Axle swapping

[MufflerBearings69]

So I am contemplating some changes to both of my trucks, the first being an '04 frontier desert runner, and the other a 4 cyl '94 hardbody

I picked up an Xterra axle for the Frontier to get a LSD rearend. Should be a straightforward swap as best I can tell. If anyone has any insight into that (anything I may have overlooked) a heads-up would be awesome.

So then I think about putting the old H233B out of my Frontier under the hardbody to get some gear to work with. Right now, it has a 3" body lift and sits on the stock wheels and tires off the Frontier (265/70/15) which bog it down considerably. I was thinking it may be a nice upgrade both in terms of gearing and having much less mileage on it too.

I am pretty sure the brakes are different sizes on Frontier vs. 2wd hardbody but thats the least of my concerns- I will put an aftermarket brake proportioning valve if I need to, as I have done on many a street rod.

I also am wondering if there's some info on what gear ratio should be in the hardbody- 2wd 5 speed 4 banger. I am sure its in the 3s somewhere...

Anyways, I will leave it at that. Amazing forum you guys have here! Someone cross-linked me off an Orlando FL forum and I think I finally found a good place for truck talk!

[Desert Rat]

The Xterra axle will be a direct bolt in for your DR truck.

I've done the DR axle swap into a small 2wd Frontier before - very similar to your HB. The issue with using the DR axle in your hardbody is width...it's about 4" wider and the wheels will stick out considerably further than the fronts. The spring perches are also set a bit wider as well.

The Ebrake cable will need a little customization to work with the DR axle. Lastly, you'll need the flange end from the driveshaft off an H233B equipped truck to bolt up to the pinion flange, as it has a wider bolt pattern than the H190 rear you have now. The same Ujoint can be used.

The brakes will be fine. You'll need to keep the hard lines with the axle and just tie the HB soft line into the T on the back of the axle, bleed the system, and you should be set.

[MufflerBearings69]

Spring perches are no issue to me, I can move those.

That 4" in width sure sucks. That's going to be hard to overcome. I dont think there is any way to stance the front end out 2" per side easily... I guess I could do it with wheel offset but its going to likely look like hell?

even shifting from the usual 4" in the back to a 5" and a 3" up front? I doubt 6" backspace wheels are even redily available...

Mind me asking what ya did on the other truck to remedy the wheel fitment?

[Desert Rat]

You could run a 1.5" wheel spacer in front and get it close, but you'll likely have some tire to rear of fender contact at full stuff when turning, depending on what tires you run. Plus you have the issues of the tires sticking past the fenders. Not sure if you could adapt any aftermarket flares to work there. Some of the fiberglass prerunner fenders would also work for that in front.

[MufflerBearings69]

Well, around here the tire being beyond the fender isnt a big deal... i mean, unless it looks bad. We have very lenient laws here on that stuff and NO inspection...

I will have to kick around whether or not I trust wheel spacers that much...

I still wonder what ratio the current 4cyl rear is to see how much it would change with the desert runner axle... see if it would be in the ballpark enough to be worth it...

[Desert Rat]

It'll change a lot. Find your build sticker - it'll have an axle code, something like HF35. The last two characters are the gear ratio. The DR axle probably has 4.625:1 gearing - a LOT lower than what that HB axle has.

Got a 4x4 buddy in Deltona with a 99 Frontier, Solid axle swap, and recently converted to a truggy bed. He hangs out on my website, http://www.nissan4wheelers.com a lot. He was just out here in AZ a couple weeks back for some wheeling.

[MufflerBearings69]

That's what I suspected the numbers meant!

I am going to throw together a calculator and see how much tire I have to run to bring it back to "stock" gearing- basically so speedometer is correct and therefore it isnt bogged way down anymore...

99 with a solid axle hmmm- black one? Sits up pretty high?

I was trying to find a pic of it, I am 99% sure I know the truck you mean... Not many straight-axled frontiers around here!

[Desert Rat]

Yep, it's black. That's him.

The DR axle is 25% deeper geared than your current axle. You'd be turning a few more rpms on the highway, but a 31-32" tire works well with that ratio and the 4banger, as you do get some parasitic power loss due to the increased rotating mass of larger tires. Likely, that's the largest tire you'll get to fit anyways.

[MufflerBearings69]

31x10.50 are what I had on my old hardbody and what I was hoping to go with on this one with the axle swap....

Your buddy with the straightaxle lives about 5 minutes away from me- small world huh? haha

[Desert Rat]

Well, his name is Mike. If you ever bump into him, tell him Desert Rat from Arizona said hi. He'll probably tell you all sorts of stories from there.