Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi Guys,

When I lock the hubs on my 91 Vitara and drive I get a whine form the font axle. The fatser I go, the higher the pitch of the whine.

Do you think it's the front diff?

Non techniocal diagnosis - Could this be caused by not engaging 4WD often enough (before I bought it of course) so only the bottom half of the diff was in the oil?

Any advice gratefully received.

Tks

Clive

did the front 5 spoke mag wheels have their centre cap on when you bought it? if yes, chances are the hubs haven't been locked for a while, but they seem to still work.

the front diff, have you drained and refilled it? maybe it had water in the front diff, or the oil has gone off? (oil from factory, never changed).

or there could be no oil in it at all. i think you should drain and refill the front diff with fresh oil, and see if it still makes that noise.

also, how are the front wheel bearings? any play, or looseness?

after putting fresh oil, and the whine is still there, you may need to take the front 3rd out, and get it looked at. could be diff bearings, or pinion bearings, or centre out of adjustment.

Hi SiKiD,

Yes the centre caps of the mags were on and screwed in place tightly. They are now in storage in the garage and the wheels look OK with the centre covers off and the hubs cleaned.

They were fairly stiff the first time I locked them but freed up straight away giving me the thought that they hadnt been locked for yonks (if ever). I will change the oil in the front diff this weekend. I should have dont that straight away (doh!).

I will have a good look at the front end while I'm at it and check the wheel bearings, drive shaft seals and CVs.

What diff oil do you use?

Cheers

Clive

if you change the front diff oil, and it doesnt look too great, or its bad, may also pay to check the gear box and transfer oil too, and maybe the back diff.

its a little price to pay for peace of mind.

many people will use different oils, and they will all have their own opinions, so it is up to you what you choose to use. i'm not too worried about what i get, because i change my oils on regular intervals. (up here, during the wet, theres a lot of water, and so oil changing is the norm)

could be the backlash setting of the diff. althought you said its not used so i guess the best option is to change the oil first and see what happens.


Ric

Oil changed in the front diff. No change to the noise.

I'll have to open the diff and have a look.

Cheers

Clive

just another thing, are you sure its the front diff?

when you lock the hubs, your transfer is also spinning too, so if your transfer was low on oil, could be that also. maybe check and change the g/box and transfer oil 1st (if you havent done it already)

taking the front diff out needs a little bit of effort, thats all. the thing i hate most is taking something apart or out, only to find it was in good condition.

good luck.

Thanks

Transmission and t/fer case fluids next.

Cheers

Clive

I got underneath and turned the drive shaft from the t/fer case to the front diff by hand, with the hubs unlocked.

The noise seems to be coming from the front of the t/fer case.