I drive a 95 Maxima SE 5-speed and my Tranny needs to be replaced. I want to know what my options are,

-I've read in the stickies the 2000-2001 tranny will require me to get new axles (how expensive is this?)

-I've read about people using transmission from other Nissans, like the altima because of better gear ratios, which years Altima should I look for at the wrecker? Are all the mounts the same?

-Or I could just look for a 1998-1999 5 speed tranny

What should I do? Or other suggestions are welcome...

Just get a used tranny from a used car yard. There just as good as a new one but 3/4 the price.

Just as good except that the bearings might be shot

Seriously, used trannys with lower miles are lower *risk* than one with higher miles, and they might buy you a little more time, but that doesn't mean they're going to be trouble free. The nice thing about a used tranny is that you can get work done on it while you continue to use the car. This saves money and gives you more options.

IMO, if you're going to keep the car for a while, I would never consider putting in a tranny that hasn't been rebuilt or at least disassembled and inspected. If you buy a used tranny, take it to a tranny shop and have them take it apart and really check it out.

Dave

Thanks for the reply, heres a quick update and quick questions before I spend $1000...

I'm planning on getting a MT tranny from either a 2000 or 2001 Maxima, I've learned from searching that getting a locking differential AE tranny will require me to also get the drivers side Axle from the AE Maxima.

This 5th generation tranny is a direct bolt on correct? All I need is a Non locking 2000 tranny or a locking 2001 tranny and drivers side axle?

Will I lose much performance without the locking differential? I'm not the "take the car to the track" type, so will I even notice the difference?

Thanks in adavnced for the help

That is false. 00-01 is no different than 97-99. You will not need new axles. The stickies are wrong. I'd get an LSD tranny which came on the 01 AE Maxima or the 96-99 I30. Both will bolt right up but you will need to get an LSD driver's side axle. Keep in mind that any 95-96 tranny will be only single synchro for 1st gear unlike the 97-01 which is dual synchro for 1st.

You will feel some difference on the street with an open diff, but only when you're accelerating in a turn. For example, pulling a quick left across traffic and trying to get moving fast, you'll feel the car pull differently as the weight shifts, etc. With an LSD tranny, it pulls more solidly and straight ahead. If you're racing for time, it's a vitally important difference. If you're just driving on the street, you have to steer a little more attentively.

But IMO for a street driven/daily driven vehicle, the open/LSD issue is not that great. In a straight line, the differential is not active, so the power capacity and performance does not change.

Sorry I can't speak about the details of fitting up a 5th gen tranny, because I haven't done one. But I think the 5th gen 5sp is a bolt-up like you say. It's the cable-shifted 6 speeds and later models that don't fit without major modifications.

Again, with *any* tranny you buy IMNSHO it's critical to get it split open and inspected before installing it. It only takes 20min, so if you pay a shop to inspect it the cost is still very small, and it saves you tremendous future headaches.

Dave

Off the line there is no difference between the two, but I instantly felt the difference is cornering. Even in quick turns in the city. I got a brand new LSD tranny for $1750 shipped from Infiniti of Scottsdale. The LSD tranny is $30 cheaper than the open diff version.

Thank you guys so much for the lightning fast responses, its killing me to have my Max out of commision, you guys are awesome.

Two last questions,

1) What does the dual synchro do on first gear? I dont want to waste your time with a lengthy explaination of how trasmission work etc etc. "It makes it more durable, or accelerate faster" or an answer of that nature will suffice =)

2) So I dont get ***-raped at the transmission shop, how many hours labour is a tranny swap?

Oh, and I would not worry about the Altima trannys unless you drive like a granny. I don't know how the 00+ Altima trannys look inside, but in the 9x-99 range they are weaker and have less aggressive gear ratios. They work just fine, but the Maxima is built a little stronger.

Dave

A dual synchro will shift better while the car is in motion. But since I rarely shift into first on a roll (something that *some* autox'ers do), it's largely irrelevant. Especially irrelevant if you make the shift into 1st without mashing it.

Basically, 1st is the largest and heaviest gear to synchronize on a shift, followed by 2nd and 3rd. Double-cone synchros grab better and are usually put on these gears to handle the load. But since it's rare to push into 1st while rolling, many trannys just put in a single cone synchro on first to save space/money.

Dave

The 5th gens have a double synchro 3rd gear where 4th gens don't IIRC.

the 00-01 tranny bolts in fine, but you need to put the speed sensor from your 4th gen. Its 1 bolt and literaly 2 minutes worth of work. I love my 01 AE tranny. check out car-part.com for trannies in your area.

Option #1 Replace your tranny.
Option #2 Replace your tranny.
Option #3 Replace your tranny.
---OR----
You can go for option #4, which might be your best bet. And that would be to replace your tranny.

Option #2 for $500 Tom.

i would go with option 4, probaly the best bet

I wish it were only $500! I'm looking at $1200 CDN for a 2001 AE 5sp Tranny, plus $100 for the driverside (left?) axle.

Then I have to get it installed, and I dont even know how much labour THAT will be =(

I paid $350 labor to get my clutch done. It should be less than that.

Thats about half what I expected to pay, I feel a bit better now. If I could get away witht he whole job done for $1500 I'd be happy enough...

No, only 1st and 2nd gear are double synchro from 97-2001. Only 2nd gear is double in 95-96.

If I have a 95 or 96 tranny (Im not sure which year it is), it doesnt have a syncronized 1st. Is it possible to buy the part and put it in the tranny while I have it apart for rebuild?

i have a 2001 in my 97 .

thats what i was gonna ask also..... it sucks not having 1st syncroed, especially in parking lots where u have to drive slow and ur in second and want to down shift.. u cant. even if u rev match.. it sucks..

Sure it's synchronized. The only difference is that the 97+ have a double-cone synchronizer for both 1st and 2nd, while earlier ones have double cone synchro on 2nd only. It makes very little difference that I can tell.

If anything, your first synchro and dog teeth are probably worn out. The trouble is that unless your rebuilder has access to a good used input shaft and 1st gear, you'll either have to pay another $250 during the rebuild for new ones or change 1st synchro only and only make it a little better.

Dave

i dont have a problem with first only having one synchro on my 96, basically if you are rolling fast enough where you cant shift into first gear, you probably dont need to be in first gear. unless you are trying to race from a 10mph roll i guess...

exactly... it's really only a benefit for guys who like to autoX and put it in 1st gear at higher than normal speeds. personally I always come to a complete stop before putting it in 1st gear so it makes no difference to me.

Learn to double-clutch. I downshift to first all the time.

1st gear is the heaviest of the rotating gears. To hit it on a roll you need to rev match and push it into gear with some patience, to get the synchro get it's job done. It's nothing like snapping into 4th (where the gear has much less rotating inertia and the rev match is generally more precise)

my 99 maxima tranny just went i ordered a 01 AE 5spd tranny for $750 with both axles $840 shipped to my house i bought it off of car-part.com

DOUBLE-CLUTCH

DOO ITT

Rev matching will do nothing to get you into first quicker unless you speed match the input shaft as well. Even if you don't nail a double clutch it will still be much quicker of a shift and much easier on the poor first gear synchro.

i think it would be much better for city traffic though

hmmm.. didnt think of that... im gonna have to try it.. cuz rev matching doesnt do it...