Symmetry 4WD 1997 Nissan Patrol Y60 GQ 4.2 SGL TB42S

[symmetry4wd]

Welcome Andreas!

Can't wait to see the wagon in person.

Thank you Stefan! You will soon!

Took a couple pics of the old girl yesterday:

[symmetry4wd]

Little update on the big GQ:

Did a service on the old girl,

- Oil Filter
- Fuel Filter
- Air Filter

- Engine oil
- Gearbox oil
- Transfer case oil
- Front and Rear diff oils

- New front diff breather hose

- New bolts for the taped cover to replace the rounded screws

- Got the rear difflock working, changed most of the vacuum lines for it (when it’s off it’s on when it on its off, at least it’s consistent, if I switch the lines then it doesn’t work?!?? maybe only one solenoid is working but doesn’t really make sense to me). It is using 2 Mitsubishi solenoids, not the oem ones. Just glad it’s working!

- Took off the mud flaps as I’m sure when I 4x4 they are going to rip off and ruin my arches

- Tightened the exhaust manifold as it was bit loose and was getting a gas leak there, seems to be sorted

Also did Honingklip 4x4 trail this past weekend, the Patrol was amazing, love it! With a few choice mods it will be a beast!
Was there with some unlocked 80 series LC’s and an unlocked XJ Cherokee, and having that oem locker on the GQ made a world of difference, so much more control. I’m really liking this GQ platform, has so much potential! Even just with a 2” EFS suspension lift, 31” muds and the oem locker, it is potent off-road. Very comfortable in the rough stuff as well. It just looks so good as well, especially in green

Video dropping soon on my YouTube Channel!

[Peter Connan]

Regarding the diff lock: if you have somebody else switch the locker on and off, you should be able to feel the solenoids switching by laying a finger on them.

Running the system with only the solenoid that does the engaging working could be bad for the locker. If the parts inside the diff try to move there is nothing holding them back.

Regarding buying more potential:
The two most cost-effective mods you can do are also two of the most expensive.
1) Front locker
2) Transfer case reduction gears.

More lift does not improve ability over all. You win in some places but you lose in others. The more it's lifted, the more it lifts wheels, losing you traction.

Bigger wheels do help, but they make the car worse in other areas.
More flex also helps, but to gain a significant amount approaches the cost of a locker. It will give you more stability which a locker doesn't do and doesn't cost manueverability like a front locker does, but doesn't help with traction when the loss of traction is due to surface slipperyness.

Up here in Gauteng one of the most capable car and driver combinations is a certain red GQ. It is almost standard, but the driver is very experienced. He often makes me in a much more modified vehicle look rather stupid.

[symmetry4wd]

Regarding the diff lock: if you have somebody else switch the locker on and off, you should be able to feel the solenoids switching by laying a finger on them.

Running the system with only the solenoid that does the engaging working could be bad for the locker. If the parts inside the diff try to move there is nothing holding them back.

Regarding buying more potential:
The two most cost-effective mods you can do are also two of the most expensive.
1) Front locker
2) Transfer case reduction gears.

More lift does not improve ability over all. You win in some places but you lose in others. The more it's lifted, the more it lifts wheels, losing you traction.

Bigger wheels do help, but they make the car worse in other areas.
More flex also helps, but to gain a significant amount approaches the cost of a locker. It will give you more stability which a locker doesn't do and doesn't cost manueverability like a front locker does, but doesn't help with traction when the loss of traction is due to surface slipperyness.

Up here in Gauteng one of the most capable car and driver combinations is a certain red GQ. It is almost standard, but the driver is very experienced. He often makes me in a much more modified vehicle look rather stupid.

Thanks for the reply,

- will get a buddy to help switch the locker on and off to check that both solenoids are working, when I was working on it myself I didn’t have an extra set of hands.
Also I didn’t realise I could be causing damage with what you mentioned.

- yes, I definitely agree with you on the locker a Tcase gears.
On my Pajero the mod I wanted the most was reduction gears in the transfer case, being able to crawl slower, more control, shoes and pick your lines more carefully at lower speed, and the torque multiplication. I also prefer more rock/technical driving over powering through dunes and mud, any car can do that…
Front locker would just be awesome, I drove my brothers 105 series LC with front and rear lockers and it’s insane.

- I only want enough lift for enough chassis clearance for the trails I do, don’t want the car to handle like a pig on-road and feel like I’m going to roll off-road. I am aware that lift doesn’t equal flex as many think.

I want armour more than more lift, sliders, under body protection of critical areas etc, that’s top of my list at the moment pretty much. Being scared of damaging your vehicle or not having proper protection often limits your ability/capability off-road. I think almost stock with the right protection the patrol will go most places!

- more articulation would be nice but there are many other items on the priority list first!

- what you mention in your last comment hits home, these and most 4WD’s are so capable, basically stock, it often just boils down to driver skill at the end of the day! I just want to spend as much time out with the patrol as possible and become better at driving it. Also, it’s way cooler to tackle a crazy obstacle on 33’s with a 2” lift, where guys on 37’s and all the mods struggle

Always appreciate your posts, thanks!

[symmetry4wd]

Some of you may already know the answer as to what I replaced the Pajero with....

[symmetry4wd]

New video up on YouTube of our adventure and first shakedown of the GQ:

[Alex Roux]

I have driven that hill before.
It very much depends on the conditions of the day how hard it is. It seems like it was dry and dusty for you, which made it slippery.

[SJC]

New video up on YouTube of our adventure and first shakedown of the GQ:

Nice video, would have like to see the gq going up that hill

[symmetry4wd]

New video up on YouTube of our adventure and first shakedown of the GQ:

Nice video, would have like to see the gq going up that hill

My daughter was having a nap in the car with my wife at the bottom and the day was getting late, I know...excuses, excuses....
The GQ definitely would have made it up, but diff clearance would of needed a lot of packing/maxtrax to make it easier

I am definitely going back to do it once I've fitted 33's or 35's for some more diff clearance, that's all it needs.

Hope you enjoyed the video!

[symmetry4wd]

I wanted to work out the lift height my GQ is at, as I bought it with a suspension lift kit already installed:

So, as Tinus and Peter mentioned,
I measured the bump stop lengths front and rear (not the stops themselves, but where they contact).
So my car has a 2"/50mm EFS lift kit in, or an extremely droopy and sagged 3" (which I doubt).

The OEM front bump stop distance is 65mm, mine is in-between 110-115mm (just a lightish Front Bar)
The OEM rear bump stop distance is 100mm, mine is in-between 150-155mm

Just fyi