Upgrading Your Nissan Frontier with an M226 Rear Axle from a Titan: A Step-by-Step Guide

[@aaron7195]

I was just thinking about a Titan swap when this video played on autopay. Love to see more Nissan content. We are the few!

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Haha, welcome to the small club! 😀

[@A.J.1656]

Cool beans. I was recently feeling the urge to start looking for a new truck, but I think it would be cheaper and mare satisfying to upgrade to Titan swap suspension and VK56. I don't want to get rid of my manual Frontier ever. lol

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Those are the best for the best!

[@VidadeAP]

Don’t sell it and if you do sell it to me ! 😂 I’m looking for one that’s manual

[@imacaryay7628]

Been thinking of getting a manual frontier. Do you go offroading with it?

[@A.J.1656]

@@imacaryay7628 Yes, I do.

[@imacaryay7628]

@A.J.1656 nice, how does it do with start and stops when on rocky hills and things like that?

[@jasongaudreau2075]

This is the cherry on top of All Dogs Offroad titan swap fox suspension kit!!! Add a bit of titan suspension lift and get 4-5” of overall lift.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

All Dogs is the best!

[@cra4war]

Hey that’s me! That was fun build. 😎

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Haha, great work!

[@OpieDogie]

If my memory is correct, we did a 2005 se 4x4 to a p4x rear axle. Although my axle was a frontier axle, it had the locker M226 that we switched it to. (I had broken an axle housing) we hook it directly up to a fuse for the lockers. It bypassed the traction control and could be engaged in 2wd or 4wd either hi or lo. Even tho it’s not a p4x it should have the place for it one of the fuse boxes.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Yep, that's how this is hooked up. Basically just to a switch in the dash so I can engage the locker whenever.

[@thedude828-ed2nn]

​​@@AllThingsOverlandingdude that's awesome so you can switch the locker on in just 2wd that's a game changer! I really want to do a axel swap on my sv but I just went ahead and ordered a arb locker I know that I can use it similar to the way you can yours I've just heard good and bad things about them. But anyways I love your build you are giving me hope and ideas for the future!!

[@justin_ogre]

I dream of doing this to my 06 off-road Xterra, part of a full titan swap.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

It's pretty sweet!

[@GeefromBC]

The Frontier is coming along great and man very informative

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Thanks buddy! Hopefully no engine or transmission problems and we're in good shape, haha!

[@FMB12]

Awesome build!

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Thanks!

[@mjenner89]

This looks so clean! Great job!

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Thanks! Came out great!

[@juanochoa9410]

Did you swap driveshafts?

[@carlosizz89]

Thanks for the info, how does it work for keeping the bolt pattern? Does the titan axle connect to the frontier hub?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

The hub between the diff and driveshaft did match up. As for bolt pattern, I was already titan swapped in the front, but not in the rear (was using spacer adaptors). So, by swapping, it actually made me 6x139.7 all around.

[@robertthomson7139]

Do you know how they ran the wires out of the diff for the elocker? I snagged an open diff rear end from a 2010 for our xterra but cant figure out the best way to run them out

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

That's a great question. It's been a while since this was done and I'm honestly not sure how they did it. I know it's using an OEM harness so I'm guessing there must be a standard way they run those on the M226.

[@robertthomson7139]

Do you still have the truck to be able to check and see?

[@jumpersminorites]

Do you know what rear end/locker would be cheapest/simplest install for my 2000 Frontier (Pre facelift) V6 4x4 crew cab? My truck came factory with an lsd in the rear and I’ve been testing it out hoping it locks up and gets me over stuff, and it does well off-roading but over some rocky terrain I’ve had the rear slip quiet a lot so I really want to just install a locker in the rear and call it a day. Do you know what is compatible with the 1st gen Frontiers?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Unfortunately, I don’t know what time about the first gen. You might check out clubfrontier.org and do some searching around there and I bet people have answered that question.

[@jumpersminorites]

@@AllThingsOverlanding Thank you! I will look there.

[@mateuszmaciol3141]

Did you have any issues with wheel speed sensors? My ABS light came on and I'm pulling codes for rear left and right sensors. I plugged in new Titan speed sensors and I'm wondering A) if they're just shot or B) I need to plug in the frontier M226 rear sensors instead. (I did the factory service manual check for the wiring back to the sensors and that all checks out... continuity exists from ABS module and voltage reading is good when truck is on). I just can't check the sensors themselves so was wondering if you happen to know off the top of your head. Thanks, Mat

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

I didn’t. Mine hooked right up and no codes. Maybe I just got lucky? My frontier had an M226 before so I’m guessing they’re the same essentially.

[@MVTTIC]

So I figured it out for anyone else wondering (lots of mixed info on forums) but the Titan m226 sensors, though much cheaper, will not register and will give an ABS warning light. Using frontier m226 abs sensors is the only way.

[@MVTTIC]

Do your abs sensors sit kind of “loose” in the plate they bolt to? The plate also mounts the brake caliper. I noticed a very snug fit when sliding in the Titan sensors but the frontier ones have some wiggle room until I clamp the single bolt down. Thanks for the response, really curious to how your sensors fit up.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@MVTTIC I'll see if I can get some pictures or at least get you an answer when I look at the truck today! You know what else I was thinking, to your comment above, maybe they swapped the sensors from my Frontier M226 and that's why I have no codes and no problems. I'll ping them to ask.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@MVTTIC Ok, heard back from the shop already and they confirmed that they did use the Titan ABS sensors and no lights. They do fit snug like you mentioned because they are the ones off the Titan axle. Is yours an 04-07 or 08 or later Titan axle? Mine is an 04-07.

[@dylanmerker9901]

Super helpful to know! I’m going to titan swap my front suspension soon. I have an m226 frontier rear end. I’ll likely end up just doing some wheel spacers in the rear. Did you re-gear your axle ratio as well?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Awesome! If you need adapter spacers for your rear end, I've got my old ones. Just send me an email at [e-mail] if you're interested, haha. I didn't regear so I'm still at 3.36 but it hasn't had any problems pushing the 35's. The issue would have been that I would have had to regear the front too and it would have just been cost prohibitive.

[@Slvdr_pz]

Is the titan wheel lug pattern the same as the frontier?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Nope. Titan is 6x139.7 and the Frontier is 6x114.3.

[@Slvdr_pz]

@@AllThingsOverlanding what was used to have matching lug patterns?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@Slvdr_pz So, originally, the previous owner titan swapped the fronts and then used a 2" spacer adapter that made the rear axle wider while also adapting the 6x114.3 to 6x139.7. Then, when I swapped in the full rear axle, that made them 139.7 all around. The wheels are actually from a first gen Xterra which was also 6x139.7.

[@cocolandstudio]

man this is some great work !! thank you for covering all the info in the video. .. Are the titan shock mounts on the Titan axle located in the same place of the frontier/xterra ? i got my eyes on the recked 2012 Titan, still figuring things out since my main concern is if it will fit 17" wheel or not

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Glad it was helpful! And I know we had to move the leaf perches but I don't remember if we moved the shock mounts. They might need to be moved when you move the perches...

[@cocolandstudio]

thank you for taking time to reply, i have an Xterra and since they share the same Chasis the shock mount location might be in the exact same location, just the spring perches .. i will make a video and mention your channel in it, again, thanks a lot

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@cocolandstudio No problem!

[@josecartagena5766]

can I switch differential's with a xtierra, I have a 2000 frontier 4x4

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

That gen truck is pretty different from the 2nd gen Xterras. If you're talking about a first gen, I would think so?

[@chrisunderhill8853]

So is there any reason you couldn't run the rear sway bar? I get the reason why you don't have it installed. But say that some one that does a ton of freeway driving, but wants the option of removing the sway bar to go crawling?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

You totally could. This truck didn't even have any sway bars on it when I bought it and I removed them from my previous truck. But, if I was dailying it 95% of the time and wheeling it the other 5%, I would probably just leave one on or get quick disconnects.

[@chrisunderhill8853]

@@AllThingsOverlanding awesome thanks so much!

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@chrisunderhill8853 Anytime!

[@RocSteadyChannel]

I see you dont have the ebrake connected. Im trying to find out how to go about that. Also can you explain the drive shaft situation? Was your factory frontier a 4 bolt flange?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Yeah, I decided not to mess with the e-brake. The truck prior to the replacement of the axle didn't have one anyway, so it didn't seem worth the extra shop time to get one hooked up. For the pinion flange, yep. It bolted right up to the Frontier diff. Maybe the 04-07's shared the same flange as the Frontiers?

[@RocSteadyChannel]

@@AllThingsOverlanding my brother has a 06 titan and its a 4 bolt flange. With a big drive shaft. My 2013 frontier has a 6 bolt 2 piece drive shaft with a carrier bearing so for me the titan differential doesnt bolt right up to my drive shaft

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@RocSteadyChannel Yeah, before I did mine I heard it was 4 to 6 bolt. I was anticipating having the shop either find a matching pinion flange or fab one to make them compatible, but my 04--07 rear carrier matched right up, so not sure why but I'll take it!

[@rodofarrell6887]

the ebrake is a simple mod (plate 2 holes x 2), near the equalizer to bolt the cables in and use 2 right side Titan cables (shorter) in your vehicle, in my case I also purchased a third left Titan cable - just for the fitting of brackets to the left side of the m226 (swap out the brackets on the right side cable that is/was used on the left - so it fits like factory). The other mod I would suggest is adjust the brake pedal engagement point via the nut underneath the brake pedal - only about half a turn to remove that soft pedal you get after doing the Titan swap..

[@richardrowe8251]

Hello. I have a 2015 Frontier w/ 4 full size doors short bed. I've lifted it overall 8" on the suspension. This caused my driveshaft to come out at transfer case more than I like but seams fine so far. The only thing I would like to do is add a 1" spacer to the rear yoke at the diff and driveshaft. You can buy a 1" spacer for the Titan but not the Frontier. Mine Frontier is a 4 bolt flange and the spacer for the Titan is all so a 4 bolt flange. So here is my question in a nutshell. Lol. Are the bolt patterns the same so I can purchase the spacer??? Thanks in advance. Rich.

[@shaisosa7339]

Can I install a rear locker on my 2013 Xterra ? Regular 4x4

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Sure! You just need to figure out which rear end you have and find the right locker. This guy has a great video showing the different options in the Xterra: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZDZZKeIqJahd7s. You could either open the existing diff and install the locker or just swap the entire rear end of out a Pro-4X or Offroad trim Xterra if you can find one. Either way, you'd have to wire it to a switch somewhere, but that's all there is to it.

[@lukerutherford3293]

I have a off-road model 2010 but it has the c200

[@RyanBennett_Gpd605]

I'm curios why you didn't chop the sway bar brackets off. I know you're a bit heavier than most but do you plan on using a sway bar again?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Just worried about moving the stuff that needed to be moved to mount up the axle to the truck but definitely not running away bars again.

[@thetoxmedia4807]

So can you titan swap a 1st gen or more specific a 2000 xe rwd? Been looking everywhere and cant find anything on it

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

That's a good question. I honestly don't know a ton about the first gens, but I'm thinking that since the Titan didn't come out until 2004, that's probably why it's only compatible with second gens. I bet they share a lot of the same components and that's why they're so interchangeable.

[@juanochoa9410]

Did you swap the driveshaft?

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Nope, it bolted right up.

[@juanochoa9410]

@@AllThingsOverlanding I has to swap out the axle on a Suzuki equator rmz 4 😂. Thanks for the info

[@juanochoa9410]

@@AllThingsOverlanding a guy told me that you had to get a new drive shaft installed if I did an axle swap, but I’m sure you shouldn’t need too since all driveshafts are balanced prior to having them installed factory direct

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@juanochoa9410 Yeah, I heard that I might have to get or have a new pinion flange fabricated to make my Frontier drive shaft match up with the Titan rear end, but they bolted right up with no modification.

[@scottChapman25]

Awesome man!

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Thanks buddy!

[@JohnnyRebLa]

Only thing left now is the titan V8.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Correct, 😀

[@atypicalmisanthrope]

Kyle's old truck

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Yep

[@Green_Leaf]

…or just purchase a Frontier with a manual transmission and it will already have an M226 rear axle. I purchased an aluminum M226 differential cover for the Titan and it mounted directly to my existing M226 on the Frontier.

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

Yeah, the problem is that the M226 rear axle in the Frontier is about 4-5" less wide than the Titan running gear up front. So, with the Titan swap up front, you've got to run big wheel spacers in the rear and it's still not as wide as the front. That was my setup before swapping in the Titan rear axle. I broke an axle and decided just to fix the width issue by swapping in a Titan M226 which got me bigger brakes, resolved the broken axle and matched the width front to back.

[@Green_Leaf]

@@AllThingsOverlanding understand your purpose for the swap and agree it makes good sense ☺️

[@AllThingsOverlanding]

@@Green_Leaf thanks. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t recommend it because it was a lot of extra money over just fixing the axle but I really wanted to sort the width issue and just make the whole truck fully Titan swapped, but spacers work just about as well and cost a lot less, lol.