Hi, I'm new to the forum, and I've got a question about my 03 Pathfinder. Does anybody know how the 4x4 system works? My model is the 5spd manual Chilkoot. I'm asking because I got stuck in the snow yesterday trying to drive around my backyard to access the front of my other car to boost it. The snow was not that deep, maybe a foot. I noticed from outside that not all 4 wheels were spinning. I know that's normal for the rear but I figured that the front would both spin at the same time, especially since you're not supposed to drive this car in 4wd in dry pavement. I also noticed the outside wheel would do the spinning. So basically it's a 2wd vehicle technically? I had a suzuki sidekick years ago that you had to get out to lock the hubs and it would stop at nothing. I actually drove up part of a ski hill with it. The path does not even come close, it gets stuck in very little snow.
Any insight would be much appreciated.
Hi, I'm new to the forum, and I've got a question about my 03 Pathfinder. Does anybody know how the 4x4 system works? My model is the 5spd manual Chilkoot. I'm asking because I got stuck in the snow yesterday trying to drive around my backyard to access the front of my other car to boost it. The snow was not that deep, maybe a foot. I noticed from outside that not all 4 wheels were spinning. I know that's normal for the rear but I figured that the front would both spin at the same time, especially since you're not supposed to drive this car in 4wd in dry pavement. I also noticed the outside wheel would do the spinning. So basically it's a 2wd vehicle technically? I had a suzuki sidekick years ago that you had to get out to lock the hubs and it would stop at nothing. I actually drove up part of a ski hill with it. The path does not even come close, it gets stuck in very little snow.
Any insight would be much appreciated.
Because you have a Chilkoot, I don't think you have a rear limited slip differential, just a regular type. So if one rear wheel loses traction, that's the tire that will spin, while the other will do nothing. Same goes for the front. On Canadian SE or LE models, the rear diff is limited slip, which helps put power to the tire that has the most traction. The front diff however, is still only regular type.
Ok thanks, I thought something was broken. Why can you not drive it on drive pavement if it just has a regular front differential? It binds when you turn.
With two open differential axles, you'll only have power to the tire with the least amount of traction at all times. That means you usually only get two tires spinning, one front, one rear if they're all on the same kind of slippery surface.
You're not supposed to make tight turns on dry pavement because the front and rear axles are locked together through the transfer case when it's in 4WD and the differential between tire spin rates from front to rear causes drivetrain binding, which can damage your transfer case or transmission if you force it.
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'88 Pathfinder: 6" of lift, 33x13.50 Swamper LTB's, Rancho 9000's, L&P Stage 3 steering system, K&N, Pacesetter headers and 2.5" exhaust, Lock-Right locker, 110A alty and electric fan swap, dual batteries, 700W+ worth of PIAAs, etc.
Thanks for the answer, makes more sense now.
Seems to me to be a rather basic, bordering on ineffective 4wd system, especially when you consider you can get more capable systems on vehicles almost half the price. Not too much benefit to having a vehicle which guarantees to spin only the 2 wheels on the car which have the least amount of traction. I'm telling you, the truck got stuck in something my car with winter tires may have made it through, well not really but you get the point.
Does the xterra have the same crappy system? I looked at that originally, maybe I shouldv'e gone with it.
Yes I'm bitter.
You could put a locking rear differential in it. I believe there's one made that will work. In traction-challenging situations, that will work even better than a limited-slip. And if you have a limited slip, you can't convert it to locking. So you're all set for a locker. Basic ones are not terribly expensive.
Yes, it's always been my irritated opinion that on-demand 4wd systems without at least a limited slip or locker on the back are a stupid waste of money. It's like using bald tires, makes the 4wd ineffective. Adding limited slip is only, say, an $80 increment in a $2000-3000 system.
Our PF has limited slip, and it also helps a lot in 2wd on this light-rear ended vehicle. Whether an Xterra has it would depend on the model and options. So do, some don't. Up to the '05 model, and except for the rear suspension, the Xterra has the same chassis as the first generation Pathfinder.
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'91 Pathfinder SE 5spd (now sold)
'06 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX-L
Last edited by X-Traction : Mar 24th, 2005 at 04:23 PM.
You could put a locking rear differential in it. I believe there's one made that will work. In traction-challenging situations, that will work even better than a limited-slip. And if you have a limited slip, you can't convert it to locking. So you're all set for a locker. Basic ones are not terribly expensive.
Yes, it's always been my irritated opinion that on-demand 4wd systems without at least a limited slip or locker on the back are a stupid waste of money. It's like using bald tires, makes the 4wd ineffective. Adding limited slip is only, say, an $80 increment in a $2000-3000 system.
Our PF has limited slip, and it also helps a lot in 2wd on this light-rear ended vehicle. Whether an Xterra has it would depend on the model and options. So do, some don't. Up to the '05 model, and except for the rear suspension, the Xterra has the same chassis as the first generation Pathfinder.
I'm pretty sure my 02 Chilkoot (Cdn) does have limited slip rear end.
All new Nissans on the new frame have available ABLS (rear-wheel for 2wd, 4-wheel for 4wd), and the two trucks have available lockers as well. Don't know how well the ABLS works, haven't used it yet. Wish they had an available full-time for the trucks, though.
Of course, that's useless info unless you are concidering trading your truck in.
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