D22 Ute - weak front end?

[snotgoblin]

Evening All,

I have heard that the D22 has a weak front end; diff, half shafts, hubs etc.

Any feedback from those of you in the know welcome.

I do like the EMS (engine management system) that keeps things ticking along at 800RPM...

[Sketchy_Racer]

Yes they are certainly not the strongest front end out there, but in saying that it is like anything you have to drive to your vehicle.

It -Looks- the same the D21 Terrano gear but maybe different internals for the diff. If it is the same, the front diffs can blow under extreem abuse, but you have to be really rough with em. The steering is a disaster but it is well documented as to how you can keep them under control, just search for it.

The ZD30 motors can be hand grenades, put a EGT gauge on and keep an eye on it. They are chronic for melting pistons due to clogged intakes from the EGR systems.

Hope this helps.

[snotgoblin]

cheers.

we use them at work. used for off road training too - break lots of stuff, especially when lifting wheels!

Although being phased out to be replaced with Mitsi Tritons.

[slide]

D22 is bad for cracking chassis around front suspension mounting brackets. Start is tiny hairline cracks, then get bad fast. Have to look real carefully to find it before it gets bad. According to nissan it only happens if bullbars fitted, but I've seen many cracking with no bullbars....

[tweake]

Evening All,

I have heard that the D22 has a weak front end; diff, half shafts, hubs etc.

Any feedback from those of you in the know welcome.

I do like the EMS (engine management system) that keeps things ticking along at 800RPM...

the diff is a really weak point. its only the r180. some people upgrade it to the 200. if you bashing it that much that you breaking half shafts etc then you need to learn to drive or get a bigger stronger vehicle more suited to the job. otherwise you just going to smash everything.

the ecu is a major pain in the arse for idling. very difficult to go really slow. the more you try to slow it down, the more fuel the ecu shoves in to the point of it being uncontrollable and you have to hit the clutch, otherwise it will take off on you. it needs a much lower low range.

D22 is bad for cracking chassis around front suspension mounting brackets. Start is tiny hairline cracks, then get bad fast. Have to look real carefully to find it before it gets bad. According to nissan it only happens if bullbars fitted, but I've seen many cracking with no bullbars....

i've only heard of this once and only from one town in the south island. no one else has reported this on any forum despite them being used all around the world. the person who did mentioned has buggered off and has not mentioned any details. i suspect it was a workshop that wound the suspension up so much it sat on the stops which then fatigued the chassis.

[slide]

The first I saw had cracked quite considerably, enought to think that it would fall apart within months. ie crack chassis right off. Since seeing that one every time I inspect these (d22's) I always pay very close attention to the front suspension/chassis area. I believe I have failed 4 different vehicles now. All at standard ride height and standard (or very similar) rims/tyres.
1st on had a bullbar, others not. Sorry I do not recall years or engine types they had. Some of the cracks have been very small, I have seen them before they have had the chance to grow.
My experience anyway. Havent heard about this from anyone else, other than Nissan denying any responsibility when my foreman enquired to them.
Keep ya eye out,
Nath

[tweake]

if you can remember, next time grab some pics. also check if the front and rear suspension is hitting the bump stops a lot. also grab what year especially as they changed factories so there is some differences.
if there is a manufacturing problem i would like to get it out on the forums before someone gets hurt.

i'll check ours. we and a few others in our industry use them a lot and they get loaded up well and truly.

[snotgoblin]

Cheers tweake - the biggest issues we have had is that we use our d22's for driver training for off road work, cue young drivers and inexperience....

And taking them on tracks most owners of them I doubt would attempt, at least in standard form.

First IFS vehicle I have used off road, was reasonably impressed. But npt built for what we are using them for unfortunately.

[DEATH_INC]

D22 is bad for cracking chassis around front suspension mounting brackets. Start is tiny hairline cracks, then get bad fast. Have to look real carefully to find it before it gets bad. According to nissan it only happens if bullbars fitted, but I've seen many cracking with no bullbars....

i've only heard of this once and only from one town in the south island. no one else has reported this on any forum despite them being used all around the world. the person who did mentioned has buggered off and has not mentioned any details. i suspect it was a workshop that wound the suspension up so much it sat on the stops which then fatigued the chassis.

Common enough for a WOF info sheet on it to be issued.....

[Macca]

For some info on chassis problems have a search for Orari Gorge station or Mt Peel station nissan https://www.google.co.nz/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=mt+peel+station+nissan&oq=mt+peel+station+nissan&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=hp.3...2602.8513.0.8926.22.18.0.4.4.1.1030.5110.3-1j2j5j0j1.9.0...0.0.8sGzFVVu16w&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=2ec6527f20a2c88b&biw=1600&bih=739 . Both propertys had d22 navaras that were major problems. apart from major chassis cracks there were also front diff, turbo and gearbox issues. Nissan were dificult to deal with at best, Hence both stations are now driving different breeds,

[tweake]

the mt peel ones are the ones i've heard about before. i understand they had modded suspensions which really throws a spanner in the works.

the thing that is odd is that the basic chassis has been around for 30+ years. only minor changes through the years. they are not modern, there is nothing new on them. they are the oldest utes in production. its also sold around the world and the ONLY reports of chassis cracking is in NZ. go figure that one.

i'll hit a WOF guy up for the info sheet. would be nice to know if there is a real problem or if its a case of idiot drivers.

[Macca]

Yes that is true, Mt peel utes hade ome 2in lift but bull bars were dealer fitted. It was the bull bars that were blamed for the breakage. It was the same here (orari Gorge) but ours hadnt had the suspension done yet.
Mt peel is now runnning sheep shaggers without any issue and we are on mitzi tritons and isuzu dmax's.will be interesting to see how we get on.

[tweake]

do you know what year the effected utes are?
the only big change is that after 2007 production shifted to Thailand and quality out of Thailand is not all that great.
tho the good news is they are meant to be bringing production back to japan soon.

[Macca]

the ones we had were 2009 models

[slide]

the thing that is odd is that the basic chassis has been around for 30+ years. only minor changes through the years. they are not modern, there is nothing new on them. they are the oldest utes in production.

If you look closely at d22 front suspension, although it is similar design (torsion on lower arm etc) , it is way different form d21.