4WD Noise

I have had my X for about 3 weeks.

When I switch into 4WD high with the hubs unlocked while moving (under 25 mph of course) I hear a bang or thud. I don't hear the noise when the Hubs are locked and I switch to 4WD.

Is this normal? Any suggestions?

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2001 XE 4WD Sp, Pw, Ut
Silver Ice

yes this is normal, its the front hubs locking. mine does this too. i would recommend slowing down before switching into 4wd even though nissan says up to 25mph. i try to come to a complete stop for 4 hi also.

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Silver Ice Xterra Xe
4x4 auto 3pk

i think its pretty common among X's to have that noise...personally, i hear it if i'm going 5, 10 or 25 mph, but once the hubs are locked, its smooth as silk...

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Just Blue XE 4x4 3pack w/ many extras
and newly added XOC sticker!!!

I have heard that noise in other 4x4's I have owned so I wasn't concerned. But I do try not engage the 4 wheel high unless I am under 15 mph.


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There are only three sports-Mountain climbing, bullfighting, and motor racing-all the others being games. --Ernest "Papa" Hemingway

wow .. I got questions .. you got answers..
Thanks for the quick responses.

Yeah .. i've been trying to switch at speeds lower then 25 (5-20) if not stopping completely.

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2001 XE 4WD Sp, Pw, Ut
Silver Ice

The thud isn't the hubs locking, it's because the drivetrain components aren't spinning when the transfer case engages. The already spinning tranfser case engages a non spinning drivetrain. When the hubs are locked it doesn't do it because the locked hubs keep the drivetrain spinning at the same speed as the transfer case so engagement is nice and smooth.

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Eric Konarske & Lara, my X
'01 Solar Yellow XE 3 Pk. 4x4

bottom line .. is this normal? Will it hurt my brand new X???

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2001 XE 4WD 3pack Auto with a tow hitch
Silver Ice

You should hear and feel the bang when you're going 40 mph! When I first test drove an Xterra the salesman told me I could switch on the fly. He told me that I could be going 45 and switch. I knew this was incorrect, but I figured what the hell (I wasn't buying that X anyway). He told me to switch to neutral (auto tranny), throw it in 4Hi and then back to drive. When I switched back to drive the bang was real strong and I felt the truck shudder. He told me it was probably because the truck had never been in 4WD before. I knew what the real reason was

-Michael

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Michael Girardo
Member - MAXC | Moderator - XOC
www.avaloninternet.net/users/bythebay/xterra <---Redesigned

Funny story... Did you leave the tranny on the road

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2001 XE 4WD 3pack Auto with a tow hitch
Silver Ice

Yes, it is normal. Like everyone else said, I personally wouln't do it even at the 25 MPH limit Nissan set. At 25 it hits pretty hard. That's one of the nice things about manual locking hubs. Once you know the hubs are locked, you don't need to worry about your speed when you go into 4wd.

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Eric Konarske & Lara, my X
'01 Solar Yellow XE 3 Pk. 4x4

Hmm, mine barely makes a noise when switching to 4wd. Only way you can hear anything is if you have the air off, radio off and everything about perfectly quiet. Maybe I'm just lucky for a change!

Travis

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'00 4x4 V6 XE
Yella 3pack

Are you moving while switching to 4wd? If you are moving at 15 mph or better and it still makes no noise while switching, your hubs must be locked. If your hubs won't unlock, I'd have that looked at. Maybe you aren't so lucky after all

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Eric Konarske & Lara, my X
'01 Solar Yellow XE 3 Pk. 4x4