Master bearing and seal kit for the Dana 44 rear axle used in the Nissan Titan: Koyo carrier and pinion bearings, pinion seal, crush sleeve and nut.
A first-generation Nissan Titan that has started howling from the rear at highway speed, an Armada that weeps gear oil from the pinion seal, or a QX56 getting a ratio change for bigger tires all end up at the same job: a complete bearing rebuild of the rear axle. The Motive Gear RA28RHDMK master bearing kit covers that job for the Dana-built rear Nissan calls the M226, using Koyo tapered bearings for both the carrier and the pinion plus the pinion seal, crush sleeve, pinion nut, cover gasket and marking compound.
The Titan rear is often called a Dana 44, but it is a Nissan-specific Dana Super 44 design with 32-spline axle shafts, and its internals do not swap with a Jeep or older full-size truck Dana 44. West Coast Differentials identifies it as the M226 with 32-spline shafts and notes that trucks with the factory electric locker use an offset cross pin and unequal-length axles. None of that changes the bearing job, but it is a good reminder that this kit is made for this housing only.
The pinion gear rides on two tapered roller bearings, a large inner bearing at the gear head and a smaller outer bearing near the yoke. A crush sleeve between them is collapsed by the pinion nut until the bearings reach a set rotating drag. The carrier, open or electric-locking, turns on two tapered side bearings that position the ring gear against the pinion. A heavy half-ton that tows a camper puts a lot of load through those four bearings, and once they wear the pinion can shift under throttle, the contact pattern moves and the gears start to sing.
Drain the rear and look at the oil. Fine metallic paste on the drain plug magnet is normal, but chunks, flakes or a burnt smell point to bearing or gear damage. With the truck on stands and the driveshaft off, grab the yoke and check for play, then spin it by hand and feel for roughness. Drive the truck at the speed where the noise is worst and switch between light throttle and coast; a noise that changes with load is usually the gear set or pinion bearings, while one that changes in turns is more likely a wheel bearing. If the ring and pinion teeth are pitted or scored, plan to replace the gears along with this kit.
This kit is listed for the Dana 44 / M226 rear axle used by Nissan under the Titan, the Armada and the Infiniti QX56. Application data most often lists the first-generation Titan from 2004 through 2015, though some catalogs show a shorter range, and Nissan changed parts such as the pinion flange between the 2004-2007 and 2008-up trucks. Because of that, read the axle tag or send us your year and VIN before ordering so we can confirm the bearing set. Other axle hard parts, including the Titan E-Locker differential case, are in our differential hard parts section.
Before teardown, measure and write down backlash and the existing pinion shim thickness, and mark the bearing caps so they go back on the same side. Pull the axles, the carrier and the pinion, then press the old cones off and drive the races out. Start with the factory pinion shim, press on the new inner bearing, install the races and fit a new crush sleeve. Tighten the pinion nut in small steps and check drag with an inch-pound torque wrench as you go; Yukon's published setup chart for the M226 lists 15-25 in-lb with new bearings and backlash of 0.006-0.011 in. Overshooting preload crushes the sleeve too far and means starting over with another sleeve. Install the carrier with its new bearings, set backlash with a dial indicator, then paint the ring gear with the included compound and read the pattern. Refill with 75W-90 gear oil, and use friction modifier only if the truck has a clutch-type limited slip such as an aftermarket unit. A rebuild is also the time to add a 32-spline Detroit Truetrac if you want traction without the factory locker.
| Fits | Dana 44 rear axle used by Nissan (Titan, Armada, Infiniti QX56) |
| Part number | Motive Gear RA28RHDMK |
| Bearings | Koyo tapered carrier and pinion bearings |
| Includes | Koyo carrier bearings, Koyo front and rear pinion bearings, pinion seal, crush sleeve or preload shim pack, pinion nut, cover gasket or RTV, marking compound and brush |
| Condition | New |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. The Titan, Armada and QX56 rear is the Nissan M226 version of the Dana Super 44, and its bearings and setup are different from Jeep JK, JL, TJ and older full-size truck Dana 44 axles. Use this kit only on the Nissan rear.
It is listed for the first-generation Titan rear, most commonly 2004 through 2015, and the Armada and QX56 that share the axle. Some catalogs show a shorter range, so send your year and VIN and we will confirm before it ships.
No. It is the bearing and seal set: Koyo carrier and pinion bearings, pinion seal, crush sleeve, pinion nut, cover gasket and marking compound. If the gear teeth are pitted or the gears are being changed, buy the ring and pinion separately.
Yukon's setup chart for the M226 lists 15-25 inch-pounds of rotating drag with new bearings and 0.006-0.011 in. of backlash. Measure with an inch-pound torque wrench and creep up on the number, because over-crushing the sleeve means replacing it.
A quality 75W-90 gear oil is the usual choice. Add friction modifier only if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip; the factory electric locker is an open differential that locks on command and does not need it.
