Nissan Pathfinder (2009 year). Manual - part 232

DLN-338

< ON-VEHICLE MAINTENANCE >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL

ON-VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL

Changing Differential Gear Oil

INFOID:0000000003937429

DRAINING

1.

Stop the engine.

2.

Remove the drain plug and gasket from the front final drive
assembly to drain the differential gear oil.

3.

Install the drain plug with a new gasket to the front final drive
assembly. Tighten to the specified torque. Refer to 

DLN-345,

"Disassembly and Assembly"

.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse gasket.

FILLING

1.

Remove the filler plug and gasket from the front final drive
assembly.

2.

Fill the front final drive assembly with new differential gear oil
until the level reaches the specified level near the filler plug hole.

3.

Install the filler plug with a new gasket on it to the front final drive
assembly. Tighten to the specified torque. Refer to 

DLN-345,

"Disassembly and Assembly"

.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse gasket.

Checking Differential Gear Oil

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DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL LEAKAGE AND LEVEL

1.

Make sure that differential gear oil is not leaking from the front final drive assembly or around it.

2.

Check the differential gear oil level from the filler plug hole as
shown.

CAUTION:

Do not start engine while checking differential gear oil level.

3.

Install the filler plug with a new gasket on it to the front final drive
assembly. Tighten to the specified torque. Refer to 

DLN-345,

"Disassembly and Assembly"

.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse gasket.

LDIA0175E

Differential gear oil 
grade and capacity

: Refer to 

MA-12, "Fluids 

and Lubricants"

.

LDIA0176E

LDIA0176E

2009 Pathfinder

FRONT OIL SEAL

DLN-339

< ON-VEHICLE REPAIR >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

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ON-VEHICLE REPAIR

FRONT OIL SEAL

Removal and Installation

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REMOVAL

1.

Remove the drive shafts from the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

RAX-9, "Removal and Installation"

.

2.

Remove the front propeller shaft from the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

DLN-309, "Removal and

Installation"

.

3.

Measure the total preload torque. Refer to 

DLN-345, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

NOTE:
Record the total preload torque measurement.

4.

Remove the drive pinion lock nut using Tool.

5.

Put matching marks on the companion flange and drive pinion
using paint.

CAUTION:

Use paint to make the matching marks. Do not damage the
companion flange or drive pinion.

6.

Remove the companion flange using suitable tool.

7.

Remove the front oil seal using Tool.

INSTALLATION

Tool number

: KV38108300 (

—

)

BDIA0001E

LDIA0171E

Tool number

: KV381054S0 (J-34286)

LDIA0172E

2009 Pathfinder

DLN-340

< ON-VEHICLE REPAIR >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

FRONT OIL SEAL

1.

Apply multi-purpose grease to the lips and differential gear oil to
the circumference of the new front oil seal. Then drive the new
front oil seal in evenly until it becomes flush with the gear carrier
using Tools.

CAUTION:

• Do not reuse front oil seal.
• Do not incline the new front oil seal when installing.
• Apply multi-purpose grease to the lips and differential

gear oil to the circumference of the new front oil seal.

2.

Install the companion flange to the drive pinion while aligning the matching marks.

3.

Apply anti-corrosive oil to the threads of the drive pinion and the
seating surface of the new drive pinion lock nut. Then adjust the
drive pinion lock nut tightening torque using Tool A, and check
the total preload torque using Tool B.

• The total preload torque should be within the total preload

torque specification. When not replacing the collapsible
spacer, it should also be equal to the measurement taken dur-
ing removal plus an additional 0.56 N·m (0.06 Kg-m, 5 in-lb).

• If the total preload torque is low, tighten the drive pinion lock

nut in 6.8 N·m (0.69 Kg-m, 5ft-lb) increments until the total pre-
load torque is met.

CAUTION:

• Do not reuse drive pinion lock nut.
• Apply anti-corrosive oil to the threads of the drive pinion

and the seating surface of the new drive pinion lock nut.

• Adjust the drive pinion lock nut tightening torque to the

lower limit first. Do not exceed the drive pinion lock nut
specified torque. Refer to 

DLN-345, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

• Do not loosen drive pinion lock nut to adjust the total preload torque. If the drive pinion lock nut

torque or the total preload torque exceeds the specifications, replace the collapsible spacer and
tighten it again to adjust. Refer to 

DLN-345, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

• After adjustment, rotate drive pinion back and forth 2 to 3 times to check for unusual noise, rota-

tion malfunction, and other malfunctions.

4.

Install new side oil seals into the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

DLN-341, "Removal and Installation"

.

5.

Installation of the remaining components is in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:

Check the differential gear oil level after installation. Refer to 

DLN-338, "Checking Differential Gear

Oil"

.

Tool number

A: ST30720000 (J-25405)

B: ST27863000 (

—

)

WDIA0147E

Tool number

A: KV38108300 (

—

)

B: ST3127S000 (J-25765-A)

Total preload torque:

Refer to 

DLN-345, "Disassem-

bly and Assembly"

.

WDIA0381E

2009 Pathfinder

SIDE OIL SEAL

DLN-341

< ON-VEHICLE REPAIR >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

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SIDE OIL SEAL

Removal and Installation

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REMOVAL

1.

Remove the drive shafts from the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

FAX-6, "VQ40DE : Removal and

Installation"

.

2.

Remove the side oil seal using suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse the side oil seal.

INSTALLATION

1.

Apply multi-purpose grease to the lips and differential gear oil to
the circumference of the new side oil seal. Then drive the new
side oil seal in evenly until it becomes flush with the gear carrier
using Tools.

CAUTION:

• Do not reuse side oil seal.
• Do not incline the new side oil seal when installing.
• Apply multi-purpose grease to the lips and differential

gear oil to the circumference of the new side oil seal.

2.

Installation of the remaining components is in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:

Check the differential gear oil level after installation. Refer to 

DLN-338, "Checking Differential Gear

Oil"

.

LDIA0173E

Tool number

A: ST30720000 (J-25405)

B: ST27863000 (

—

)

PDIA0826E

2009 Pathfinder

DLN-342

< ON-VEHICLE REPAIR >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

CARRIER COVER

CARRIER COVER

Removal and Installation

INFOID:0000000003937433

REMOVAL

1.

Remove the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

DLN-343, "Removal and Installation"

.

2.

Remove the carrier cover bolts and separate the carrier cover
from the gear carrier using Tool.

CAUTION:

• Do not damage the mating surface.
• Do not insert flat-bladed screwdriver, this will damage the

mating surface.

INSTALLATION

1.

Apply a 3 mm (0.12 in) bead of sealant to the mating surface of
the carrier cover as shown.
• Use Genuine Silicone RTV or equivalent. Refer to 

GI-26,

"Recommended Chemical Products and Sealants"

.

CAUTION:

Remove any old sealant adhering to the mating surfaces.
Also remove any moisture, oil, or foreign material adhering
to the application and mating surfaces.

2.

Install the carrier cover to the gear carrier. Tighten the bolts to
the specified torque. Refer to 

DLN-345, "Disassembly and

Assembly"

.

3.

Install the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

DLN-343,

"Removal and Installation"

.

CAUTION:

Fill the front final drive assembly with recommended differential gear oil. Refer to 

DLN-338

.

Tool number

: KV10111100 (J-37228)

PDIA0699E

PDIA0712E

2009 Pathfinder

FRONT FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY

DLN-343

< REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

FRONT FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY

Removal and Installation

INFOID:0000000003937434

REMOVAL

1.

Drain the differential gear oil. Refer to 

DLN-338

.

2.

Remove the drive shafts from the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

FAX-6, "VQ40DE : Removal and

Installation"

.

3.

Remove the front crossmember.

4.

Remove the front propeller shaft from the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

DLN-309, "Removal and

Installation"

.

5.

Disconnect the vent hose from the front final drive assembly.

1.

Breather hose

2.

Front final drive assembly

3.

Front crossmember

Vehicle front

AWDIA0018GB

2009 Pathfinder

DLN-344

< REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

FRONT FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY

6.

Support the front final drive assembly using a suitable jack.

7.

Remove the front final drive assembly bolts, then remove the
front final drive assembly.

CAUTION:

Support the front final drive assembly while removing using
a suitable jack.

INSTALLATION

Installation is in the reverse order of removal.
• Install new side oil seals into the front final drive assembly. Refer to 

DLN-341, "Removal and Installation"

.

CAUTION:

• Make sure there are no pinched or restricted areas on the breather hose caused by folding or bend-

ing when installing it.

• Fill the front final drive assembly with differential gear oil after installation. Refer to 

DLN-338

.

WDIA0145E

2009 Pathfinder

FRONT FINAL DRIVE

DLN-345

< DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY >

[FRONT FINAL DRIVE: R180A]

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY

FRONT FINAL DRIVE

Disassembly and Assembly

INFOID:0000000003937435

COMPONENTS

1.

Drive pinion lock nut

2.

Companion flange

3.

Front oil seal

4.

Drive pinion front bearing

5.

Gear carrier

6.

Side oil seal

7.

Bushing

8.

Differential side shaft

9.

Differential side shaft bearing

10. Snap ring

11.

Snap ring

12. Gasket

13. Drain plug

14. Collapsible spacer

15. Drive pinion rear bearing

16. Drive pinion height adjusting washer 17. Drive pinion

18. Side bearing adjusting washer

19. Side bearing

20. Side gear thrust washer

21. Side gear

22. Pinion mate shaft

23. Lock pin

24. Pinion mate gear

25. Pinion mate thrust washer

26. Drive gear

27. Differential case

WDIA0265E

2009 Pathfinder