ARB Air Locker for the Nissan Titan M205 front differential

[LA RANA]

My email yesterday to ARB -

Marc,
I have a Nissan Xterra with an M205 front differential. I already have an ARB Air Locker in my Xterra's M226 rear differential, and am now very anxiously awaiting being locked in both ront and rear (like a host of others I know); I'd like to be first to buy/install. Please advise on the target release date for an ARB air locker for the Titan M205.

Thank you

ARB email response today -

Hi Jim,
What I know at this point is that our engineering department has a complete M205 assembly in Australia for development. At present I do not know where in line this diff stands for design, but am hopeful it will happen before the end of this year. I would suggest continuing to request the diff through the main website address and asking your fellow 205 owners to do the same as those requests are logged in a database that is used to push for new products. That should speed things up.

Best Regards,
Marc Bowers
Tech Supervisor
Air Locker, Inc.
425-264-1391
720 SW 34th St.
Renton, WA 98057
Marc@arbusa.com


My fellow M205 owners please contact ARB to request the M205 air locker through the main website address sales@arbusa.com
Contact Us

ARB’s head office is located in Australia at:
42-44 Garden St
Kilsyth, VIC 3137
Tel: +61 3 9761 6622
Fax: +61 3 9761 6807

[LA RANA]

UPDATE: IN NEED OF LARGER SHOW OF SUPPORT

I spoke with Marc Bowers (ARB USA Tech Supervisor) again this week and the M205 ARB locker is in limbo right now. He said he was confident they will develop it but the boss in Australia has not set it to be next in line. Marc said that if we want it we have to request it, the number of requests has a very direct impact on when/if the product is developed. The Aussy boss thought that there was only so many Titans out there, questioning number of those interested, so Marc explained that this will also serve the Xterra and Frontier community who is picking up all the M205's from junk yards and upgrading from their (pathetic) R180. This is the most important mod for me, and I'm concerned we'll be forgotten.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPORT IF NOT FOR YOURSELF....PLEASE GO TO ARB USA AND REQUEST THEY DEVELOP AN M205 LOCKER!!!

Contact ARB to request the diff through the main website address sales@arbusa.com
Contact Us

[bestatchess]

I would be interested provided a few people test it and demonstrate it does not grenade the aluminum housing. There are stronger aftermarket CV shafts available, so I don't see that as a big problem.

[rynomx785]

I'm more concerned about front gears at this point.

[LA RANA]

Originally Posted by bestatchess

I would be interested provided a few people test it and demonstrate it does not grenade the aluminum housing. There are stronger aftermarket CV shafts available, so I don't see that as a big problem.

If we don't show support we'll never have the opportunity to find out. But other than their impecable reputation for providing the best locking differentials on the market, I've wheeled with many ARB locker equipped rigs (mostly Xterra's and Jeeps) and not once have I been informed of an ARB differential failure.

Originally Posted by rynomx785

I'm more concerned about front gears at this point..

Man paying twice for labor suck IMO. What we want is to swap the gears and the differential at the same time, so your not having to tear it down and rebuild the M205 twice. I had a front locker on my Scout II and let me tell you first hand the this is a friggin HUGE advantage, you'll be able to successfully run trails which you never would have conquered before. Think about it, power transfered to another tire is a major step up in trail performance capability; there is much more benefit from a front locker than swapping in gears.

[rynomx785]

Ya I hear you but I dont rock crawl or put my truck in those types of situations where a front locker is beneficial. I have a PRG MT kit and wish I had bought a 2wd truck. If I had Id have 4.56's and 37's right now. Thats my main concern.

[NorCal 4x4]

From what I read on the rear ARB locker, our 2 pinion spider gear in the rear are replaced, (possibly with a 4 pinion, but at least different, presumably stronger ones). This benefit would be there even when the rear is acting as an open differential ... non-locked 2wd or 4wd.

Are there any similar strength upgrades that would come with the front ARB locker, that would make it worthwhile even when not locked? I'm thinking yes, and that they would be a good thing for a 4x4 prerunner.

Here's a visual with a rollover parts description, that describes their features. I think it's a rear ... idk
http://arbusa.com/Products/Air-Locke...eering/11.aspx

.

.

[rynomx785]

Ya I agree there but like LA RANA said I'm gonna wait until gears and a locker is available before I have it done. Another thing to consider about the ARB set up is how expensive the compressors are.

[NorCal 4x4]

The compressors don't look too bad, around $250, you could probably use one for both f/r, maybe have to add some additional fittings, and hose. ARB - Onboard Air Compressor | Rugged Rocks Off Road and Communications

I agree though on doing the gears and locker both at the same time would be good, but my gut feeling is that the front gears will be available sooner. If I had a mid travel and wanted to run 37s, (don't think that I would run anything over a 34 anyways), I'd probably do gears as soon as they came out, but since I don't really want gears or tires over 34, the front locker's potential of much greater strength is something I might be interested in.

Btw, LA RANA, I did send an e-mail to ARB about the M205. and asking why they only list the rear being available for the 2005-2007, and not the 2004.

[rynomx785]

Originally Posted by NorCal 4x4

The compressors don't look too bad, around $250, you could probably use one for both f/r, maybe have to add some additional fittings, and hose. ARB - Onboard Air Compressor | Rugged Rocks Off Road and Communications

I agree though on doing the gears and locker both at the same time would be good, but my gut feeling is that the front gears will be available sooner. If I had a mid travel and wanted to run 37s, (don't think that I would run anything over a 34 anyways), I'd probably do gears as soon as they came out, but since I don't really want gears or tires over 34, the front locker's potential of much greater strength is something I might be interested in.

Btw, LA RANA, I did send an e-mail to ARB about the M205. and asking why they only list the rear being available for the 2005-2007, and not the 2004.

If the compressors are only $250 then they have come down quite a bit. They do run both front and rear lockers. Why wouldnt you want to run larger than 34" tires?

[NorCal 4x4]

Originally Posted by rynomx785

If the compressors are only $250 then they have come down quite a bit. They do run both front and rear lockers. Why wouldnt you want to run larger than 34" tires?

Since my truck is my DD, I don't want to lose the power, gas mileage, and handling, that a smaller tire, (33" to 34"), has over a larger ones, (I drive a lot of curves). With 35s or 37s, the power can be restored once there are gears for the front, but the gas mileage will most likely get worse, and there's no way they will handle as good.

Keeping a lower center of gravity helps both on and off road. Ground clearance is only 1/2" better with 35's, (I've only scraped climbing jeep hills with my 33.5's). But even this half inch advantage isn't necessarily true because different tires squish more than others under the truck's weight, (static load radius).

The weight of larger tires, (and certain tire models), kills the gas mileage too. For example stock gas mileage for my Titan with 43 lbs. tires was 14 mpg, with the same size but an LT that weighed 58 lbs. 13 mpg, with my Toyo M/T's which were another 15 pounds more, again another 1 mpg loss. The 37" Toyo M/T's are like 93 lbs. so at over twice stock I'd be lucky to get 10 mpg.

Also, wider will mean more hydroplaning ... all else being equal. For snow, really wide tires can float over deep snow, but normal on road snow works better with a narrow tire.

I'm getting the Nitto Terra Grappler in a LT305/70R17 which I feel is a good compromise size. Good enough for off road but also good for the rain and snow. Stock gears, at least the BT and OR gears should be low enough, and they are over 10 lbs. lighter than my current M/T's.

A taller/wider tire will be better in some off road situations, like rolling over a hole or rut, instead of into it, but other than that I don't know of any advantage ... maybe there is?

[LA RANA]

Originally Posted by NorCal 4x4

From what I read on the rear ARB locker, our 2 pinion spider gear in the rear are replaced, (possibly with a 4 pinion, but at least different, presumably stronger ones). This benefit would be there even when the rear is acting as an open differential ... non-locked 2wd or 4wd.

Are there any similar strength upgrades that would come with the front ARB locker, that would make it worthwhile even when not locked? I'm thinking yes, and that they would be a good thing for a 4x4 prerunner.

Here's a visual with a rollover parts description, that describes their features. I think it's a rear ... idk
Air Locker-Design and Engineering

Norcal you've hit a most significant point, we are not just talking about the benefits of the locker, which as I pointed out earlier are great. ARB differential are designed and fabricated far stronger than Nissan stock differentials, the caliber of their components (including a 4 pinion spider gear, our #1 weakness) are the highest grade available bar none. These benefits are a great asset to rock crawlers, mud boggers, and of course prerunners too. This is an awesome upgrade for any Titan, Frontier, and Xterra that is being modified with high performance in mind, offering a new found level of confidence to the intergrity of your driveline.

Originally Posted by rynomx785

Ya I agree there but like LA RANA said I'm gonna wait until gears and a locker is available before I have it done.

If we don't get organized and show ARB that there is a demand then that opportunity will be missed; honestly its now or never guys. I'm in contact with Superior Axle and ARB about every 2 weeks (sometimes more) and I'm sure 4.10 and 4.56 M205 gears will be released by Superior by April (likely March). What I'm trying to do now is get folks to demonstrate their is big demand for an ARB locking differential for the M205, inspiring ARB to move the M205 locking differential to be the next one they release...instead of sitting on the back burner. ARB has an M205 in their R&D department now and are only waiting for the word from their executive management to get moving. If ARB receives a clear message from us that an M205 locker will serve the Titan, Xterra and Frontier this will represent sufficient demand to cost justify production...hence this same thread is on 5 different boards now.

[LA RANA]

Originally Posted by NorCal 4x4

1) The compressors don't look too bad, around $250, you could probably use one for both f/r.

2) Btw, LA RANA, I did send an e-mail to ARB about the M205...

1) ARB has two compressors, the larger one is $250 and it will fill your tires as well as work two differentials, the smaller one is $150 and will accomodate two ARB differentials but will not fill your tires. I have the smaller compressor because there is not a whole lot of spare romm under my hood and I did not want it in the cabin or underneath mounted on the frame (even with a breather hose for water and mud, the rocks would destroy it).

2) Thanks, now if we can only get some more folks to step up and show ARB that Nissan trucks have a demand for high performance after market support!!

[LA RANA]

Dear ARB,

All Nissan trucks that came from the factory with a V8 engine between 2004 and 2010, including Titan, Armada, Pathfinder, and the Infinity QX56 come stock with the M205 front differential, and all V6 Nissan trucks including (Frontier, Xterra, Suzuki Equator, come with the R180 (smaller/weaker) front differential. There is large number of Nissan trucks owners who enjoy four wheeling and many of those folks with with the V6 engine and the R180 front differential have removed the R180 differential to install the M205 differential; most due to failures of the R180.

I have a Nissan Xterra with a M205 front differential. My Xterra came from the factory with an E-locker in the M226 rear differential, but I already have swapped it out and installed an ARB Air Locker in my Xterra's M226 rear differential (RD-149). I am anxiously awaiting being locked in both front and rear (like a host of others I know).

Please note that the Nissan M226 rear differential came with an E-locker option from the factory for Xterra, Frontier, Equator, Titan Armada, Pathfinder, and the Infinity QX56, so many folks in Nissan's off roading community have a locking rear differential already. However, Nissan has never offered a front locker option for any vehicle. If ARB commits to steps up now and support us with a locking differential for the M205 then the M205 will serve the Titan, Armada, Pathfinder, Infinity QX56, Frontier, Xterra, and Equator as the differential which has a front locker option; THIS WILL SELL many more units in the first 6 to 12 months alone than your M226 locking differential will ever sell!! The junk yards across the United States and Canada have M205 lockers available and I assure you the Xterra and Frontier (and now the Equator as well) off roading community is buying up used M205 differentials to replace the weaker or damaged R180 differential; I can prove this statement is fact with statistics. Today, using just one search engine (Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market), I count 90 listings for available M205 with a 3.357 gear ratio, and 155 listings for M205 differentials available with 2.397 gear ratio. There are threads posted throughout all Nissan truck owner forums (along with links to the used M205 differentials) discussing the desire for ARB to support the M205 and we request that you please consider moving up your release date to develop the ARB M205 locking differential now.

Please advise on the target release date for an ARB air locker for the M205, we are standing by and ready to purchase immediately.

Thank you

[LA RANA]

ARB response to email above ^^^

"Hi Jim,
We are working HQ on this issue and will keep you posted."

Jim Jackson
President
ARB-USA


EDIT: so now that we have their attention we can't let up, those with a desire for a front locker, maybe planning one, please start sending those requests.