The Nissan Path

Emailed ARB-USA a couple of days back regarding diff lockers for our Pathys, here's the reply I got:

From: Front Desk <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Mar 4, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Cc: Scott Cohen <[email protected]>
RE: Enquiry from arbusa.com...

It is on the "to do" list but we don't have a firm date yet. Sometime later this year is likely.

Jim Jackson
President
ARB-USA
720 SW 34TH STREET
RENTON, WA 98057-4814
Tel: 425-264-1391
Fax: 425-264-1392

Guess we'll have to wait longer

jorgecar wrote:Emailed ARB-USA a couple of days back regarding diff lockers for our Pathys, here's the reply I got:

Guess we'll have to wait longer

Yes, I know ARB is in the works on one. The locker will be my next purchase after the ShrockWorks bumper, rock sliders, and underbody armor. Sometimes this year 'cuz I have to start saving for one.

jorgecar wrote:Emailed ARB-USA a couple of days back regarding diff lockers for our Pathys, here's the reply I got:

Guess we'll have to wait longer

jorgecar,

I have been doing a little bit of research. I noticed you have the diesel version. From what I have been gathering, the diesel has the R230 rear diffs. Ours, the gas/petrol version in the US, only has the R200 rear. Can you verify if yours is also a R230 rear? Also, can you tell us what diff you have up front?

If ARB makes the locker for the R230 by year end, then the US Pathy owners are out of luck. Unless the C200 31 spline lockers fits the R200 31 spline that we have.

Thanks.

ragpaoa wrote: Can you verify if yours is also a R230 rear? Also, can you tell us what diff you have up front?

Geez,
Don't know how to tell which one I have.
Tomorrow morning I'll get underneath the Pathy and will take a look at the manual to see if I confirm what diffs I've got.

Got under the car and can't tell.

I read on the PCOA.org.au forum that some folks with the workshop/service manuals say the front should be an R180A just like US vehicles have, but the rear one is an R230 (at least on turbodiesels manufactured in Spain).

I think some of you also posted there and should know by now, but wanted to let everyone else know too, anyway.

Well, after emailing ARB for over 2 weeks, I still don't have an answer. Will there be a locker made for the R200 rear diff we have in the US. I know for sure they are making one for the R230 that everyone has worldwide.

Also, I do know they are making a locker for the R180A front diff as well. At least this is good news for our weak front end that we have.

Jorgecar did you notify ARB that you had the diesel Pathy? I noticed you got a replay from ARB-USA. Since we don't get the Diesel in North America this raises some questions as to how much Jim Jackson knew about Jeorgecar's rig, and where the assumptions are being made.

Fofiddy wrote:Jorgecar did you notify ARB that you had the diesel Pathy? I noticed you got a reply from ARB-USA. Since we don't get the Diesel in North America this raises some questions as to how much Jim Jackson knew about Jorgecar's rig, and where the assumptions are being made.

Hmm, now that you mention...

This is was my specific and only question:
"Do you happen to know by when will there be an 'Air Locker' application for 05-07 R51 Pathfinders?"

You know the answer, which I also posted earlier...this means a locker might be on the works for US V6 Pathfinders!
This is getting interesting...don't lose your hopes!

Well guys, bad news .. at least for the US market.
Here is the qoute directly from ARB:

"Your inquiry came back to me from Aus and I have done some checking into it with engineering. As you state at present we do not have lockers for the late model Pathfinder. The RD106 is not designed for the IRS rearend and as a result will not work in the new Pathfinder. If demand persists we will likely develop a unit for the smaller North American diff, but given our current engineering backlog in locker development I would not expect the process to begin before next fall at the earliest.

As for Nissan choosing the smaller unit for the US market I suspect it was to save weight and cost on the vehicle as the typical US Pathfinder user is not operating their truck in the same conditions as the Australian user does and as such durability is less of a concern.
Best Regards,

Marc Bowers
Tech Supervisor
Air Locker, Inc.


What gets me is ... 'US Pathfinder users not operating like the Aussies ... durability is less of a concern'. What is Nissan USA thinking!!!! If Nissan puts the weaker rear on the V8 Pathy's coming soon (which won't surprise me at this point), then the Toyota is next on my trade-in list. At least they are consistent.

I'm with Ragpaoa on this one. Looks like it might be the 09 Tundra or wait for the redesigned Titan ( if the oil burner rumors are true). Maybe the Fronty will finally come with a V8 in a few years.
Poor\abscence of support for the rear diff, crappy rear suspension. Despite the technology, and on road improvements (eh)
I'm wondering what would have been in Nissan kept a SRA, anyone thought about a swap from the X?

I wonder what the avalibility of the heavier duty rear end is and what the cost might be to install one, compatibility with the rest of the DL from there...

Fofiddy wrote:I wonder what the avalibility of the heavier duty rear end is and what the cost might be to install one, compatibility with the rest of the DL from there...

FoFiddy,

Just a thought, the Armada has an R230 rear diff. This may be the same as the R230 diff for the Pathfinder in other countries. Now, I am not too sure about the diff carrier. I do know that the Armada 4x4 has the same ratio as the Pathfinder 4x4. So .... maybe we can swap the gears off an Armada? Or, if we are lucky, just swap the whole pumpkin and it may just bolt right on without mods. Do you have access to an Armada to take measurements? I also heard that the Armada has an R200A in front. If that's the case, there are brand new opportunities there.