bob82pigdog

So hawairish, you also mentioned you were ultimately switching to front and rear air lockers, what was your reasoning / wants / needs? I think that's probably what I'll end up doing if I keep wheeling and enjoying this rig.

Awesome! Thanks for the parts resources and axle gearing information. Solid stuff.

How long did it take you? Any major pitfalls or advice? What resources did you use for instruction? Or did you just wing it and do what obviously needed to be done? I'm seeing a little oil weeping back there and am starting to think about this repair myself.

Agreed that those are probably the best "Nissan-centric" sources for parts. Their sites indicate it wouldn't work. So I can throw that option out the window. Dang. I didn't realize there was a separate issue of 4 pinion vs. 2 pinion. People don't seem to make those distinctions as much. Do all 96-04 R50s have 2 pinion carriers? Do you have any concern about the 31 spline axles being a weaker option? I am having a tough time painting this grand differential picture, but I'm getting there! Can you help me put this piece together: When is the model year split for Pathfinders that had 31 spline vs. 33 spline axles? Or is there one? Do ALL R50s, including the earlier ones that have 4.636 gears have 33 spline axles? In my head I was thinking 96-00 R50s with 4.636 gears also had 31 splines. Then when they made the switch to VQ35 the gears changed to 4.363 and 33 spline. Is that correct? I'm just trying to figure out the best options, like a lot of us, for re-gearing and locking my diffs. Again, thanks for the awesome contributions!

I like those fender flares. Any details you can share? What material? How did you attach them? Here's mine:

Called 'em up and dude says for sure it will work. They definitely don't sell many. He made it sound like there is a separate part number for 31 or 33 spline axles, and it would be best to place the order by phone. The part number in the link is also obsolete now. Sounds like they are selling a Nitro locker now and not Powertrax. The site doesn't reflect that yet, but the new part number is LBH233B-1. Last note, he definitely didn't recommend that I install one. He said nothing against mechanical lockers in general, they have their place, but that this was just a cheap mechanical locker and would be pretty crude. Recommended an ARB instead. Upsell or honest? Could be either, but I think both, he seemed really knowledgeable and friendly. FWIW This site also implies that it will work with 33 splines: http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/powertrax-rear-lock-right-locker-nissan-h233b-4-pinion-carrier-pt-3220.html

OK, this post is awesome, but I assume you did all this work because a 33 spline locker is not available? I have scoured old threads trying to find info on mechanical lockers and it seems one was never created for 33 splines, but the threads are all filled with hope! I found this one below at justdifferentials. Are they incorrect and leading me on suggesting that the Lock Right as shown will fit later 33 spline R50s? Or what's going on here? Does the community know for sure that a 31 spline mechanical locker will not work or cannot be modified to work with 33 spline axles? http://www.justdifferentials.com/PT3220-p/pt3220.htm

All right, so it's been about a year. Any updates? I just stuffed a 33 x 10.5" BFG from my buddy's 4Runner on my Q and someday I think the flares are gonna just have to go. I wanna see what you've come up with and how the manual hubs are working out.

Looking good! Can't wait to see the vinyl windows, too. That Chevy sure looks like a '57 to me!

D'oh! Facepalm, facepalm, facepalm! After lurking and waiting for the right time to refresh my suspension, I'm finally ready, and dang, now I can't get them. I was frantically searching the Google device for your website so I could finally order some spacers which brought me to this thread. I totally get taking some time to finish projects and I'm rooting for you to get back up and running. I definitely appreciate your work, and helpful posts. I can wait a few months (I hope!) to get the spacers, and heck, if you've got full skids available then, I may just order some of those at the same time.

Sweet! Glad you followed up on this. It's something I've been thinking about for awhile. I wish I had an idea for keeping the sway bar out of the way while disconnected or something to contribute at all, but am working on too many other projects. Here's a bump for this thread at least!