Yesterday was a good day...and a bad day. (pics and video)

[desertrat67]

Thursday afternoon my wife picked up a new '07 Nissan Xterra with the offroad package(D44 rear w/electric locker, skid plates, tires, and neat badges, blah, blah, blah). It was driven from S Carolina to our dealer do it had 406 miles on it. Well, at 450 something miles it was in the mud. It did a pretty good job for a stock, lower ground clearanced, IFS truck. My buddies cam along with a Land Rover Discovery and a Jeep TJ. I had the Suburban.

 

[desertrat67]

That was the good day part. The bad was the broken axle u-joint in my 60.

 

[ramjet gmc]

i dodnt see a break like that much but this might be a good time to get some 35spline outers -- i just look for any excuse

 

[desertrat67]

I'll post a short video soon

 

[desertrat67]

that was a 35 spline outer!!

 

[desertrat67]

video

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2032111002

 

[irishraptor87]

lol, only worried about the crawdad

is he gonna make it thru the mud pit? eh, who cares, he just killed a crawdad

 

[PGW]

Hey what size tires are on that Burb? That's a nice looking rig.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Bitchin' man. Time for some MT's on the Xterra.

 

[mini_mull]

Looks like fun. Makes me itch to get out there and wheel a little. What were you doing when you broke it?

 

[desertrat67]

Irish: The crawdad survived, but his cousin did not. I found him in a crossmember of the Xterra while cleaning.

PGW: 39.5s

Andrew: I have plans for a 2.5-3" Calmini lift and some 33 in Mickey Thompson MTZs. We will see how well she reacts to this since it is hers...

Kristi: I am uploading the video right now. Includes loud popping sound.

 

[desertrat67]

the pop can be heard near the end.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2032327199

 

[Grizz84]

looked like you had it bouncing at full lock when it blew out, thats about the most stress you can put on front axles period. If you were running say 44's, it would be more plausible...but even with 39.5's you were beating the crap outta that front. More fun food for thought on the fact that Dana 60's aren't the invincible superman front axle alot of people make them out to be.

Sucks to hear about you snapping the axle though, especially on the 2nd time out. Hope you get it back going shortly.

 

[desertrat67]

It will be a couple weeks until I get 4X back. After we got the broken axle out, we wheeled in 3X for a while. I climbed a ravine and got stuck. Tried to back up, but no luck. I Winched up, but couldn't get over the top, so I tried to back out again and got free.

 

[mini_mull]

What brand/type u-joints were you running? For that matter, what brand inners and outers? Hubs or Lockouts? I'm taking notes.

 

[Randy92782]

that sucks. i tored mine up real good but got it fixed before i left that day. soon to get pics and videos of it uploaded on here

 

[desertrat67]

That is a 60 front with NAPA u-joints and spicer 35 spline outers. The inner acually held up really well(replacement from Mr. Watson at ORD. About 110 shipped). Neither dog ear on the inner was damaged while the outer was torn up. The hubs had no dmage either(warn Premium 35 spliners). The u-joint looks like it was the weak link. Both cross sections to the outer shaft broke. Then I think the outer impacted the inner and tore it up.

 

[mini_mull]

Looks gnarly. What are you going to replace them with?

 

[desertrat67]

I was thinking of seeing if NAPA would warranty the joints, but I am not sure if I wantto use that brand again. I have an older set of 30 splines that I could run for a while that still have joints in them. I will see after I get some of this stuff sold and have a little extra $ to play with. I think it would be worth it to go with true spicer parts. Not looking at spending the dough on OX or any of the otehr 250 u-joints yet. Maybe in a few years(or a decade) I will get some of those $1800 CV style ones from Longfield.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

X: I have plans for a 2.5-3" Calmini lift and some 33 in Mickey Thompson MTZs. We will see how well she reacts to this since it is hers...

Sorta off topic but I'd be wary of Calmini aka Calstinky.

I've got some of their 6" lift system on my Tracker and I'm not impressed. I bought it already lifted but if I had done the lift knowing what I know now I wouldn't have used this lift. Dunno how their Nissan stuff is but their Suzuki reputation is so-so. Some nice products, some okay stuff, bad service.

Checked out what Automotive Customizers has to offer?

Also consider OME if they make anything for these yet. Goooooood stuff...