Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Ross !!!!...... What is happening bud !!!.... talk to us man !!!

Hi Ricster,

Yeah, sorry about the silence....take it as a sign of depression on this side

After many phone calls and much searching, I eventually tracked down an engineering firm in Worcester who claim to successfully straiten axles. Anyway got the housing back from them almost 4 weeks ago now, and in "straitening" the housing we found when trying to bolt the diff centre back in, that the bolt holes now no longer line up (i.e. in pulling the tubes strait they have now warped the pumpkin). Anyway, I think thats basically tickets, as I can`t see how they are possibly going to get it 100% in spec from there...anyhow they were adamant that they can rectify the issue, but now 4 weeks later and it is still sitting with them. I have called all the Jap importers, and can`t find anyone with another Patrol rear diff/axle assembly, so I`m giving these guys until the end of the week, and then cutting my losses and will have to cough for the parts from Nissan to fix the original axle. Not looking forward to the hit my wallet is going to take, but I need the Trol back on the road....its been 4 months now, and I`m gatvol!

Hope to be able to report something more positive soon.

Later,

R

... shhhhhhh... erbit Ross. You coastal guys have a lot more patience than us jobogians.... There would have been CENSORED flying if it was me

I really hope you come right ... or at least they come right with that diff. Did you get hold of Frans ( tour de frans ), he may know some people....

Ross
Why don't you send mr volskenk a pm ???he is in swazi land. He might just have the bits that you need ? I know you have been trying for a while with parts that doesn't work but he has said that he is stripping a GU for spares becouse he bought it for the 4.2 diesel engine ? Just mabe he can help u???? Mabe he knows of one standing there also he said this internet is not great so pm him and he can contact u
Hope it helps !!!!!

Thanks Guys....will keep you posted!

update????

Okay....progress update:

Drove the Patrol for the first time yesterday and took it to two alignment places to double check that everything is now within spec. The result of the exercise is that the 4.5 axle that I shipped down from Pta is now strait within reasonable tolerances (still a slight toe in on the rear, but we`re now talking less than a quarter of a degree, rather than 3 degrees...which both alignment places assure me is well within acceptable limits).

Prop shaft now needs to be shortened by 50mm (H266 props are 50mm shorter than H233B, so the slip joint is currently bottomed out) and need to get the diff lock working correctly. Hopefully this will be sorted out by the end of Thursday so that I FINALLY have a working Patrol again.

Eish...what a journey!

I hear you brother.... I'm happy the end is near for this journey...

Ross
If you need spares inside like the diff ring ect saw a perfect one at one of my friends place he took the complete uint out to replace with arb front and back it was working perpectly before

Next Update:

FINALLY....got the Patrol back today.

So, to recap:

1. Axle straitened to within tolerance & new bearings etc
2. Propshaft shortened (and re-balanced) to compensate for additional size of H266 assembly relative to H233
3. Diff lock now working properly

BUT: Driving home I notice that now on deceleration (particularly noticeable at highway speeds if you tap off the gas while going down a hill) I have quite a noticeable (and extremely irritating) vibration. The vibration is not evident during normal driving, seems to just happen during deceleration. So...any idea`s on where to start fault finding?? I`m thinking that if there was still a serious problem with the diff or axle assembly then the vibration would be constant, and not just under deceleration....is something just not adjusted or set correctly, or what now???

Any idea`s suggestions welcome......I can`t explain how gatvol I am at this point!!!