When in Nuetral, and I put my 2006 Auto X in 4wd LOW, I hear a couple sounds comming from the transfer case (I think). They are like a click click, then it shows the 4lo engaged.

Is that normal? I tried a search, and didn't find anything.

thanks in advance.

mitt

On the earlier model those would have been the hubs engaging, but I thought that on the new Gen the hubs were always locked?

the new xterras have have front locking hubs???

I am almost certain the sound is coming from the t-case. It is a click, click click, then the 4lo light quits blinking.

mitt

Yep, normal.

The new X's don't have locking hubs. They are just straight hubs. The front diff is always turning, even in 2wd.

The sound is fine.

I am confused now, I thought it had locking hubs? Isn't that bad for the future health of the car to always have the front axle always turning?

No, it's not "bad" per se. It's just a different design. Any "shift on the fly at any speed" 4WD systems (by any manufacturer) have permanantly engaged hubs. Any "shift on the fly at minimal speed" and or stopped, have locking hubs, whether they're auto hubs or manual hubs.

A permanent hub like the 05+ models only disengages the front drivetrain at the t-case, whereas the previous design disengaged at the t-case AND at the wheel.

It's the same idea as the newer Jeeps (TJ for sure). The only thing that it really leads to is more drag as you are now turning a diff instead of just free wheeling the front wheels.

I do wish Warn (or Milemarker) would come out with a hub conversion for the new X's though.