TerryD's 2007 Xterra S "Pepper" *NOW WITH TITAN SWAP!*

meisanerd

Need Bigger Tires
I wish yards around here had Xterra's period. Anytime I look for parts, I pretty much have no choice but to go new, can't remember the last time the local one even had something.
 

Brunnie

Bumpers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Colorado Springs
I wish yards around here had Xterra's period. Anytime I look for parts, I pretty much have no choice but to go new, can't remember the last time the local one even had something.
Our local PnP has them.... 00-04 *ugh* They haven't had anything newer for a long time, and then 2 weeks ago an 11 shows up with the whole front end smashed. 4 days later it was picked clean.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Picked up a set of 3.69 geared P4X diffs yesterday! They're in pretty good shape but are going to need backing plated because the yard had the truck sitting out without wheels on it. I've been pricing out the stuff I'm going to replace this morning. Looks like my C200K plates won't work on the M226 but my calipers, rotors and all that will so I'll swap that stuff over from my current axle.

In the front I'm going to replace the CV shaft seals but otherwise it's in good shape. No signs of leaks.

Axles only have 102k on them.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Gonna order a switch for the locker and looking at diff covers. I like the PRG cover but I'm leery of ordering from them. Yukon lists a cover for the M226 and all the pictures show a cast cover with fins but I've seen some reviews that it's just a smooth stamped steel cover. Anyone have any suggestions on that?
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
ARB all the way. All the bolts are recessed so they don't get scraped, even has a dipstick to check fluid level. Read the instructions on marking the measure point on the dipstick.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
For the folks that have swapped in a OE locked M226, where do you have your engaged indicator wired in?

I got the Contura switch with the upper in amber and independant to wire to the dash lights and the lower in red to light up when I activate the switch but I'm not sure how to wire in the position feedback from the diff.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Axle parts arrived the other day but I haven't had a chance to get them swapped on yet. Switches should be here soon as well. Hopefully I can get the axle ready to swap in next weekend and get on it soon!

Still need to decide on a cover. I'm going back and forth between an ARB cover or the Shrock skid for the OE cover. I considered the 4x4parts full diff skid but I'm concerned about the effect it'll have on diff cooling since it'll effectively block the air flow under the diff and I plan on doing some towing.

Maybe the full skid with a Titan finned cover?
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Actually, looking at the 4x4parts pictures again I won't be getting that skid. I thought it protected the CV as well but it only goes as far forward as the pinion seal so it doesn't really offer any additional protection.

It's looking like it's going to be either the ORG cover or the ARB in black.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
MatWP02.jpg
If you are playing in the rocks, like those nasty ass rock gardens some people consider "fun" then the ARB obviously is not the BEST option for that and you should get a skid plate for the diff and leave it stock. If you don't beat up your X like that the ARB is more than adequate. Here is a pic of me with all 4 wheels off the ground beached on a large boulder. The diff was fine. Ya my diff was leaking when I got to Colorado, but I also just had the fluid changed and it is more likely the seal was just bad (they didn't let the RTV dry enough before re-filling or it was too thin or something). I can't remember the gasket company (you'll have to google on thenewx) , but there is one for the M226 which is re-usable and apparently never leaks. You can also fill the diff right away when using it.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
MatWP02.jpg
If you are playing in the rocks, like those nasty ass rock gardens some people consider "fun" then the ARB obviously is not the BEST option for that and you should get a skid plate for the diff and leave it stock. If you don't beat up your X like that the ARB is more than adequate. Here is a pic of me with all 4 wheels off the ground beached on a large boulder. The diff was fine. Ya my diff was leaking when I got to Colorado, but I also just had the fluid changed and it is more likely the seal was just bad (they didn't let the RTV dry enough before re-filling or it was too thin or something). I can't remember the gasket company (you'll have to google on thenewx) , but there is one for the M226 which is re-usable and apparently never leaks. You can also fill the diff right away when using it.
I do enjoy a rock garden but that full skid doesn't really protect anything that isn't already cast iron. The ARB cover is supposedly iron as well so it would be a good cover for the rocks. If that skid protected the CV it would be a different story but the CV and pinion flange are just as vulnerable with it as without.

Its looking like the ARB cover is going to be the trick...
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
The only thing I have ever seen with the ARB is @jsexton 's, and that was dragged over countless boulder fields to the point where the lower bolts had worn down and he had issues removing them.

Maybe I'd do both (but not really), but the first thing I'd do is the ARB. Hell I just smacked a rock with the diff that was in the middle of a dirt road when I was going 40 mph. I had a tough time even finding where it hit. It was the front not the cover.

An armored diff cover need to do two things. Keep the bottom from peeling back when dragged over a rock, and protect the insides if you back into a rock. the ARB does both really really well.

Point being, the ARB is just as robust as the diff housing, and the drain / fill with the magnets on them is worth the price all by itself.
 

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
Axle parts arrived the other day but I haven't had a chance to get them swapped on yet. Switches should be here soon as well. Hopefully I can get the axle ready to swap in next weekend and get on it soon!

Still need to decide on a cover. I'm going back and forth between an ARB cover or the Shrock skid for the OE cover. I considered the 4x4parts full diff skid but I'm concerned about the effect it'll have on diff cooling since it'll effectively block the air flow under the diff and I plan on doing some towing.

Maybe the full skid with a Titan finned cover?


If you have an m226, I would get the diff skid made by rocky road hands down. It would have saved me a lot of money if I had started with that.

https://www.rocky-road.com/titandiffguard.html

I've had the PRG and ARB covers and both have the lower two bolts grind off. I made my own diff skid to go under the ARB.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
If you have an m226, I would get the diff skid made by rocky road hands down. It would have saved me a lot of money if I had started with that.

https://www.rocky-road.com/titandiffguard.html

I've had the PRG and ARB covers and both have the lower two bolts grind off. I made my own diff skid to go under the ARB.
Ha! Was just going to post that. I've seen this thing in person and it's a beast. Run that and the OE aluminum Titan cover
 

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
Ha! Was just going to post that. I've seen this thing in person and it's a beast. Run that and the OE aluminum Titan cover

It's not as beast as the one I made for myself though lol. I have 3/8" of steel plate to grid through before it becomes a problem. Should last me a few years.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
It's not as beast as the one I made for myself though lol. I have 3/8" of steel plate to grid through before it becomes a problem. Should last me a few years.

And there you have it, from the man who has ground his diff. To be fair though @jsexton, you actually need 3/8" plate covering everything from front to rear. I've seen your skids. :eek::confused:o_O;)
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Sweet! I think that would be totally doable. I like your design as well. I'm gonna have to get some cardboard and do some playing while the diff is on stands in the shop.

It's a good mod, but unless you are dragging your diff a lot probably overkill for most people, @jsexton isn't shy about putting his X to the test lol!
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
It's a good mod, but unless you are dragging your diff a lot probably overkill for most people, @jsexton isn't shy about putting his X to the test lol!
I think I'm going to start with the ARB cover and go from there. If I start doing some serious damage, I'll look into building a skid similar to this but I think I want to have it extend up under the CV to protect the pinion.

Gotta get that cover ordered today I guess so I can get the M226 ready to swap. Might try to change out one of the backing plates this evening if it's not too cold.
 

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
I think I'm going to start with the ARB cover and go from there. If I start doing some serious damage, I'll look into building a skid similar to this but I think I want to have it extend up under the CV to protect the pinion.

Gotta get that cover ordered today I guess so I can get the M226 ready to swap. Might try to change out one of the backing plates this evening if it's not too cold.

The only thing with extending that diff armor to cover that pinion is if it does get hit, how do you keep it from bending inwards and contacting the pinion? It might also be a biatch to bend back. If it were me doing it I'd try to engineer another attachment to bolt into or something on that end. I've only see one person post about damaging the pinion there from a hit and it was one of those "I probably shouldn't have done it" type obstacles. I believe it was Unseen crossing some dried lake bed or something but can't quite remember the details.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Just ordered my ARB cover.

I've got to get a slide hammer to pull the shafts this weekend so I can get the new backing plates installed. I think I'm going to fill the diffs with inexpensive fluid for a few weeks to flush them then swap on the ARB cover and Amsoil at my next oil change.

I need to get some 2or 3* shims as well. I'm right at the limit of pinion angle for vibrations. If I take out my tools and gear it just begins to vibrate noticeably.
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
I may have missed it in the discussion, but are you going with RTV or a gasket like this?

https://mag-hytec.com/product/2004-present-nissan-titan-gasket/

I haven't had to pull the cover on my '09, but the previous owner installed a Mag Hytec gasket (and ARB cover) and I like the idea of that. I installed a Shrockworks diff skid on my '06 and found the RTV process to be a bit tedious, then again it was the first time I had done it.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I may have missed it in the discussion, but are you going with RTV or a gasket like this?

https://mag-hytec.com/product/2004-present-nissan-titan-gasket/

I haven't had to pull the cover on my '09, but the previous owner installed a Mag Hytec gasket (and ARB cover) and I like the idea of that. I installed a Shrockworks diff skid on my '06 and found the RTV process to be a bit tedious, then again it was the first time I had done it.
I'm planning on getting that gasket. I've never been a RTV fan so that had been the plan. Thanks for the link!

**edit**

Ordered. There's another $40 to the tally.....
 
Last edited:

PhullD

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
I may have missed it in the discussion, but are you going with RTV or a gasket like this?

https://mag-hytec.com/product/2004-present-nissan-titan-gasket/

I haven't had to pull the cover on my '09, but the previous owner installed a Mag Hytec gasket (and ARB cover) and I like the idea of that. I installed a Shrockworks diff skid on my '06 and found the RTV process to be a bit tedious, then again it was the first time I had done it.

I'm pretty sure this is the gasket I was referring to previously, this is the route I'm going next.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
I had great luck with that gasket on the first use... but in all honesty I wouldn't reuse it. I've gone back to RTV.
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
I had great luck with that gasket on the first use... but in all honesty I wouldn't reuse it. I've gone back to RTV.

So it leaked after the second install? How badly? I’m not looking for reasons to pull the diff cover but I’ll have to keep that in mind. I haven’t heard any other negative feedback but I haven’t really sought it out either.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
So it leaked after the second install? How badly? I’m not looking for reasons to pull the diff cover but I’ll have to keep that in mind. I haven’t heard any other negative feedback but I haven’t really sought it out either.

Didn't leak, because I never re installed. I just didn't trust it, after looking at it.
 
Top