Baleno 4wd Terrible noise while turning

[Andreas083]

When I’m driving my Baleno in slow speeds and doing a sharp turn a load noise occur, (wuuuuuUUUUU). It only happens while driving forward. The Suzuki dealer in town said it was probably the center diff, but had no ideas about why and how to fix it.

I’ve found the factory service manual, but it didn’t help me much.

While reading the manual I found a 2wd/4wd selector lever for use when servicing brakes with car jacked up etc. When the lever is in 2wd mode the noise disappears. Can I drive the car without damaging it in 2wd mode?

Before I was told it was the center diff I changed oil in the rear diff, though this had no effect.

In the service manual it seems like the center diff is a part of the gearbox, sharing its oil. The gaerbox oil was changed about 1000km ago.

The center diff is a rotary blade coupling of what I know is some sort of mix by viscous and lamella(?)

What can cause this symptom? How do I fix it?

Baleno service manual can be found at:
Suzuki engine manual for sy413, sy416, sy418

[Antti1baleno]

Hello!

...and sorry, I'm a little bit late with my answer.
You seems to have a problem with the automatic 4WD-clutch in the middle of the cardanshaft, the "center diff", as You say. It is not in the gearbox.
That 4WD-clutch becomes in its old ages (after about 120000km) a little bit too sensitive and tries to connect the 4WD too easy in sharp turns. When the wheels in front and back don't give up, so the 4WD-clutch is sliding and that gives the noise.
I'm driving my second 4WD-Baleno and both of them have the same problem after 120000km. It's easy to change the 4WD-clutch, but it's a little bit expensive. I don't know, if it's possibly to fix it. Maybe.
I've used the solution, that I've turned the car into the 2WD-mode in summertime and turned back the 4WD in the wintertime. Its fully "legal" to do so. It gives no harm at all.

[Alfer]

Hello, I am a member of russian forum at SUZUKI-CLUB.RU [ÑÓÇÓÊÈ-ÊËÓÁ ÐÎÑÑÈß]. I drive a suzuki cultus crescent wagon (the same as Esteem but right-handed version). Some users of 4wd models have made succesful repairs with of this clutch. Surely, it is better to replace it but it is pretty expensive. If you like I can send you a report how to fix the problem, though I need a little time to translate it. Repairment of this clutch is not really difficult, you only need some mechanics skill and not sophisticated tools.

[sreekanth_vu]

Dear Friends,

First of all I am new to this forum. I am from India. I own a Baleno 2000 Model. I lost the Owner's Manual and I am unable to get one since the model has been discontinued. Can anyone send me a soft copy of the same.

Thanks and regards,
Sreekanth

[Antti1baleno]

...and thanks for the response!
You tell, that some users have repaired the 4WD clutch.
Is it possible that You describe the repair instructions in this forum in english.