Final drive question

[Gray]

Have any had a chance to look at the difference between the final drives in the 2008 V8 PF and the rest. Does the V8 have a heavier model of rear final drive /rear differential or is it still the R200, same question about the front. Thanks.

05+ 4.0L PF's front final drive part no: 38500-EA300
05+ 4.0L PF's rear final drive part no: 38301-0C375

08 V8 PF front final drive part no: 38500-8S11A
08 V8 PF rear final drive part no: 38301-2S60A
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From this list of Nissan final drives;

http://www.nicoclub.com/Greg/ratios.html#Pathfinder

I'm surprised to see that the 2WD model (not available in Canada) has what looks to be a better ratio in the rear final drive for fuel economy than the 4WD model. I wonder what the fuel economy is like on the 2WD PF's.

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[08Datsun]

I've crawled under the V8 Pathfinder at the dealer and took a look. Both the front and the rear diffs are different. The front has less webbing that doesn't cross itself like the V6 does and is darker grey. The rear has a smooth cover on the rear as opposed to ours which is finned. The rear is the same as the Armada. The dealer didn't have a 4WD Armada to check the front on. I crawled under a 4WD Titan and the front diff was the same as that on the V8 Pathfinder.

As you probably know, there's been a lot a breakage reported with the front R180a diff in the V6 models, mostly in Xterras and Frontiers. I wouldn't mind having the beefier diffs for a little piece of mind out in the middle of nowhere.

[SilverGhost]

I wonder what the fuel economy is like on the 2WD PF's.

Approximate mpg numbers on my '06 2WD LE are 15-16 city, 20-21 hwy (@75mph). I've actually clocked 23mpg hwy at 70mph with a tail wind. That's on stock-size Michelin Cross-Terrains at 35 PSI, running premium fuel, and carrying nothing but my 190 lb carcass. This IS southeast Texas, so the terrain is flat as a flour tortilla ('cept for the freeway flyover ramps).

[Gray]

I've crawled under the V8 Pathfinder at the dealer and took a look. Both the front and the rear diffs are different. The front has less webbing that doesn't cross itself like the V6 does and is darker grey. The rear has a smooth cover on the rear as opposed to ours which is finned. The rear is the same as the Armada. The dealer didn't have a 4WD Armada to check the front on. I crawled under a 4WD Titan and the front diff was the same as that on the V8 Pathfinder.

As you probably know, there's been a lot a breakage reported with the front R180a diff in the V6 models, mostly in Xterras and Frontiers. I wouldn't mind having the beefier diffs for a little piece of mind out in the middle of nowhere.

From this copy of the 08 PF service manual in the 'recommended fluids and lubricants' section it looks like the 08V8 got a rear final drive of a larger 1.75 L size pumpkin and a 1.6 L in front which is the same as in the Armada seen here, or the Titan, as opposed to the 4.0L PF 0.85L sized R180A's FFD's.

I think that the 4.0L PF's would do a lot better with stronger diffs on back roads. I haven't checked it but if it turns out that these V8 final drives are 3.10's or so there maybe a bit of added fuel economy also depending on which tires are run as 4.0L PF final drives are about 3.35.

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[08Datsun]

The diffs in the V8 are M205/R230. Both 2WD and 4WD use 2.937 gears.

The diffs in the V6 are the same R180a/R200 as before. 2WD's have 3.133 gears while 4WD's have 3.357 gears.

This is per the 2008 Nissan factory manuals.