4x4 question......

[MeMe]

.........my Dihatsu Jeep has a tendancy to pull to the left when in four wheel drive. Furthermore when I stop the left front wheel is rather hot (much hotter than all the rest). I have checked the tyre pressures and all seem fine. The brakes work well and when on the road it it is not as bed as when on the beach..... Any ideas ? Thanks.

[Janet and Bill]

Have you hd the tracking checked ?

[MeMe]

..........assuming it was something a lot more complicated than that but I will do so - thanks.

[Nick Hearne]

Do you mean the tyre or the wheel?

[Scary Des]

It sounds like a binding brake what happen when you brake hard does it pull to the left as well Des

[MeMe]

..........it's the wheel that's hot especially aroung the centre hub of the wheel where the big ball thing is...by the way it's fitted with difflocks which move freely but not so well on the problem side ?

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by MeMe

..........it's the wheel that's hot especially aroung the centre hub of the wheel where the big ball thing is...by the way it's fitted with difflocks which move freely but not so well on the problem side ?

Yep or how about the wheel bearing?

[Simon B]

Do you mean free wheel hubs?
And does your 4 wheel drive use a lever that engages it, possibly with another separate lever for hi/lo ratio.
Usual configuration for similar systems is when in low box all 4 wheels drive in hi only rear.
Difflocks act on the differential usually (lump in middle of axle)
If one free wheel hub is engaged and the other one isnt then you will get drive to one wheel and not the other. Still cant explain the heat with this theory though. Unless its a function of the soft surface causing some sort of differential action..
It does sound like binding brakes but it would be worth checking the hubs out as well.

[MeMe]

.....yes, free wheel hubs (I think) there is a spin lock on the centre of the hub that says "lock" and "Free". It is permentantly pointing to "Lock" but will move (both wheels) to "Free". The left side where the trouble is can be a little stiff but it does move.

Yes there is a 2nd lever (apart from the gear shift) that engages four wheel high, low, N, and 2 wheel high (no two wheel low).

When in 2 wheel high on tarmac the jeep still pulls a little to the left however when in four wheel high or low it pulls hard to the left and when at a stop the left wheel/hub/brake is very very hot and a little smelly.

I have not checked the brakes to see if sticking on one side, I will do this at the weekend. If it is the brake how do I free it or is this a job for someone with a few more brain cells than me ?

[Scary Des]

If you don’t know what you are doing best to leave brakes alone if you know what you are doing you can free the calliper (assuming it has discs) by squeezing the piston back with a pair of waterpump pliers.
Although I originally suggested 'binding brake' as the problem it would be worth ruling out other problems. If you can, jack up the front of the car and then turn the wheels by hand, if it is a bearing problem you are likely (but not guaranteed) to have a rumbling noise coming from the hub. If it is a binding brake you might find it stiffer to turn the left wheel than the other. Evidently this a very general answer and there could be 101 other things wrong with it but hopefully this will start you looking in the right direction.

Am I right that you do almost no distance in this car and really only use it on the beach How long does it take to warm up.
Des