My 2000 Xterra (SE 4WD) intermittently clanks, sounds like it's coming from the left front wheel well or right under the gas pedal (can actually feel the vibrations...). Only clanks when accelerating, or when maintaining speed - not when coasting or sitting (hence my thought it is hub related).

Sometimes goes away when I engage the 4wd, other times it will not. Seems worse in cold weather. I suspect the manual hubs that kick in when I engage the 4WD.

Now I admit I have been driving for a couple of years without front wheel center caps (right and left) , but I was under the impression that they are cosmetic only (just ordered new ones from woodsmen-nissan online - GREAT PLACE FOR PARTS, by the way).

Anyway, would love to hear if this is problem that can be handled by yours truly rather than something I need to bring it in for.

Thanks again - great site!

- Dan

Are you running stock auto-hubs or did you put in new manual hubs???

Are you running stock auto-hubs or did you put in new manual hubs???

Stock - I figured they were manual because I have to manually throw the handle (pull the 4WD handle) into 4H to engage the 4WD rather than flip a switch like in some more luxurious vehicles than our Xterras...

I guess that means the hubs are automatic, huh? I am handy, but only recently began wrenching on my vehicles to any challenging degree...

To make sure I'm clear, they are stock hubs. Entire vehicle is stock plus add ons - no replacements (other than Mexican made window switch assembly replaced with assembly from Korea....)

Are manual hubs the kind you have to actually engage at the wheel? If so, these are auto...haven't researched hubs yet.

-Dan

yes manual hubs you enguage at the wheel...

You were right about the wheel center caps though, they are entirely cosmetic. I'd get under there and see if you can find anything that's loose. Hopefully the auto hubs have been disengaging properly and haven't been hooked in while you've been driving around on the road. I'd give both drivelines a hood shake at both ends, and the CV's. Make sure everything is nice and tight, with no play.

You were right about the wheel center caps though, they are entirely cosmetic. I'd get under there and see if you can find anything that's loose. Hopefully the auto hubs have been disengaging properly and haven't been hooked in while you've been driving around on the road. I'd give both drivelines a hood shake at both ends, and the CV's. Make sure everything is nice and tight, with no play.


I can tell when the hibs don't disengage - the truck has a hard time making slow, short radius turns, like the tires are binding a bit because one is turning at a higher rate of speed than the other, and they are not happy about it.

This is something else - maybe one is disengaging and the other isn't? i.e. it is trying to engage? If that's the case, how can I peek in there to check it out? I'm glad to slide under and take a look, but what am I looking for?

I downloaded a Factory Service Manual - I'll take a peek at that as well.

Again, any help appreciated.

- Dan

Well I'm not sure what you could look for as far as the hubs go. Maybe pull them out and see if it goes away? Definitely make sure that other stuff is squared away too though. I guess you could try spinning each wheel by hand and making sure they're freed up from the CV. Also make sure the front driveshaft is spinning freely by hand, and that it's not partially engaged in the transfer case. Check the TC linkages too, make sure something doesn't look awry in there.

OK - what's a CV and what's the TC? Transfer case?

I've only been wrenching since I get back on motorcycles, and that is also in a minor capacity....

I want to avoid bringing this in to the shop if it's only a hub problem...when the center caps come in I'll look around down there and see what I can find. See if anything is loose, etc.

- Dan

A CV is a constant velocity joint. It's the joint inside the big rubber boot behind the wheel. It's the axleshaft basically, going from the diff to the wheel, with a CV on each end. TC is the transfer case, just easier to type abbreviations. We've got a nice acronym sticky in one of the forums here for future reference.

if the wheels are clicking when making short small radius turns, then that clicking sound is definitally the CV's clicking which tells me that the hubs are still engaged.

Try This:
put your X in 4WD and drive forward a few feet.
stop
throw the shifter into 2WD
go in reverse at least 10-15 ft in a straight line
stop
then go forward again, and then make a slow sharp turn.

If the sound goes away, then that just means your auto hubs were still engaged, if the sound dosen't go away you could have a bad hub or even a bad CV. If thats the case, check to see if the boot is torn. Let us know how that turns out.

-Kyle

Thanks guys.

Kyle, my guess is the CV's are shot, but I'll have to inspect the boot. The clicking on turning is more of a bad squeak on steroids as opposed to a click or a clank indicating the hubs being engaged.

Won't have a chance to get under it until next week, but would appreciate any other suggestions including what I am looking for...

Will keep you posted and thanks again for the help.

- Dan

a click and clank would indicate bad CV's the steroid part sounds like hubs