[PutMeInTheSky]

What?

I don't even see this on the list in the "hardbody and 1st gen axle" sticky!

I SWEAR the sticker in my door says "Axle - H646". I guess I'm going to have to post a picture of it, or something!

Also, as I'm trying to understand what different ratios mean. Am I correct in thinking that a 3.whatever ratio has less low-end torque, but more top end speed? Whereas a 5.whatever would have super high torque, like crawler gears?

 

[penski61]

probably a typo
HG46 - found on auto equipped pathfinders, 96-97 hardody 4 bangers, many Xterras and Frontiers. This one has some variation. Pre-2000 versions are the H233B axle with 4.625:1 gearing (31 spline axles). 2000+ is the H233B axle with 4.636:1 gearing (33 spline axles). Typically comes with an R200 front axle, with the exception being in the '96-97 Hardbody pickups - those had an H233B / R180 combination. Axle shafts in the H233B were 31 spline up to about 2000, where they switched to 33 spline shafts. All Xterras and R50 Pathfinders received the 33 spline axles. In Frontiers, it can be a crapshoot if you have a '99-'00 model, though it is believed that the switchover was at or near 2/00 production date.

 

[fusionfronty99]

probably a typo
HG46 - found on auto equipped pathfinders, 96-97 hardody 4 bangers, many Xterras and Frontiers. This one has some variation. Pre-2000 versions are the H233B axle with 4.625:1 gearing (31 spline axles). 2000+ is the H233B axle with 4.636:1 gearing (33 spline axles). Typically comes with an R200 front axle, with the exception being in the '96-97 Hardbody pickups - those had an H233B / R180 combination. Axle shafts in the H233B were 31 spline up to about 2000, where they switched to 33 spline shafts. All Xterras and R50 Pathfinders received the 33 spline axles. In Frontiers, it can be a crapshoot if you have a '99-'00 model, though it is believed that the switchover was at or near 2/00 production date.

this^

 

[chainsaw]

Penski nailed it. And you are correct about gear ratios.

 

[PutMeInTheSky]

probably a typo

Twas indeed a typo. I took it to a mechanic on the way home from work.

2000+ is the H233B axle with 4.636:1 gearing (33 spline axles). Typically comes with an R200 front axle

This must be me. 2004 Desert Runner, which means no on the front axle... right? Once again, please excuse my ignorance....

 

[PutMeInTheSky]

What's the benefit of having more splines? (31 vs. 33)

Also, what was their reasoning for changing the ratio? Seems like the lower one would have been a tad more freeway friendly.

Sometimes I feel like my truck wants a 6th gear. Any chance of THAT happening?

 

[Mathster]

What's the benefit of having more splines? (31 vs. 33)

Also, what was their reasoning for changing the ratio? Seems like the lower one would have been a tad more freeway friendly.

Sometimes I feel like my truck wants a 6th gear. Any chance of THAT happening?

higher spline count = more contact area.
more contact area = less stress in the material for the load

These engines are tuned to run best around 3000 RPMS. at highway speeds thats 80 mph in my 00 DR. While a 6th gear probably looks right on the tac, thats not where the engine wants to be.
If you drive carefully, it will feel like the truck shifts 6 times, but thats your torque converter locking up.

 

[roastbeef]

the difference in spline count is huge. the 33 is much stronger then the 31.

the benefits of gearing is all about torque, and where you want it.
a higher gear (lower numerically) is going to have more torque, and be faster, but its going to be a short gear, thus making all your transmission gears shorter in turn.

a lower gear (higher numerically) are useless unless you have larger tires, because it will make your truck slower. lower gears are used to gain back power that is "lost" when using larger tires.

 

[PutMeInTheSky]

higher spline count = more contact area.
more contact area = less stress in the material for the load

These engines are tuned to run best around 3000 RPMS. at highway speeds thats 80 mph in my 00 DR. While a 6th gear probably looks right on the tac, thats not where the engine wants to be.
If you drive carefully, it will feel like the truck shifts 6 times, but thats your torque converter locking up.

I drive a manual, so no torque converter. Right?

So why do the new manual transmission trucks have 6 gears? What's the reasoning? Do they put the extra gearing on the low end and not the top?

When my truck sees 3k RPM, I'm doing 70mph. That just seems like too low of a gear ratio. Does this mean something is wrong?

(Maybe I'm just not used to the whole concept of driving a truck?

1st gear seems almost too low, also. Maybe my ideas of when to shift are way off. I generally let the tac get to 3k before I shift up. If I'm getting into it, I'll go to 4k. But that's only when I'm really having fun or accelerating REAL hard.

 

[Alec]

I drive a manual, so no torque converter. Right?

When my truck sees 3k RPM, I'm doing 70mph. That just seems like too low of a gear ratio. Does this mean something is wrong?

no torque converter, mine does 3k at 70 too

not to threadjack but i have a 2000 how would i know if im 33spline or 31

 

[chainsaw]

no torque converter, mine does 3k at 70 too

not to threadjack but i have a 2000 how would i know if im 33spline or 31

To be absolutely sure, put it out and count em.

 

[PutMeInTheSky]

Someone said in another thread talking about this, that my axle is in the 9.25 range. I had no idea what they were talking about, so I googled 9.25 axle.

With a little reading, I learned that this meant that the size of the ring gear is 9.25".

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess that this just adds up to more material, thus a stronger ring gear...

Am I getting somewhere now?

So, was there no standard on whether or not they included an LSD on these vehicles? I'm still trying to figure out if I even need one yet. (If I don't already have one) I guess I need to jack up my ***-end and spin a wheel....

 

[roastbeef]

if your axle looks like this, it is an h233b, 33 spline, limited slip. yes, it has about a 9.25" ring gear. pretty strong axle, i have been wheeling with it for a few years now.

not all h233s are lsd or 33 spine, but with your axle code and the year of your truck, its got to be what i described above.

 

[fusionfronty99]

no torque converter, mine does 3k at 70 too

not to threadjack but i have a 2000 how would i know if im 33spline or 31

31 splines were made up to 9/99... so if your one of the VERY VERY few 2000s made in 99 then your good, otherwise your 33 spline

most 99 model years were made until 7/99 so you only have a 2 month window

mine was made in 12/98

putmeinthesky, your axle is 33 spline

btw, yes the 33 spline is slightly stronger, but the locker options for 31 splines are more plentiful and when the shaft fails on a 31 spline, it usually does at the hub (smallest diameter)... but with a 33 spline it fails at the carrier... which equals a destroyed R&P/carrier... this is an expensive proposition if you have an ARB

 

[Alec]

31 splines were made up to 9/99... so if your one of the VERY VERY few 2000s made in 99 then your good, otherwise your 33 spline

my truck was made in 9/99 lol so which one am i then

 

[fusionfronty99]

my truck was made in 9/99 lol so which one am i then

hit or miss, pull the shafts

 

[Alec]

hit or miss, pull the shafts

dammit

 

[Mathster]

I drive a manual, so no torque converter. Right?

So why do the new manual transmission trucks have 6 gears? What's the reasoning? Do they put the extra gearing on the low end and not the top?

When my truck sees 3k RPM, I'm doing 70mph. That just seems like too low of a gear ratio. Does this mean something is wrong?

(Maybe I'm just not used to the whole concept of driving a truck?

1st gear seems almost too low, also. Maybe my ideas of when to shift are way off. I generally let the tac get to 3k before I shift up. If I'm getting into it, I'll go to 4k. But that's only when I'm really having fun or accelerating REAL hard.

uhm... old age and have both generations in the drive way confuses me sometimes.
yea, a 5 speed in a gen 1 would be a manual, mines 4 speed automatic, but occationally feels like it has 5 or 6 gears the way the tach moves.

My gen 2 X with an automatic cruises a bit below 2000 rpms. the engines are tuned differently. the truck pulls stronger over 2800 rpms. the X seems to shift up about 3000 rpms and keeps pulling.

 

[roastbeef]

btw, yes the 33 spline is slightly stronger, but the locker options for 31 splines are more plentiful and when the shaft fails on a 31 spline, it usually does at the hub (smallest diameter)... but with a 33 spline it fails at the carrier... which equals a destroyed R&P/carrier... this is an expensive proposition if you have an ARB

i don't know if this statement is entirely accurate. where have you read about a 33 spline shaft failure? i haven't read about one anywhere. i'm not saying it doesn't happen, but most people swap axles when they start getting into advanced wheeling.

the 31's taper down at the splines significantly, the 33 spline taper is very, very slight. the guys who built my truck were running 31 spline h233's with detroits and they broke at least three shafts in the short while they were runing them. all the breaks were at the spline taper near the carrier, but didn't take out the locker.

not sure what a 33 spline failure would look like, but there is not much of a taper.

 

[fusionfronty99]

i don't know if this statement is entirely accurate. where have you read about a 33 spline shaft failure? i haven't read about one anywhere. i'm not saying it doesn't happen, but most people swap axles when they start getting into advanced wheeling.

the 31's taper down at the splines significantly, the 33 spline taper is very, very slight. the guys who built my truck were running 31 spline h233's with detroits and they broke at least three shafts in the short while they were runing them. all the breaks were at the spline taper near the carrier, but didn't take out the locker.

not sure what a 33 spline failure would look like, but there is not much of a taper.

its been mostly on N4W and on pirate, search

the taper at the hubs (like you show, at the drum assembly) on a 31 spline is way more then 33 splines... so yes 31 splines fail there (it acts as a sort of safety measure), however because the 33 splines are thicker there, they fail usually at the carrier... this can also be seen with simple machine/mechanisms torsion problems, the stress concentration on the 33 splines is more towards the carrier (because of diameter, and length that the torque is being applied over)... which acts as a modifying factor increasing the stresses experienced

i pulled my shafts when i wanted to see what spline i was and mine were cracked at the hub (drivers side, 31 spline), good thing i caught it... simple JY fix