an update on this
So when i went down to the tankwa karoo, i pulled off onto dirt and immediately stopped to let down the tire pressures. Got back into the patrol, engaged 4wd, and pull off with a clicking sound coming from the front right wheel hub.
think to myself, this doesnt seem right, slow down to a stop immediately. disengage, re-engage. Same noise. Hmpf
Think it can only be due to the wheel bearings having recently been replaced, but cannot tell, it's close to midnight and i'm still 400km from sutherland, so will complete the drive in 2wd. Patrol is loaded, she's driving perfectly.
Complete in total over 900km on dirt road on the round trip to tankwa and back. Was simply breathtaking - i truly love the northern cape and its friendly people!
A short summary of the trip below
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When i get back to johannesburg, i take the car back to SAC Centurion. They still need to look at the turbo boost gauge which is faulty, and tap it into the oil pressure instead, and i ask if they can check out the bearings.
Get a phone call the next day. Sorry sir but your auto hubs are on their way out, this is why you getting the knocking sound, they're not allowing the car to engage 4wd....... and it's going to cost your R22K......
My reaction is one of disbelief, which i express, and ask them to give me a few hours to phone around, do some research, and come back to them with a proposal. I'm now shitting myself with this news. my whole 4x4 foundation has been rocked.
So i get hold of Graham / Pathmaker at G-tec motors. He explains to me - for the GU patrol, they should not have recommended machined bearings... the best solution is to go the factory parts, or else you do risk situations where you end up damaging one's hubs. Additionally, when going aftermarket, the guys doing the service often will cut other corners (for example on seals) therefore potentially creating future problems.
So now I have a thought... i need to replace not only the hubs, but also now switch to stealer bearings. $$$$$$$ big time. I'm not feeling very happy.
However, it is plain to both of us, that it's the wheel bearing job that is causing this clicking noise. Mostly likely the auto hub trying but failing to engage. Graham also quite confident that the hub is not damaged, but that the guys at SAC just not the experts on drivetrain, as they are on engines.
TO SAC CENTURIONS CREDIT - they were ultimately very accommodating and despite initially telling me it is not the bearing (no one wants a R20K + bill), and having offered to take me through the technical explanation as to why it wasnt their bearing job (which i politely declined as who am i to question and expert in his field anyway), they were willing to speak with Graham (who offered to "represent" me... for free nogal - cold beers will come your way Graham).
A long story short a and a few days later, SAC phones me, and all that was required was further machining of the bearing, which allowed for accurate seating and therefore the autohub is now engaging as it should, and is not damaged as SAC initially assumed. SAC went as far as admitting to me that they don't know everything, and actually thanked me for putting them onto Graham.
So overall a very pleasant experience. Of course, if damage to the auto hubs had in fact been done, and there was money on the table, it may well have turned out differently.... but it didnt, and i feel we all managed to work together in a civilised manner to find the best solution to what was potentially a very fiery situation.
I am very impressed with SAC Centurion and think the guys there are sincere and professional. so thank you Grant for consistently giving them kudos.
And also a big thanks to Graham, who patiently took my calls, counselled me through some emotional outbreaks, and ultimately through experience and his own lessons in the trade, was able to be a huge help!!
