Nissan Patrol: Front prop shaft and Birfield CV boot failure

The GU Patrol front propeller shaft and front axle Birfield joints share the same vulnerability as the Y60 — CV boots split and allow grease to escape and grit to enter. The GU is a heavier vehicle and off-road use accelerates wear. Failed boots lead to rapid joint wear and eventual failure. The front prop shaft slip joint also develops play with age if not regularly greased. Both are common maintenance failures on used GU Patrols in NZ and AU.

• Clicking on full steering lock at low speed
• Vibration through the steering wheel or floor when engaging 4WD
• Grease flung inside front wheel arch
• Torn or missing CV boots visible at front hubs

1. 1

   Turn on full lock both ways and drive slowly, listening for clicking.

2. 2

   Inspect all four front CV boots for splits or missing clamps.

3. 3

   Check the front prop shaft for grease nipple condition and any play in the slip joint or universal joints.

4. 4

   With wheels off the ground, check for any clunking at the Birfield joints.

Parts involved: CV joint and boot.

$700 to $2,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “Has the vehicle been used off-road?”
• “When were the front CV boots and Birfield joints last inspected or serviced?”
• “Has the front prop shaft been regreased recently?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.