I'm not convinced the Dana 44 is the way to go. For the gear ratio we need the pinion gear is pretty small. It's also kind of narrow if you are going to much larger tires. I'd want to fit at least 35" tires if I did this my truck.

Don't count on it from Calmini then. From the times that I've talked to Steve about it he insists that all we need is a spring under setup with enough room for 33's.

Axle

Originally posted by Axle:
Don't count on it from Calmini then. From the times that I've talked to Steve about it he insists that all we need is a spring under setup with enough room for 33's.

Axle

This is the set up that I want. For at least the next 4 years my Xterra is going to be my primary vehicle (after that I may get a car for every day driving). I want a solid axle for strength and decent articulation, but I still need it to be very street friendly. Who knows maybe down the road I would go with 35s, but based on our wheel well size unless you want to get out the saw (and/or start playing with fiberglass) 33s are about it.

Doug

I never said I was waiting on Calmini for a SAS kit. I figure I'd need a body lift and liberal use of a sawzall at that point with Dana 60/70's to move the tires further out. Also with the Dana series you can gear them lower than 5.13:1 for larger tires.

A dana 60/70 would be serious overkill for the X. Thats a lot of unsprung weight.

Overkill for your application maybe

As long as you are using a Low Pinion 60 you can go all the way to 7.17's. The HP Ford 60's cut off at 5.13 like our H233B does.

I've already cut the fenders to fit the 33's I have on there now. If I'm going to do a SAS then I want to run at least 35's and preferably 37's.

Axle

I've already got tires that measure out to 33.1" on stock rims. I'd like to get the ground clearance up with a spring over in the rear to go with whatever's up front. I'd move the tires out to compensate for the higher CG. Dana 60/70 get wider than Dana 44's I've found. I'm tempted to weld the rear doors and open up the rear wheelwells.

Steve,

I’ll bring my Ready Welder and sawzall to Moab. We can do the work at the condo. I’m sure it will end up real nice especially after a few pints.

See you in Moab.

Doug

I already have a D44 out of an 81 Waggy. Louisville offroad outfitters had a kit for the Xterra.It was hangers and shackles and a list of parts that you needed to add.But for some reason they don't list the kit anymore.

That was Plush Fabs pile of shit "kit", lucky for you (and everyone) it's not available.

To go through all of the effort to go solid axle and then to swap in a D44 sounds kinda like a waste to me. A D44 and a D30 use the same diameter axles, the 44 just gets bigger tubes and the bigger R&P (and here's a hint, the R&P on the D30 isn't the weak point).

I can destroy a D44 axle shaft on command. 4lo reverse and back up against something that won't move and ::POP:: there it goes.

If you seriously wheel your X and you go D44 you'll be kicing yourself within a year for not going D60.

I know alot of D44 axles can be bought for the price of a 60, but it saves in headaches and downtime.

As for a D70 front, that's just plain old overkill, not so much for the strength but just for the weight factor. A D70 rear weighs about 475 lbs and a front weighs in at about 550. If you're going that far might as well just do rockwells.

Justin

Maybe you shouldn't try that ?

Putting enough force against any axle shaft will eventually break it. Strength is great but sometimes you just have to know how to drive.

You are right it isn't the R/P, it is the U-joints on the axle shafts.

The Dana 30 uses 5-260X U-joints
The Dana 44 uses 5-297X U-joints (the 297's are stronger)

The Early Bronco 44's used the 5-260X shaft/joint combo, and can be upgraded to the 5-297X shaft/joint combo (If you were going to use that axle).

FWIW, in a Dana 44 with Warn shafts, and CTM 5-297X U-Joints would be near impossible to break in an Xterra.

If you want to save yourself about a grand at first just to get it done then putting a 44 up front wouldn't be a bad idea. Unless you're doing something really hardcore i.e. Rubicon or the like, then the 44 will more than likely take it. Or like Ian said, unless you just don't know how to drive.

Axle

Well, that's the crucial part arright! Can you rotate the knuckles on that Axle? Does the drive shaft have CV or regular U joints on the other end. 100% Nissan sounds cool to me. Whes are you starting, 2 years from now?

Riad

I'm not talking about long term power output, i'm talking about just getting off the clutch in 4lo if the truck is against something that won't move like a low stump or the like.

I also don't do it seeing as how axles cost more than i want to spend, it was just a bad day.

As for the different u-joints in a D30 and a D44, i know newer D30's can accept the D44 size just like a D44 can accept a spicer 760.

Justin

Just noticed this:

Lets do some math:
D44-$200
CTM U-joints-$185 (x2)
warn axles:
R inner-$205
L inner-$165
Stubs -$115 (x2)
---------------------
$1070

If you're willing to spend that much then $1K for a Ford D60 (about $300 for a chevy D60) should be pretty easy to swallow.

Justin

The Nissan H233B front has Birfield-style (same as Toyota) joints at the ends. The knuckles can't be rotated without cutting the ends of the tubes, but since my idea involves swapping the ends of the axle tubes from one side to the other, the caster can be set at that time.

Brent

Where do you get that price? I've got a '83 Chevy D60 in the driveway that cost $900 and that was the lowest I've seen around here. With gas to go get it I was getting close to $1K

I can get a chevy D60 around St. Louis for around $300, just have to shop. Look for a junkyard that charges flat for a part. Where i go a rear axle runs just over $100 and a front runs about $250. They might not have the axle you want the day you need it, but if it's a long term project you can get some real steals.

Justin

Our local Pull-N-Save has $10 for 10 Feet events every month or so. If you can carry it 10 feet, it's $10.
Big burly guys have left there with axles and engines for $10.

That's sweet! I need to find a local place that does stuff like that!

If anyone is looking for a Dana 44/9" combo out of a 69 Ford pickup let me know, I bought the NP435 trans for my 69 Bronco from him and he is about to junk the truck.

Personally a Dana 44 is PLENTY strong for a Xterra, there are plenty of Early Broncos that run 35" tires and up without problems. These trucks also have MUCH more power than an X does, extremely low gearing is common(I have a 6:69 first gear) so IMO a Dana 60 is overkill for the X.