Nissan Titan / Xterra / Frontier 4×4 Differential Gear & Locker Guide

In 2009 the quest for front Nissan Titan ring and pinion gears began. Superior Axle and Gear took on the project after re-gearing the Dana 44 variant rear differential known among the Nissan crowds, as well a corporate Nissan, as the M226. The front differential is known as the M205.  The M226 rear differential has many aftermarket ratios available ranging in ratios from 3.73 to 5.13 however matching front gears for 4×4 Nissan Titans are currently available in only 4.10 and 4.56. Although M226 rear gears seem to fit without issues in all years of the M226, there is one key difference. In mid 2006, the pinion splines which mate to the yoke were changed from 29 spline to using 24 splines. Dana made this same change in the M205 front differential as well. The 4.10 M226 Rear differential gears that are currently offered have a 29 spline pinion while the 4.56 gears have the 24 spline pinion. All M205 4.10 and 4.56 gears have a 29 spline pinion. When re-gearing the differentials in your titan, the spline count of the yoke must match the spline count of the pinion. Because of the various pinion spline counts available in aftermarket gear sets and the different spline counts used in various titan trucks from Nissan, the parts required for re-gearing can be quite confusing but please consult the following information which is believed to be true at the time of writing but may not be 100% accurate. It is advised that you check with your local nissan dealer or physically verify the yokes that you currently have on your truck before ordering new ones if recommended by this guide. Also at the time of writing a 2012 Nissan Titan has not yet been re-geared. For more detailed information or if you have any questions, please contact Rugged Rocks at 909-547-4651 or send an e-mail using the form found here: http://ruggedrocks.com/contact_us.php

2004+ Nissan Titan:

Pre-mid-2006 production date Titan regearing to 4.10 gears will require the  following:

FRONT:

Front Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m205-front-differential-minor-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35981.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/front-m205-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35982.html

Front 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m205-front-ring-and-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-6714.html

Original front yoke.

REAR:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5591.html

Original rear yoke.

Pre-mid-2006 production date Titan regearing to 4.56 gears will require the following:

FRONT:

Front Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m205-front-differential-minor-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35981.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/front-m205-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35982.html

Front 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m205-front-ring-and-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-6715.html

Original Front Yoke

REAR:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5594.html

Rear 24-spline Yoke: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-differential-24-spline-yoke-p-35930.html

Post-mid-2006 production date Titan regearing to 4.10 gears will require the following:

FRONT:

Front Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m205-front-differential-minor-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35981.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/front-m205-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35982.html

Front 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m205-front-ring-and-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-6714.html

Front 29 spline yoke: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m205-front-differential-29-spline-yoke-by-superior-p-35999.html

REAR:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5591.html

Rear 29 spline yoke: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m226-d44-differential-29-spline-yoke-by-nissan-p-35931.html

Post-mid-2006 production date Titan regearing to 4.56 gears will require the following:

FRONT:

Front Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m205-front-differential-minor-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35981.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/front-m205-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-by-superior-p-35982.html

Front 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m205-front-ring-and-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-6715.html

Front 29 spline yoke: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m205-front-differential-29-spline-yoke-by-superior-p-35999.html

REAR:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5594.html

Original rear yoke.

Frontier / Xterra Rear M226 Differential Regearing

If you are re-gearing a M226 Rear differential in a 2005+ Xterra / Frontier, the same pinion gear & yoke spline count changes were made as the Titan but there are two different bolt patterns on the yoke for attaching the drive-shaft, a 4-bolt square pattern and a 6-bolt star pattern. Note that the 4-bolt square pattern differs from the Titan. Refer to the following notes for using the proper yoke on a 2005+ Xterra / Frontier. This is believed to be accurate but may not bee 100%. Keep in mind that the ring & pinion sets as well as the install kits are the same as the Titan For the M226 Rear differential.

pre-mid-2006 production date Xterra / Frontier regearing to 4.10 (4-bolt or 6-bolt yoke):

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5591.html

Use the original yoke

pre-mid-2006 production date Xterra / Frontier regearing to 4.56 with 4-bolt yoke:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5594.html

Requires changing to a 4-bolt 24-spline yoke.

pre-mid-2006 production date Xterra / Fontier regearing to 4.56 with 6-bolt yoke:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5594.html

Requires changing to a 6-bolt 24-spline yoke: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m226-d44-6bolt-flange-24spline-rear-yoke-by-nissan-p-36005.html

post-mid-2006 production date Xterra / Frontier regearing to 4.10 with 4-bolt yoke:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5591.html

Requires changing to a 29-spline 4-bolt yoke:

post-mid-2006 production date Xterra / Frontier regearing to 4.10 with 6-bolt yoke:

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.10 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/410-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5591.html

Requires changing to a 29-spline 6-bolt yoke: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/m226-d44-6bolt-flange-29spline-rear-yoke-by-nissan-p-36004.html

post-mid-2006 production date Xterra / Frontier regearing to 4.56 (4-bolt or 6-bolt yoke):

Rear Install Kit

-Minor Install Kit:  http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-minor-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5681.html

-OR

-Overhaul Kit: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/nissan-m226-d44-major-gear-install-kit-nissan-titan-2004-by-superior-p-5680.html

Rear 4.56 Gearset: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/456-m226-d44-variant-rear-ring-pinion-gears-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-superior-p-5594.html

Use the original yoke.

LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS

If you’re considering installing a locking differential, having it installed at the time of re-gearing may save costs on installation in the long run.

At the time of writing, there isn’t any locker options available for the M205 front differential, however ARB does have the development for an air actuated locker on their agenda without any firm ETA. For the M226 Rear differential there is a handful of options which fit the Xterra / Frontier & Titan to 2007.

ARB Air Locker: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/air-locker-nissan-m226-dana-44-variant-nissan-titan-by-arb-p-3719.html

Detroit Tru Trac: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/detroit-truetrac-locker-nissan-titan-2004-2005-by-eaton-p-6026.html

Grizzly: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/grizzly-locker-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-yukon-p-36006.html

Spartan: http://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/spartan-locker-nissan-titan-2004-2007-by-yukon-p-36007.html

** IF YOU NOTICE ANY ERRORS OR HAVE INFORMATION TO ADD TO THIS DOCUMENT, PLEASE  CONTACT RUGGED ROCKS**