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Titan Diff Swap - 9" of Travel

21K views 35 replies 10 participants last post by  AZ-Ted  
#1 ·
Front diff is blown, so I will be replacing with a Titan front diff, Titan Axles, and Titan LCAs. I've got the PRG UCAs (for the Titan swap), the 2.5" Radflo coilovers, the extended tie rod ends, and the extended brake lines on order. Now I just need to source my diff, axles, and LCAs.

Greg at PRG tells me this setup should give me 9" of travel. I can hardly wait!!!
 
#4 ·
I didn't know you could use the titan axles. I heard the pathy V8 axles worked for sure but you know your stuff. Sounds awesome all the same. Keep us posted.
 
#5 ·
La Rana has pathfinder axles, not sure on the LCA's though... but I do know that pathfinder axles keep the stock width where as the titan's extend actually! But that sounds awesome dude, document the whole thing I wanna see lots of pics!!!
 
#6 ·
Yeah, I've been in contact with La Rana on another board. He's got the Pathy Axles - which does retain the stock width. That is a great setup, and I was totally going to go with the Titan Diff and Pathy Axles until I talked to Greg at PRG (and Penski from CF, NOR, etc.). Using the Pathy axles gives approx 6" of Travel, and the Titan Axles / UCA / LCA will give approx 9" of Travel. Of course, going with Titan Axles, etc. extends the width of the front by about 3". Which means I'll probably run a 1.5" spacer on each back wheel to keep the same width as the front.

This weekend, I'll be temporarily converting to 2WD, so I can get the truck back on the road. I should have all of the parts I'll need by mid-February. The good thing is that everything should bolt right up with no fabrication.
 
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#7 ·
I think Ted is correct on the additional travel yield from the Titan Axles / UCA / LCA, although I make that up somewhat by running extended Radflo coilovers with PRG UCAs. I also think that where you wheel has much to do with the stance width you choose. Ted lives in AZ where he can run in larger more open non-wooded areas. Whare as I wheel in the East and have to run almost exclusively in very heavily wooded areas with some very tightly cut trails rutted by narrow Jeeps. It was important for me to keep my stock width to retain that clearance. However if I was wheeling in AZ (or CA) predominatly like Ted is I also would have selected the 5" wider stance that the Titan suspension allows. Can't wait to see your mod pics Ted, keep us posted, and if possible do a write up!!!
 
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#9 ·
question...how much does this all cost when you guys replace the front diff on your 2nd gen X w/ titan diff, etc, etc

is it cheaper to do this titan swap then doing an SAS?
 
#10 ·
I'm guessing $4K-$5K for my setup - assuming I buy everything new. It can be done cheaper if I source the diffs, axles, UCAs, and LCAs from a junkyard.

Some of the 2nd Gen SAS buildups that I have read about have ran from $10K-$15K.
 
#11 ·
My Titan dif was $400 from a local junk yard, and only had 26k miles. Pathy V8 axles can only be purchased new, they were $814 for both, and the 12 bolts to anchor them were $18 I think, other than that all I needed was gear oil. Total costs for parts was about $1,250 and labor was 4 hours at $60 per hour. The entire swap was $1500 +/-
 
#13 ·
The $4K-5K figure I put down was if I bought EVERYTHING brand new.

Everything is:

Titan M205 Front Diff
Titan LCAs
Titan Axles
PRG UCAs (for Titan)
2.5" Radflos
600# Eibach Coils
Extended Tie Rod Ends
Extended Brake Lines
Misc Hardware

La Rana is correct, you can do it cheaper by sourcing some of the parts from a junkyard, but his figure does not include the stuff from PRG.
 
#14 · (Edited)
The $4K-5K figure I put down was if I bought EVERYTHING brand new.

Everything is:

Titan M205 Front Diff
Titan LCAs
Titan Axles
PRG UCAs (for Titan)
2.5" Radflos
600# Eibach Coils
Extended Tie Rod Ends
Extended Brake Lines
Misc Hardware

La Rana is correct, you can do it cheaper by sourcing some of the parts from a junkyard, but his figure does not include the stuff from PRG.
Thanks for the clarification Ted. My $1,500 figure was only referring to my used front dif and new axles, and did not take into account any suspension components. To compare apples to apples, if I added in my 5" Calmimi suspension lift ($1,250), extended 2.5" Radflos w/ external reservoirs and 500# Eibach coils ($1,100), PRG UCAs ($600), PRG shackles ($120), Trail Master u-bolts ($40), plus labor, it would be slightly over $5,000.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the clarification Ted. My $1,500 figure was only referring to my used front dif and new axles, and did not take into account any suspension components. To compare apples to apples, if I added in my 5" Calmimi suspension lift ($1,250), extended 2.5" Radflos w/ external reservoirs and 500# Eibach coils ($1,100), PRG UCAs ($600), PRG shackles ($120), Trail Master u-bolts ($40), plus labor, it would be slightly over $5,000.
I was not counting all those suspension parts. I fyou were already lifted and you broke your stock front diff...how much would it cost to just do the titan front diff swap?
 
#16 ·
I was not counting all those suspension parts. If you were already lifted and you broke your stock front diff...how much would it cost to just do the titan front diff swap?
Gotcha...see post #11 for my answer, I was lucky in that I found my M205 dif locally and with low miles.
 
#17 ·
Well, what I see is a front Titan diff due to another broken front Xterra diff. All I can say is way to go Nissan!!!
 
#18 · (Edited)
Daaaayum!!

Well, what I see is a front Titan diff due to another broken front Xterra diff. All I can say is way to go Nissan!!!
Dude, you mean to say that you blew your friggin dif today?!?!? I looked at it as a blessing in disguise, suggest you keep positive...it wasn't your fault, the R180 is a time bomb for those of us that wheel hard.

You do have an OR with an automatic transmission, correct; if not there are other expensive hurdles to overcome?

I found my M205 through http://car-part.com/

1. click search by images
2. click front view
3. click underneath
4. click front 4x4
5. click front carrier
6. select 2008 (it will show 2004 though 2008), Nissan Truck - Titan, USA, click search
7. select 3.36 gear ratio
8. they are many in there from $400 to $750, start making phone calls

Keep in mind you will need an M205 that comes with the 3.36 gears and these are the Titans with either the Off Road or Big Tow packages, lowest milage, from a reputable yard that gives you a warm fuzzy on the condition and shipping etc...

If you want to retain stock stance that will require the Pathy V8 half shafts that I run; just call your Nissan part buddy and ask how much (should be like $850 with discount) and ask when they would be delivered. Only other thing you'll need is the 12 bolts to install the axles and the diff gear oil; everything bolts right up.

PM me if you need help, keep us posted and good luck man.

Titan with the Off Road package or the Big Tow package (3.36 gears): Nissan part number 385008S102 for 04-05, and 385008S11B for 07-08.
Pathfinder V8 axle shafts (need 2) :39100-ZS00A $542.97; I paid each $407.09 each
bolts needed to anchor axles (need 12):39606-17V00 $ 2.05 each; I paid $ 1.64 each
seals between dif and axles (need 2) :38342-8S110 $ 36.53 each; I paid $29.22 each but returned them (may not need this, depends on condition of the seals)
 
#19 ·
No, sorry, I was just commenting on another feakin' front diff failure and the weak next gen front diffs. But the info is much appreciated as it may well be in my future one way or another!

You definitely post great info. Thank you!
 
#20 ·
No, sorry, I was just commenting on another feakin' front diff failure and the weak next gen front diffs. But the info is much appreciated as it may well be in my future one way or another!

You definitely post great info. Thank you!
Whew...well, thats a good thing! And thanks back at ya, I aim to please (unless the discussion is politics...) :)
 
#21 ·
Jason, Steve's SAS build on his 2nd Gen cost well north of 15k out at All Phase....and his build was a direct result of his breakage on the front diff out at Crozet in Dec. '06.

This is far cheaper for sure, even when going with new parts.

Good luck on the project Ted...can't wait to see the results.
 
#22 ·
Thanks Dave. With the help of Penski and Sexy6chick (Penski's GF), I removed the front diff today. It appears that the spider gears failed, and the teeth from the spider gears got stuck between the gears and the case - not good. The Axles and front driveshaft look really good. At this point, I could just put another R180 in there, but I'm not convinced that it wouldn't fail again.

I should be able to source my diff, axles, and LCAs next week. However, I won't have the time to install until late-Feb.
 
#23 ·
Jason, Steve's SAS build on his 2nd Gen cost well north of 15k out at All Phase....and his build was a direct result of his breakage on the front diff out at Crozet in Dec. '06.

This is far cheaper for sure, even when going with new parts.

Good luck on the project Ted...can't wait to see the results.
your right...I wasn't thinking clearly.:) speaking of Steve...where is he?? I would love to wheel w/ him up at Rausch Creek sometime and really see his SAS'ed X in action.
 
#25 ·
Just wanted to post an update. I finally got all my parts delivered, and today, I mounted the Titan Diff, and installed all of the parts on the passenger's side. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the driver's side. On Monday, I'll go for tires and an alignment.
 
#26 ·
Just wanted to post an update. I finally got all my parts delivered, and today, I mounted the Titan Diff, and installed all of the parts on the passenger's side. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the driver's side. On Monday, I'll go for tires and an alignment.
Awesome Ted, can't wait to see the pics!! That M205 dif is SO much beefier than the stock R180 isn't it?!? :)