What are some of the things that plague xterra owners? Any major service issues or things that annoy you?

Also what options are a waste and what are worth it. We are looking at purchasing a new xterra soon so any input would be appreciated.

In the new 05-06 either weak or defective front diff. I just had mine replaced at 19K. Now, I wheel so that probably has a lot to do with it.

The only other complaint I have is the interior scratches way too easy. I a little over 19K on it and it's more scratched up than in side than my Intrepid with 130K is.

What model and OEM options do you have on your Xterra?

What model and OEM options do you have on your Xterra?

What year (model) are you looking into getting?

I have an 05 Off-Road. No real options except the protection package (which the only thing I still have on it from that is the rubber floor mats and the road side emergency kit which I did not really want.

Since then, the mods have gone a little nuts.

Mods (http://pittsburgh-music.com/users/jbeam/05Xterra/05XterraOR.htm)

Year: 2005
Make: Nissan
Model: Xterra 4x4 “Off Road”
Color: Ganite

Mods:

Shrockworks Sliders
Shrockworks Front Bumper
Shrockworks Rear Bumper W/ Tire Carrier, Hi-Lift Mount and Antenna Mount (On Order)
Shrockworks Skid Plates [Full Set] (On Order)
Lower Body Protection (Herculined)
Automotive Customizers 2.5" Front Coil Lift
Automotice Customizers 1.5" Rear Shackle Lift
Calmini 1.5" Rear Add-A-Leaf Lift (On Order)
AC Extended Stainless Rear Break Lines
Bilstein Long Travel Rear Shocks (20% Stiffer)
BFG MT 285/75R16 Tires
Rear Tow Hitch w/ shackle (for rear recovery)
Warn XD9000i Winch (w/ Amsteel Blue Synthetic Rope, Hawse Fairlead and self closing hook)
ScanGauge
Alpine HU
Cobra 75 WX ST CB w/ 4' Firestik
Hella 500 Driving Lights (mounted to bumper)
X-Tower Hi-Lift Mount
In-channel Vent Shades
Bug-Flector
Locking Roof Bin
Removed Rear Swaybar
Nissan Seat Covers (On Order)


Recovery Gear:

Warn XD9000i Winch (w/ 125’ x 5/16” Amsteel Blue Synthetic Rope, Hawse Fairlead and self closing hook)
60” Hi-Lift
Hi-Lift Off Road Base
Hi-Lift Off Road Kit (Winch Kit)
25’ Chain w/ Grab Hooks
30’ x 3” Recovery Strap
8’ x 3” Tree Saver
Folding Shovel
(2) 3/4" Clevis Shackles
Snatch Block (On Order)

Hello there, I'm new to the Xterra myself, I purchased an 06 back in march. Having driven Fords all my life, the Xterra was a big change. I went with the 6-speed manual for additional reliability. I've got close to ten thousand miles on mine already, the only thing I don't like besides how pushed in the front end looks is, is the constant steering correction you have to do at speed on the Highway. Otherwise as a new Xterra owner, it's working real good. Read the vehicle report on the new Xterra at car and driver, they explain the steering drift as "going neutral" whatever that is, and complained about it a little. I'm kind of curious Muzikman, how do you know when the diff goes out on these, what are the symptoms?

Well, my symptom was clicking in 4wd and not going any where. Also since the front diff is always turing (Warn needs to come out with a locking hub conversion) when I was going around corners (even in 2wd) I would get a bang that felt like someone was hitting the front end with a sledge hammer.

One (or more) of the spider gears lost a tooth. Since there was a tooth jammed in the gears it was acting as a locked diff. As the outside wheel was trying to move faster than the inside (the reason for an open diff) it would break the next tooth, and then the next, etc. It would only happen when a tooth would get jammed in the gears and while going around a corner. If the tooth didn't break the car would not want to turn (just like if you have a locked front diff).

This is my theory becuase although I did not see the inside of the diff, I jacked up the front end before taking it in and as I would turn the drivers wheel it would take about 8 roatations before the gears caught. Then once they did the passanger side tire would turn the same direction (like a locked diff, not an open diff).

Thanks for the info, we bought our X last week!

Congrats!

:D

Are you planning to off road it?

I have to take it out every once and awhile to justify the offroad package. I am still working on my lift on my Titan still so any mods for the X will be later on.

The main thing to get for the OR is a set of sliders, and take off the rear sway bar....the OR's do an awsome job out of the box with merely those changes.

shrockworks.com

:D

The rear sway bar seems to make no significant difference in handling, whereas the front sway bar seems to be significant, and be worth keeping on.

One guy I wheel with has an '06 OR that he JUST (Last week) experimented with the bars for example, and concurred with that consensus from the '05's experiments....the rear made no difference, keeping the front was worth it (Made a difference).

:D

Loosing the rear sway gives several inches more rear wheel travel...and it well worth it. (Free)

Thanks for the tips, I will look into the rear sway bar removal.