2004 axles into my 2000?

X

Xjames

Test Drive
Location
Jonesboro, AR
My original plan was to regear my X with some 5.13's. After pricing gear sets @ around 1k for front and back, then factoring spending at least that much or probably more for install, I am reconsidering. I have been looking on Ebay and found a front diff with 4.9 ratio and a rear with 4.9 and a locker. Around $560 for both less shipping. The only foreseeable issue is that they are out of an '04. Will these bolt up directly to my '00? They are both 1st gens. but are they the same? This ratio will allow me to run some 32's with a decent amount of torque.

I figure that will get me by for awhile until I can build up some solid axles that will allow me to go for a deeper gear ratio to run 35's. Preferably around a 5.88, that will give me an ample amount of torque to offset the radius of the 35's and the added weight of the heavier running gear.
 
bigjim247365

bigjim247365

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Hainesville IL
most 1st gens 4x4s ether have 4.6 or 4.9s. however the first year of the Xterra (2000) didnt have the upgrades done to the motor and trans like the rest of the years.
and i think they only had 4.6s in the 4x4 models in 2000. but im not sure if the trans is set to run 4.9s before the drivetrain upgrade.

that was something i ead on wikipidea so someone should have a better answer.

im half asleep and i hope im not just babbling like an idiot lol.
 
Silver dude

Silver dude

Sliders
Founding Member
Location
machesney park IL
Same yes. Will work only the ratios are different. The LSD is tighter on the earlier models but that doesn't apply to your question. The 3rd member is the same. 33 spline rear axle shafts on all years of 1st gen xterras. The 4.6 and 4.9 are available on many years of the xterra square headlight or otherwise thanks to the towing package and other things. The front housing is the same as well. No issues. I considered the swap once as well. But, decided the change wasn't worth the effort and $.


Edit: looked on ebay. Locking means it has a LSD. They are pretty poor at listing axles.

Ben
 
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granitex

granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
put your money into crawler gears for the transfer case, it will do a lot more for you than the switch from 4.63 to 4.9
 
X

Xjames

Test Drive
Location
Jonesboro, AR
Thanks guys. Mine is an auto. The t-case gears really wouldn't help me much. No crawling around my area, just mud, brown mud, red clay, gumbo, and sandy loam. I am interested in more power to the wheels all the time. Just going from the stock tires to 31's with the 4.6's I noticed a loss of get up and go. My guesstimation is that compared to stock performance 4.9's and 32's would be closer to stock performance than where I am currently at. I could even leave the 31's and really put a little pep in the X's step. Only down side would be running the rpm's up so high to do 70 down the interstate. I know it is still a lot of work for just a little gain. Performance is never cheap, no matter how small it is. That is why I pay $.30 more per gallon for Ethanol free gas. My X runs better with it and tanks last longer as well.
 
D

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Xjames said:
Thanks guys. Mine is an auto. The t-case gears really wouldn't help me much. No crawling around my area, just mud, brown mud, red clay, gumbo, and sandy loam. I am interested in more power to the wheels all the time. Just going from the stock tires to 31's with the 4.6's I noticed a loss of get up and go. My guesstimation is that compared to stock performance 4.9's and 32's would be closer to stock performance than where I am currently at. I could even leave the 31's and really put a little pep in the X's step. Only down side would be running the rpm's up so high to do 70 down the interstate. I know it is still a lot of work for just a little gain. Performance is never cheap, no matter how small it is. That is why I pay $.30 more per gallon for Ethanol free gas. My X runs better with it and tanks last longer as well.
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I'm not sure if your going to run a higher rpm by adding a larger tire and a very slightly better gear.. If anything it may keep you right where your at.
 
D

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
IT sounds great.. But in OD its very under powered On the HWY it takes a long time to get up to speed.

5.13s are the way to go..
 
Silver dude

Silver dude

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Location
machesney park IL
3k is around optimum power and torque for the vg engine. If your at 3k on the highway. The engine isn't struggling to maintain speed. Which correct me if I'm wrong maintains the best fuel economy. If it was lower in rpm it would require more fuel to meet the same power demand as you would be applying greater strain (throttle) to the engine to maintain speed. If the rpm was higher then you would be wastefully in higher fuel consumption.

Ben
 
D

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Silver dude said:
3k is around optimum power and torque for the vg engine. If your at 3k on the highway. The engine isn't struggling to maintain speed. Which correct me if I'm wrong maintains the best fuel economy. If it was lower in rpm it would require more fuel to meet the same power demand as you would be applying greater strain (throttle) to the engine to maintain speed. If the rpm was higher then you would be wastefully in higher fuel consumption.

Ben
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The issue is on level ground it's a very nice set up. I can watch my ultragauge avg 15-16 mpg but when you hit a slight incline the motor seems to bog down. It's like the geari g is halfway in steepen good and bad. I have the 4.6 in my x. I feel like if you could find a set of 4.9s cheap then it would fix my issues. When I ran the km2 set up on my white xterra with 32s it was just about perfect. It also had 4.6 gearing. I have thought that if I do not SAS Stan I may go back to the slightly smaller tire to gain a little hwy power back.
 
Prime

Prime

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Denver Adjacent
I'm running 33s on 4.90s and while there is some difference in acceleration compared to stock, it's not that noticeable. I think unless you're willing to jump to 5.13s your money is better spent on enhancing power of the dog that is the VG33. The stock 175bhp just isn't enough for this bigass truck in my opinion. With a little more ass to it the engine would have to try as hard to turn big tires.
 
Alien

Alien

Bought an X
Location
Gilbert AZ
Silver dude said:
3k is around optimum power and torque for the vg engine. If your at 3k on the highway. The engine isn't struggling to maintain speed. Which correct me if I'm wrong maintains the best fuel economy. If it was lower in rpm it would require more fuel to meet the same power demand as you would be applying greater strain (throttle) to the engine to maintain speed. If the rpm was higher then you would be wastefully in higher fuel consumption.

Ben
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Reviving an old thread. I recently got my X and I'm the third owner. One of the previous owners put Gen 1.0 15" wheels on it, and it currently has 30" tires on it. I'm ok with the looks for now and was planning on moving to 31" when I'm done bringing everything up to date. It sounds like it's revving kind of high when doing around 70 on the freeway, but the tach says I'm running at just below 3k. I was thinking that when I move to 31s that should move me back to spec with the gearing and the high revving should diminish. But according to what's being said here I'm running right about where I should be.

So am I ok running the 30s, or when I need new tires should I move to 31s? I want to run the what will best maximize power and MPGs. I'm new to XTerras and am still working on figuring out their personality.
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
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Denver Adjacent
Alien said:
Reviving an old thread. I recently got my X and I'm the third owner. One of the previous owners put Gen 1.0 15" wheels on it, and it currently has 30" tires on it. I'm ok with the looks for now and was planning on moving to 31" when I'm done bringing everything up to date. It sounds like it's revving kind of high when doing around 70 on the freeway, but the tach says I'm running at just below 3k. I was thinking that when I move to 31s that should move me back to spec with the gearing and the high revving should diminish. But according to what's being said here I'm running right about where I should be.

So am I ok running the 30s, or when I need new tires should I move to 31s? I want to run the what will best maximize power and MPGs. I'm new to XTerras and am still working on figuring out their personality.
Click to expand...
On the 16" wheels, 31s are the stock tire size. Should be 265/70/16. That said, if you valve 15" wheels now and 30s you have what? 265/70/15s?
 
Alien

Alien

Bought an X
Location
Gilbert AZ
Prime said:
On the 16" wheels, 31s are the stock tire size. Should be 265/70/16. That said, if you valve 15" wheels now and 30s you have what? 265/70/15s?
Click to expand...

Basically yes, it has 30-9.50-15s on it. Without having to buy 16" wheels, which I'd rather not have to do, the easiest way to get back to "stock" would be either 31-10.5-15 or 265-75-15. I'm just wondering if it's really necessary to do in order to get the best performance.
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
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Location
Denver Adjacent
Necessary? No. The difference would be minor. I honestly don't think it would make much of a difference one way or the other.
 
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