Terrano suspension question

[Freddy]

Hey guys,
Humour a noob here. My R50 has the occasional front suspension squeak and rattle when going over bumps. Not a massive issue, but I'm wondering where the noise is likely to be coming from exactly. Shocks? Should I get some new ones? I've heard the front end of the R50s isn't great. I'm not a serious offroader like some of you guys, I just take her up the occasional gravel road for fishing, but I just want to sort this issue out. Any advice? Cheers


by the way: I took the Terrano away over the weekend, went down south. Got over 600kms from the tank of diesel, running 31in A/T tyres. Reasonably happy with that. I think the tank is 80L. Sound about right?

[centralnavara]

Hard to know without having a look and listen but have struck one at work that the top hats came lose on the shockies (where they bolt through top plate that bolts into body) could even be the shockies or sway bar ends

[kiwipete]

Check that the steering stops are greased too.

[slide]

I've heard the front end of the R50s isn't great.

Got over 600kms from the tank of diesel, running 31in A/T tyres. Reasonably happy with that. I think the tank is 80L. Sound about right?

Front end is great, just not for serious 4x4n. Like many newer 4x4's its design is more for road comfort than offroad ability. Fine for your use by the sounds of it.


Fuel economy sounds about right. You didn't mention if its 2.7 or 3.2, or auto/manual. Driving style will influence it heaps. If thats very conservative driving then its not flash, but if thats heavy driving its doing great!

[Freddy]

cheers guys, it's a 2.7 auto. I've got a slight power-steering seep so I'm getting the mechanic to look at that (he reckons steam clean the engine, drive it, and then try to identify where it's coming from), and might ask him to check all suspension arms and bits and pieces.

I've got 31in A/Ts on and it rubs on the chassis very slightly at full lock. My mechanic thought he could adjust the blocks but apparently the R50 is non-adjustable? A warrantable issue if you're fussy, but he reckons most places wouldn't fail it.

Another question, anybody ever slung the spare underneath? I guess some of you guys want to hang the spare on the back instead, the other way round. I guess I'd need to make some sort of cradle for it. Looks like there's plenty of room under there. I s'pose that the Pathfinders have a special thing you wind down the tyre with to lower it?

[centralnavara]

Some models have it under there anyway so hunt around trade me or the wreakers and buy the bits needed. and don't forget the handle to wind it up and down

[Freddy]

yeah ok, will do. But I think the winder mechanism is built into the body of the truck? I don't think I could transfer that over (unless I was PassengerPete?!)

[slide]

Might be worth some powersteering stop leak if its the pump leaking.
Best bet with spare would be to go round some caryards, find one with spare under it and have a good look how its mounted. May be a easy swap, or might take some crafty engineering. Wheres the fuel tank in r50? Earlier d21 its at rear, so no possibility to put spare under there...

[Freddy]

Just to wrap this up with a boring update:

* my mechanic found that one of the front linkages had a worn ball-joint. No more front-end-rattle driving over Christchurch's many potholes any more.

* tightened all hose clamps on the power steering pump, gave it (and engine bay) a steam clean. Have driven it around and after 2 weeks: no leaks. Good!

The truck is in tip-top shape now...it can get expensive being a fussy bugger!

I'm still after some roofracks like this:



They attach to the almost hidden rails that run down the Terrano roof. There are 3 metal lugs on each side. Give me a yell if you have got any to sell...or know where I can get them. Went to my local shop and they were useless.