharp now (even in 2wd) I get a nasty clunk. Also, if I take a nice weeping turn, something grabs the wheel and pulls it the oposite direction.

So anyway, I'll be calling the dealer tomorrow. We'll see what they have to say.

I experienced the same thing; however, my problem was with the rear end. My locker exploded and sent bits everywhere. I had to have the entire rear end replaced. Not good.

 

[S_e_X-Terra]

hahah, that reminds me. The old clickster that i was referring to had 35" Boggers on it, i got it stuck in gumbo mud, tried to rock her out for about five minutes (which with boggers will only dig you deeper) and blew the rear end. I had to drive around in four wheel drive (front wheel drive :blackeye: ) for about a week before i got it replaced

 

[kokopop]

Jason, that blows. I remember there was a similiar issue with another PA'er who had is front end blow at PAP.

In XOC fashion. Do your own search!

 

[Muzikman]

Yeah, I remember reading that thread. I really hope it's not that bad as I think he blew the entire diff up.

I'll be calling there dealer here soon.

 

[kokopop]

Yeah, I remember reading that thread. I really hope it's not that bad as I think he blew the entire diff up.

I'll be calling there dealer here soon.

I hope it is nothing serious. Good Luck!

 

[Glucola]

Yeah I hope it's not a blown front diff. My think is that I wonder how Nissan can void or not honor some of the work under warranty. The reason that I mention that is this morning I went to go get the fluids needed to do the year check up. I'm a couple thousand away from the 15K mark so I wanted to do it now. Anyhow I saw in the driver's manual about a schedule that they recommend you follow if you drive off road. So if Nissan puts that in THEIR manual then why won't they fix anything and everything that breaks on the truck while it is covered under warranty?

 

[PacoPico]

Anyhow I saw in the driver's manual about a schedule that they recommend you follow if you drive off road. So if Nissan puts that in THEIR manual then why won't they fix anything and everything that breaks on the truck while it is covered under warranty?

If it is a defect in the part, or factory workmanship it shall be covered under warranty.

If it fails due to abuse (subjective), or contact with a foreign object (definate) Nissan is under no legal obligation to make repairs pursuant to their warranty.

The service recommendations in the operators guide are one thing...the warranty booklet has the facts on what is and is not covered.

 

[usmc xterra]

Anyone who Rides MTN Bike will agree with me, greasing up things is not just to lube it, it also keeps the dirt OUT, especially where you get into a lot of water. And if any of the grease looks a milky color, time to take it out and put new in. It only looks like a lot of stuff, but I'll do as much as I can and tell them to skip that part, I already did it. As far as a Drive belt, I had a million belt problems until I discovered a Gator Belt, it's cross cut, I guess any cross cut will do, but they sure do run a lot quieter than a regular belt. MC

 

[Muzikman]

Well, I dropped it off at the dealers last night.

Before I took it in I jacked the front end up and came to the conclusion that it's the front diff.

The front wheels would spin free about 8 revolutions and then the gears would catch and instead of the other side turning the opposite direction (the way an open diff should) it would turn the same direction.

The clunk/slam I was hearing when turning I think was the fact that the front end was acting as a locked diff (my guess from having gear teeth broke off and stuck in the gears). As the outside wheel was trying to force its way around the turn the next tooth would snap off.

This would also explain why some times when turning the wheel would want to pull the opposite direction. It was like trying to drive with the front locked.

Let's just hope they cover it as this should not have happened. If it was the CV joint like I was originally thinking, I could see them blaming it on the lift.

 

[kokopop]

Hope they cover it.

 

[Muzikman]

This just goes to show how weak the front diff really is.

I am hoping someone comes out with some sort of hub design that will fail before the diff. I am willing to replace a $200 hub, but to keep replacing the diff is going to be annoying.

Maybe I should just SAS it.

 

[B Slater]

Hopefully they cover it. My dealer wasn't even bright enough to know I had a lift on. They just knew it looked a little different.

 

[Muzikman]

Well, I was right, it was the diff. They ordered one and it's coming ground from CA so it won't be here until next week. They said I can take the X, but after the last story I heard about a blown diff and the dealer telling the person they could drive it, I'll stick with the car for now.

They also said that they will cover it under warranty this time, but because I have tires two sizes too big (?) that they might not if it happens again.

Sooooo, what do I do?

I need to find wheels so that I have street tires and they can't blame it on the tires next time.

So, just keep that in mind for all you 285/75R16 folks out there.

 

[B Slater]

Hmm, sounds like it is a good time for me to pick up some new rims and some stock rubber.

 

[kokopop]

That sucks, but it is good that the dealer will cover it.

I am kinda concerned that we know of 2 blow front diffs.

I believe the other one was not an OR.

What exactly broke?

 

[Muzikman]

They didn't say exactly. I am going to the dealer on Saturday for a WPAXC Show and Shine so 'll talk to the service guy about it more then. My guess is the spline ate it's self.

 

[usmc xterra]

My Plan "A" on rims and Tires looks like a good plan "B" too.
I'm Hungry for some OR Black Rims for my too Large tires.
And I want my factory wheels to sport BFG LT's Factory gas getters.
MC