So as some of you know, my front diff bid adieu tonight in a loud manner on a "hill" commonly known as dirt patch. The front driver's side shaft is limp and leaking

Any ideas/suggestions how long can I drive with it wounded like that? I will be leaving for a two week business trip in 8 days, and was hoping to just drop the truck off right before. But while driving, I hear faint knocking coming from the front while driving... so may be waiting is not such a good idea? Any suggestions are welcome!

I wouldn't drive it. call Pinnacle, Jon said he'll give u a loaner for the duration fix.

That sucks Mikhail, I hope you get 'er fixed up quick! Nissan's going to be running short on parts, at this rate. :rolleyes:

Don't wait, get it in ASAP. Sounds like you snapped a CV shaft (prolly at the splines).. As it rotates around in side, it will create more damage/scarring. Do you have the MPP (max protection plan)?

Wow - that's like 3 blown 2nd Gen diffs just in the local club. That's a pretty bad failure rate.

well we hope this wont happen to anyone .but that would be wishfull thinking

Actually, I think it is more:

Front Diff: Dfibvt, DBAX x 2, Mikhail
Rear Diff: Dfibvt, Conundrum, AZ-Ted

Are there any more that I am forgetting?

Alright, I'll take care of it right away. No MPP plan here.

sry to hear it man.. i smell a class action lawsuit in the air..

There's is a class action suit already happening, not sure if it's a guy on this site, or on another. probably both. I am just happy mine ain't busted.

But do you trust it not to bust and leave you up shit creek without a paddle as it were? Would certainly always be in the back of my mind if I wheeled the X.

of course, that is why I try not to do anything stupid, until I purchase another wheeling vehicle,

I am sure this is not intentional, but considering the theme here, I recommend you put this in a less offensive manner

Harumph!

let me rephrase, I try not to put myself in a position where I think I'll do harm to my truck.

Peoples diffs have blown that haven't even wheeled them, so I would be careful with the phrasing. Yours could blow on the way to work...

Yea, after all the front and rear diff failures of the next gens, I'm gunna stop driving mine all together. And even at that, I wouldn't rule out a failure...LOL....

Hey Mikhail... You know I'll give ya a ride to and from work for the week. You're barely even out of my way

Brad with Peoria should treat you right too. Just be sure to only go to him. He used to wheel his X a few years back and takes pretty good care of us. I'll even make the trip with ya to get you back.

I wonder if there is anyway to talk a dealer into installing the V8 Pathy parts instead. Or maybe paying the difference in parts pricing for them to use those.

Anyways... You got my number, just let me know where I can help ya out.

-MadManX

You forgot my T-case also grenaded.

Holy cow. The parts for the diff are back ordered nationally (whatever that means) and they are ordering one off of the assembly line and they *might* have them next Tuesday/Wednesday. Bleh.

Are you surprised? Probably can't keep up with the failures. You know how many people own Xterras vs those that actual post to a board like this?

I took my X in for a clunk that has been occurring in OD. They noted the clunk but printed on the service sheet that the rear diff "appeared" to be functioning properly "at this time". I never said a word about the rear diff. They were already prepared for that evidently!

so what they do to fix the clunk?

I have to take it back and leave it. I just went in for a road test with them so they could hear it. They put it up on the hoist for a quick look see but found nothing. (As I expected)

The service guy I was talking to kept on referring to the rear diff instead of the front diff, I guess because he got a few of those in line as well. But also mentioned that they are getting a lot of front diff failures and was not at all surprised with my experience.

To be honest, I am a bit surprised that they are back ordered THAT badly. More than 2 years into production, you would think they have a better supply of parts for something that so obviously has a tendency to fail.

Looking at the types of failures, I am starting to believe that the problem is not directly with the diff design itself, but actual quality systems implemented in the production. That's the most reasonable explanation for why the diffs fail in such vastly different conditions as well as survive some ridiculous usage.

I think you right on there Mikhail. If you look at the pieces of spider gear I put pictures up on, you can clearly see the hardening process only penetrated about 32nd of an inch into the gear tooth. Once it cracked it sheared. This was the Rear Diff.

Mikhail, you didn't mention where you ended up taking it. Do you want to divulge? If not I understand, but let us know where AZXC'rs are going to get the fair shake.

Thanks!