Navara NP300 4x4 issue

[DieselRob]

When you put your navara in 4wd does it drive smoothly when turning? Mine feels like there is something binding up making it not go round smoothly or as tight as you’re steering, in at Nissan garage and they think it is normal but I’m sure it wasn’t like this from new

 

[milkloss]

Normal for my d40 and to be expected in these long pick ups with no centre diff.

 

[davidroberts30]

correct tyres front and rear?
pressures correct?
front diff got the wrong oil in it?

 

[Phil P]

As above, check tyre pressures and make sure the tyres are all the same size. You’ll still feel it not wanting to turn as sharp when in 4wd though, especially on a hard surface.

when I first got my ranger it had odd tyres on and it was undeliverable in 4wd, would try and pull the steering wheel out of your hands! New tyres all round and and it’s a different machine altogether!

 

[H200GT]

Normal for my d40 and to be expected in these long pick ups with no centre diff.

As above, horrid things in 4wd on any hard surface with no centre diff. All pickups are the same, or at least most are with the one known exception to me being the L200 (centre diff) and Amorak (permanent 4wd)

 

[Nithsdale]

As above, horrid things in 4wd on any hard surface with no centre diff. All pickups are the same, or at least most are with the one known exception to me being the L200 (centre diff) and Amorak (permanent 4wd)

L200 (and VW obviously) is the only pickup which can be driven on tarmac in 4wd in Hi range.

Sadly it's the only good thing about the l200

 

[DieselRob]

correct tyres front and rear?
pressures correct?
front diff got the wrong oil in it?

Should I be a little bit offended by the range of questions here

It is on general grabbers of the right size and put on as a full set, it also did it on the factory fit wranglers before though, tyre pressures as per the chart. Any oil changes have been done by Nissan at their service intervals, this is a 3yr old 35k mile pickup, not 10yo which has been to the moon and back

 

[Cowabunga]

When you put your navara in 4wd does it drive smoothly when turning? Mine feels like there is something binding up making it not go round smoothly or as tight as you’re steering, in at Nissan garage and they think it is normal but I’m sure it wasn’t like this from new

Pickups like this, apart from the defunct MercedesV6 and top full time 4x4 versions of Amarok plus one drive mode on many Mitsu L200 do not have a centre differential. They therefore always 'wind up' when turning when four wheel drive is engaged due to the back axle following a shorter path than the front [when going forward] and therefore the need for one axle to turn as a 'different' speed to the other. When locked together like this they obviously can't turn at different speeds.
The same would happen across an axle where no diff was present, as on most quad bikes, or with tractors when diff lock was used. Of course the pickup has exactly the same system design in principle as a tractor, and you probably know that all tractors wind up in the same way as the pickup when in 4wd.

I am somewhat surprised that you did not know this, as it is as basic as it gets. Are you new to pickup trucks and/or tractors? Apparently you have had it for three years and you have only now noticed this? I'm somewhat amazed.

 

[DieselRob]

I am somewhat surprised that you did not know this, as it is as basic as it gets. Are you new to pickup trucks and/or tractors? Apparently you have had it for three years and you have only now noticed this? I'm somewhat amazed.

Why would you be surprised by what I do or do not know, we can’t all be fountains of knowledge like yourself, but that’s a different subject altogether.

I’m fully aware of how a diff works, what I wasn’t aware of was the workings of a pickup running gear, I’m sure there are a lot of other people who don’t.

What seemed apparent was this winding up seemed to be getting worse recently, and no not just due to the change of tyres. When the pickup was in for new brakes at a non Nissan garage last week I asked their opinion of the “problem” they agreed that something wasn’t right about it and so today it has been to Nissan.

Is there really an issue with me asking the opinions of a forum?

 

[Cowabunga]

Why would you be surprised by what I do or do not know, we can’t all be fountains of knowledge like yourself, but that’s a different subject altogether.

I’m fully aware of how a diff works, what I wasn’t aware of was the workings of a pickup running gear, I’m sure there are a lot of other people who don’t.

What seemed apparent was this winding up seemed to be getting worse recently, and no not just due to the change of tyres. When the pickup was in for new brakes at a non Nissan garage last week I asked their opinion of the “problem” they agreed that something wasn’t right about it and so today it has been to Nissan.

Is there really an issue with me asking the opinions of a forum?

You drive the soddin' thing, so unless you have been doing it in your sleep and suddenly woken up you should surely have noticed this on all pickups apart from the ones listed previously. You have surely to god noticed it on your tractor?
I am pretty sure that 95% or more of people know why you are not meant to drive on grippy surfaces like a road in 4wd on such pickups.

Is there really an issue with you not accepting straight answers? Embarrassed perhaps?
Unless there is an issue with your axle differentials, which is unlikely unless you have been driving on roads in 4wd against all the warnings on your sunvisor or near the transfer shift lever and in your vehicles manual which explains all of this, there is unlikely to be anything wrong. But your Nissan garage will doubtless check.

 

[davidroberts30]

Should I be a little bit offended by the range of questions here

It is on general grabbers of the right size and put on as a full set, it also did it on the factory fit wranglers before though, tyre pressures as per the chart. Any oil changes have been done by Nissan at their service intervals, this is a 3yr old 35k mile pickup, not 10yo which has been to the moon and back

I dont know your mechanical skills just throwing out there probable causes
Maybe theres a lsd in the front diff and its had the wrong oil at last service
Maybe the problem has been there since new and now the grabber tyres are unforgiving and your noticing it more
I dont know

 

[DieselRob]

@Cowabunga I'll put this on its own so hopefully you read it as this is the only point I’m trying to make

Yes I know what it’s been like from new, that isn’t the issue. The issue is that it appears to be getting worse

 

[DieselRob]

I dont know your mechanical skills just throwing out there probable causes
Maybe theres a lsd in the front diff and its had the wrong oil at last service
Maybe the problem has been there since new and now the grabber tyres are unforgiving and your noticing it more
I dont know

Don’t worry it was said in jest! Your post was a lot more helpful than another!

 

[Cowabunga]

@Cowabunga I'll put this on its own so hopefully you read it as this is the only point I’m trying to make

Yes I know what it’s been like from new, that isn’t the issue. The issue is that it appears to be getting worse

It can only get worse if your front diff is knackered, since its fine in two wheel (rear) drive. There is a tiny possibility that your transfer box has been over stressed so that the chain that drives the front is shagged but that is very very rare and usually due to constant driving in four wheel drive on the road despite all the warnings

 

[bluepower]

Pickups like this, apart from the defunct MercedesV6 and top full time 4x4 versions of Amarok plus one drive mode on many Mitsu L200 do not have a centre differential. They therefore always 'wind up' when turning when four wheel drive is engaged due to the back axle following a shorter path than the front [when going forward] and therefore the need for one axle to turn as a 'different' speed to the other. When locked together like this they obviously can't turn at different speeds.
The same would happen across an axle where no diff was present, as on most quad bikes, or with tractors when diff lock was used. Of course the pickup has exactly the same system design in principle as a tractor, and you probably know that all tractors wind up in the same way as the pickup when in 4wd.

I am somewhat surprised that you did not know this, as it is as basic as it gets. Are you new to pickup trucks and/or tractors? Apparently you have had it for three years and you have only now noticed this? I'm somewhat amazed.

Patronising or what!!

 

[Cowabunga]

Patronising or what!!

Genuinely amazed that someone could run a pickup for three years yet...

When you put your navara in 4wd does it drive smoothly when turning? Mine feels like there is something binding up making it not go round smoothly or as tight as you’re steering, in at Nissan garage and they think it is normal but I’m sure it wasn’t like this from new

It is not actually subtle. Ever. Pickups, apart from those named, all do this to the extent that tyres skip and hop as tension is released during turns when in 4wd. They resist turning. Or hadn't you noticed it yourself? You can't get a more crude four wheel drive system. It really hasn't evolved from a 1940's Jeep or Series Land Rover.

 

[Green&Steam]

Is your vehicle designed to be driven on hard surfaces in four-wheel-drive..?
( E.g. Dry tarmac / concrete )
Or are these symptoms occurring when you are on soft / slippery ground .?

 

[Kidds]

Is it not called “Diff wind up”? (Seriously)
I have one as it goes, does exactly the same and I consider it normal.

 

[deleted user 837354]

As above, it is a very crude 4wd system in the Navara and does feel weird when it's engaged. I would not use it in 4wd on the road except at low speeds and in dodgy conditions like snow. The braking, suspension and driveline in pick ups are generally pretty dumb but then it's a 20K vehicle not a 40K Discovery.