I needed to replace my rear wheel bearing in my X this week and I was having trouble finding one that fit. I had several places order them in for my exact vehicle, yet all of them were too small. After measuring the bearing I removed from my Xterra, I searched NAPA's website and found my bearing to be the same size as an '02 Pathfinder wheel bearing. I thought this was strange. Anyone want to chime in on this?

Anyway I can tell if I have a different rear end thean most X's or anything else?

Mike

Nissan is infamous for reusing things that work. It also seems some of the 00 Xterras came with some older Pathfinder axles.

I thought the entire chassis, steering, etc... from the Gen 1 Xterras is originally from the previous generation Pathy...

So why are the computers at all the auto parts stores calling for a part that's not the correct one? Did some X's get pathfinder rear axles and some not?

Are you referring to the H233B rear axle?
It came in certain older Frontiers like 1997 or so with 31 spline axles, and ALL Xterras (from what I've read) came with 33 spline axles.

You can swap the parts from a 31 spline axle into the housing of a 33 spline axle in order to use the lock-rite locker instead of the ARB.
But you need the axles,bearings and other items to make it work.

Will this info be stamped on the axle anywhere? How can I identify it? I will count the splines on my axle shaft later since its still out.

I just counted and they are the 33 spline axles .

Still trying to find out why my X uses '02 Pathfinder wheel bearings.

a lot of companies will install parts on to one vehicle from another if they have a huge surplus. I once had a Toyota 4 runner 2WD with 4WD front end components.

I had a tough time finding bearings in December. After a few sets of Xterra bearings, discovered that the Pathy bearings were what I wanted.

Makes getting replacement parts interesting. What version of parts should I order?

Tell me about it.