Front axle

[Snafu]

While looking for used axles shafts for my truck (to rebuild) through car-parts.com, it lists various shafts and axles available that I am trying to sort out. The parts that are listed are for various years and for bother the frontier and extrra, as well as gear ratios for the front axle.

Anyway to find out whether frontier and exterra shafts are swappable, which years will work and the gear ratio?

Gear ratios as options:
- 4.363 (wonder if its a typo)
- 4.636 (more parts available)
- 4.9

Years:
- 2000 to 2004 axle assemblies
- 1999 to 2004 axles

BTW It started with noticing a front end shake at the passenger side and is more noticeable in 4wd (much less in 2wd). I also noticed a torn inner boot on the passenger side. I am thinking of rebuilding or replacing the front shafts. With the used parts available a whole front axle assembly is not quite off the list of options (depending on price difference and cost of parts to rebuild). Not quite at the stage of swapping to a solid front axle.

Thanks!

[HotWod]

Just do the SAS Ron!

autopartsway.ca has cheap CV shafts(100 bux). I used to buy 6 packs of them. I also have an Xterra one here you can try out. I know its the same as the Pathfinder. But the Frontier is a little too luxury for me to have had my hands on ;-)

[HotWod]

... wait, are you looking to swap differentials or just the CV shafts?

[Bender]

Start by looking at the factory sticker when you open the drivers door. That will tell you what gear ratio you are running. You sure its the shafts? Could be an unbalanced drive shaft or like mine it was unbalanced and seized up solid so it wouldn't in and out when needed. U-joint maybe? Just cause you have a torn boot, don't let that make you thin that's the for sure issue.

[Snafu]

I was thinking the just the shafts but if it is not much more if a diff is included I would pick them all up.

Fronty luxury??? Hmmm, that's not what Lorie says (especially when she gets to drive the car). Now if I go with the SAS she just might shoot me (it is nice and bouncy now).

If it was the drive shaft I would think the vibration would be felt across the front. This one seem pretty much on the passenger side. I won't disregard the driveshaft just yet. The torn boot was secondary. The vibration occurred before the torn boot.

Come by and take spin with me

Plus if the shaft has to be pulled to replace the boot (rather than just duct tape), might as well use new joints before I have to pull them out again (with 300+k on them it is a good idea me thinks)

[Simon]

So, you're noticing the vibration in 2wd? If so, it's not a CV. They don't turn in 2wd. Check your wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and even go so far as to swap the tire front to back to see if the vibration moves. It might have thrown a wheel weight.

[Snafu]

It is a slight vibration in 2wd but much more noticeable in 4wd. Both at about the same speed ~80-90kmph (give or take a few)

I do have to rotate the tires.

[Miner]

So, you're noticing the vibration in 2wd? If so, it's not a CV. They don't turn in 2wd. Check your wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and even go so far as to swap the tire front to back to see if the vibration moves. It might have thrown a wheel weight.

[Simon]

It is a slight vibration in 2wd but much more noticeable in 4wd. Both at about the same speed ~80-90kmph (give or take a few)

I do have to rotate the tires.

Yeah, the added stress of becoming a "drive" wheel can exacerbate many issues. But a CV really shouldn't cause any vibration in 2wd.

[studum]

What front hubs are you running? Have you verified that they're operating (engaging / disengaging) correctly?