Getting into 4 wheel drive - Mistral

[aggy the owl]

4 wheel drive -Can anyone tell me the correct procedure for getting my 1996 2.7td Automatic Nissan Mistral in and out of 4 wheel drive. Yesterday was embarrasing in the snow skidding about in a 4x4.

[Offroad-Events]

Which kind of hubs do you have in the front ? There are 3 different types for the Mistral/Terrano. Fixed ones where the front is engaged full time and you just switch from 2WD into 4WD by pulling the shift lever. Automatic hubs, there you can switch from 2WD to 4WD at max. 40 km/h by pulling the shifter. Manual ones, the best, you have to turn them from 4x2 (free) to 4x4 (lock) directly at the front wheels and then use the shifter as described for the fixed ones above. If you shift from 4x2 into 4x4 while standing still you have to shift the automatic into N or P.

[aggy the owl]

Thanks for the information, my hubs say automatic. I have been out in the snow again today and tried the ways mentioned but I still cant get into 4 wheel drive, has anyone had similar problems and whats the answer.

[Offroad-Events]

Putting it into 4WD while you're already stuck is a bad idea with auto hubs. The wheels a quarter turn to engage them. If they're nor used reguarly they might be seized anyway.

[aggy the owl]

I have to admit its a long time since I have needed the 4 wheel drive, when you say it may have seized what is it that siezes up and is it a DIY job. Thanks for your response.

[Offroad-Events]

Dismantle the auto hub, clean and grease it a bit. Only a little bit of grease is needed here !!

[Ezookiel]

I had a manual hub seize up on one side, and so even though turned to 4x4 it wasn't actually engaging, which meant that I was basically in 2x4 the whole time, because with one hub not engaged, all drive was going to that hub. I had to complete a club trip as a 2wd. Made it a bit disappointing actually.

Bearing in mind that I'm am a seriously UN mechanical person, scared poopless of pulling anything apart lest it fly in a million different directions, I managed to fix my own. I pulled it apart, saw all the rust, opened up the other side and saw how it was meant to look. Sanded off the rust, greased it all, and put it back the way the GOOD side looked. And it worked.
If I can do it, anyone can.

[aggy the owl]

I am gratefull for all the info and am prepared to have a go, can anyone tell me if I need any special tools. Also are bits likely to pop out when I strip them down.
Any tips would be welcome.

[Offroad-Events]

No special tools here, only a good set of pliers to get the snap ring out if needed. There is a spring in there, just take it easy while opening.