2005 & up Xterra & Frontier Atlas Install

*Navigate Xterra Installtion by using the Xterra Installation navigation payne on the left.

Drive shafts The front driveshaft needs to be shortened. The original Nisan transfer case has zero offset from the transfer case mounting surface to the center of the U-joint. The Atlas II has 2.38” positive offset and the adapter has .38” thickness. This results in the need of the front driveshaft to be shortened by 2”. Measure your specific application in case of running change.

Note that the original U-joints will not fit the 1310 yoke on the Atlas II. The cup diameter is correct but the cross length is slightly longer. Forcing the stock U-joints into the Atlas II will damage the ears and/or the U-joint cups. When having the driveshaft shortened have the tube side changed from the Nissan flange to a true 1310 U-joint.

The rear driveshaft offers a challenge if using the Atlas II on an Xterra. The Xterra uses a 6 ball CV joint instead of a U-joint at the rear axle. When used on lifted vehicles the CV starts running out of angular travel. It is recommended to replace the axle CV with a flange and standard U-joint. Note that there are 2 different splines for the pinion on the Dana axle found on Nissans. Later model Dana 44 axles have the same spline as the Jeep JK, this makes adapting a U-joint in place of the CV joint a fairly easy process. Tom Woods Custom Drive shafts stocks these flanges.

We sent the measurements, the front driveshaft and the rear axle flange to Tom Woods Custom Drive shafts. They matched the rear pinion splines, sent a JK flange and a rear driveshaft was built with a 1330 CV at the Atlas and standard 1330 at the axle.

Tom Woods also shortened the front driveshaft and converted the U-joint to standard 1310 to mate to the Atlas. The driveshaft slip yoke was moved from the transfer case side to the axle side to accommodate this change (both flanges on the Nissan driveshaft are the same).