hr31 weirdness

[predator]

Ok, I doubt anybody is going to answer this one, but I'll give it a shot..

My newish HR31 Passage, fine in most other respects, has got some major ass problems.

Basically there is a very loud clunking from LHS rear wheel. The problem appears more pronounced when you get one back wheel off the ground during a 90deg turn (into a driveway, etc), makes a huge "clunk" and goes into spastic mode. I'll drive along after that, and the whole rear of the car will shudder, feels like the wheel is goinng to fall off (maybe it is.. ).

Other times, it seems to sort itself out and go back to normal, but the rear goes into "minor spastic" mode over a bump, and clunks again for a tiny bit.

The HICAS light will flash on during this, and might stay on once it goes spacco for a bit.

Now... my suspects are either hosed diff (needs major shim? causing the axel to pop out nearly?).. although if it is the diff, then it does seem to turn ok for the most part, and LSD when on full boot when everything is working just like normal? I do have another R200 diff sitting around which I'll try eventually.

The other is the HICAS itself is ****ed, going into a spastic and turning the rear wheels when you're trying to go straight.

So is it more likely to be HICAS or diff related, or something else altogether?

oh - and what does the little house looking thingo on the dash mean?? Mine is always on.

[strutto]

It's not the airbag suspension is it?

[predator]

The rear has been replaced with standard munroe shocks..

fronts are shagged, but it's rear end prob.. I do have a set of S13 king springs and shocks to try in the rear.. Sounds more major than just suspension itself, but I might fit them just in case.

[V8skylineMAN]

come and take me for a spin... its to hard to diagnose a problem of that sort without experiencing it 1st hand.

[SteveL]

Check the rear sub-frame bushes and the diff mount.

[predator]

Thanks for the suggestions..

Today I crawled under there to take a look. Everything appers to be in order, and checked the tension of a few bolts, the rear swaybar, bushes, etc. I think I even worked out out the HICAS on that thing works (two pistons - weird setup).

Took off the suspected wheel, removed the caliper, and took off the hub. Again nothing too obvious there, so put all back together.

Just before I took it for a spin, and the problem was still there. When I stopped though, I felt that wheel, and noticed it was very very hot even after just a quick drive. I think what could be happening is that the handbrake appears to be getting "stuck" on for that wheel

The car has an older setup with the drum type arrangement for the handbrake sitting inside the hub. I did spray a whole heap of lubricant in there, and over the tension springs, etc but that didn't seem to make any difference.

I don't really have too much of an idea how that handbrake setup works with the drum (usually its just a spring to the caliper) - would should I look at? What usually do you replace in there? What type of problems can develop?

[hako]

i would check handbrake cable

they often become stuck on hr31s, my car went through 2 in 2 years

same symptoms as yours

[predator]

I'm not sure whether it's the actual handbrake cable, because before I tightened it up, it was nearly completely slack. Just before the Y..

Or do you mean actually where it goes into the hub. This can become stuck?

[V8skylineMAN]

the part inside the swing arms.....that is where they will seize

[predator]

I'm going to have to dismantle the whole hub aren't I ... :-s

me thinks this is a job for "later"

[V8skylineMAN]

No.

[rsx84]

did you notice the problem before you tightened the handbrake cable?

[predator]

I didn't notice the heat b4 tightening the handbrake.. but unfortunately I didn't check eitehr. It's possible it was deliberate loosened to prevent the probelm.

The wumping and strangely from that wheel was still the same though.