I am having a problem with my tranny. Everytime I accelerate I hear something clunking out of the tranny. I think it may be some type of bearing which I hear is common for the 5 speed. I was thinking about changeing the fluid but I do not think it would help. If it is a bearing what does that do and how long can I drive with it like that? I have been hearing the noise for around a month but it has gotten worse today. Would it be worth just buying a used tranny or having this one rebuilt? Where is a cheap place to find a tranny? And how much would a rebuilt or a used one cost?

 

What mods do you have? I once had a CAI and it started clunking when accelerating. Thought it was a motor or tranny mount but ended up being the CAI hitting the fender. Also check your axles. I have a clunking(not clicking like a CV joint) from my axles when I turn left only .

 

my car's been doing that for months and while its gotten worse, I've put almost 12,000 miles on it. I bought the car knowing it made that noise (got a good deal) so who knows how long it was doing it before me. I drive it hard too, still. It's starting to get loud now, but goes away when I push the clutch in. I don't get any fluid leaks which others here have reported. I took it to a tranny shop last week for estimates and they said it'd be 1000-1200$, pretty much what I expected when I bought it. I'm not saying you'll be able to go as far as I have with the problem but its an example. I wouldn't doubt I can keep going without fixing it for a little while longer but I don't want to take the chance of having something break, better to fix it now. It will be better in the long run.

I've been thinking of getting a used low mileage one to put in there but why risk putting a bad transmission in there, especially when if your having someone do the work, there is little chance of getting any warranty.
Better off getting it rebuilt, if you can afford it.

 

If you think its some type of bearing, it could be your throwout bearing. You want to get that replaced asap, because it could do more damage to your clutch and pressure plate, which means more $.

 

As far as the clutch and pressure plate. I think it's best to put a clutch kit in there while you have it apart anyway.

Having the same problem right now. Doesn't look like a bright future for my "new" max.
Go Here:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=424222

 

Does it happen in every gear? What about in Neutral? Can you get down under the car and verify that it's the tranny that's making the noise? The first thing I would try is new tranny fluid. If that doesn't help at all you have little choice but to rebuild/replace the tranny.

 

It could be the dreaded differential bearing problem.

 

Clunking is not the diff bearing or input shaft bearing. Both of those bearings make a whining or ratcheting noise (like if you spin a ratchet really fast). No clunk associated with them. I don't know what's wrong with your trans but its not those bearings I'm willing to bet.

 

What about me Nealoc? Think the same way? It seems like everywhere I go I'm not getting any help from mechanics. They make it seem as if the only way to find out is to take out the tranny.

 

It is louder in 2-3-4 but not as much in 1-5. It sucks because money is a big issue. How long can I drive with this?

 

When the clutch is in it doesn't do it or at idle.

 

Same with me. Does the sound go away as soon as you push it to the floor or does it fade out?

 

I think it fades out.

 

I've got a video of what the input shaft bearing sounds like maybe I should post it. Anyways majestic I read your thread and I'm sure yours is the input shaft bearing. Most places you are looking at probably $600-800 to replace it. The part itself is like $20.

I'd suggest possibly looking into a performance trans shop doing the work. I just had a transmission built up to handle my 500ish hp and it was actually cheaper than what I paid back about 4 years ago to just have the input shaft bearing replaced... and I got hooked up back then even.

Problem with replacing these bearings is that the shims are on backorder from nissan for weeks, perhaps months. They could re-use the same shims if you want your car back quickly, but the problem would surface in about the same mileage again (probably 80-100k miles)

Umass, I don't have a clue what the problem with your car is unless you are describing the same thing majestic is, but calling it a clunk. I definately wouldn't classify the input shaft or differential bearing noise as a clunk.

 

Well it sounds like something clunking around in the transmission.

 

When I first started my car today it sounded fine for around 20 min then it got louder.

 

Yeah. Umass is sounds like you have the same problem. Sometimes its loud and sometimes it's not. If you rev the engine does it make the sound faster?

 

No when the clutch is in or I am in netural you can not hear it. Only when moving.

 

Oh. Your problem is different from mine then. When I start the car with the clutch pushed in it sounds normal and quiet....As soon as i let off the clutch you hear the noise. Sometimes it's really loud. Sometimes it's faint.

 

I just had the car checked out and they said it is some type of bearing. Maybe a dif. bearing. How long can I drive with a bad bearing? Would it be cheaper just to buy a used tranny?

 

I got a estimate of 700 for the bearings and 1100 for bearings and clutch.

 

Is that with or w/o parts?

 

That is with parts. What makes the bearings fail?

 

From what I've read. Correct me if I'm wrong. Nissan manufactured the wrong size which causes the bearings to fail over time. The new ones need to be shimmed before installation.

It's on the first page of the "4th Gen FAQ" thread.

 

Will it make the car shift better or worse?

 

What are the good things about having new bearing put in?

 

I imagine it would feel like stock. or not much different. I'm not sure if the shifting would be easier either. Unless you put better gear oil in when you repair it.
I would sent a PM to Nealoc.....

 

I had exactly the same problem as you guys are describing. Just swapped it out as quickly as I could with another junkyard tranny and kept driving. $500, parts and labor, from a little shop where the guy just had an old junkyard tranny kickin' around. Either way you look at it, a swap is cheaper than a rebuild, so you might want to just scour some junkyards for a tranny and have someone slap it in there for you.

The problem with the input shaft bearings was that Nissan used the wrong preload, which causes them to wear out prematurely. That won't affect shifting.... it'll just make some crazy racket until it dies or you fix/replace your tranny. There's also a similar issue with the differential bearings, apparently.

 

Where can we find a used gen5 tranny other than car-parts.com? Not many junk yards around here. Expecially not ones with gen5's.

 

Im having some tranny problems too, i get a real loud whining noise but it fades out completely when the clutch is pressed in so i think its the throwout bearing, but a couple days ago i been getting really loud clunks only in first and reverse though but i can avoid them if i slightly overrev and i dont know whats going on, the clunks are so loud it almost seemed like a bad engine mount or something but then when i rev it high in first and drop it into second there is no noise at all, any advice?? - Andy

 

druwmax, I am getting the same thing, when I take off in first or if I put it in reverse and let the clutch out it makes a clunking sound, shifting through 2,3,4 and 5 gears are all fine. Any ideas guys?