98maxse5spd

iTrader: (5)

i've got a 98 5spd that's just a little harder to get into 3rd than other gears. nothing dramatic, but it got me doing some searches on 5spd transmission problems, and i found countless posts about them self destructing at 60-70k. i've got about 62k on the clock, so you could say that got my attention.

i'm wondering is is common for these transmissions to lunch themselves at ~60k? i suppose these could be neglect/abuse failures, but it seems like too many of them died arond that mileage for it to be coincedence.

any comments from people who have had these problems? i can't be the first person to notice this.

thanks

mike

The_Bomb

I'm not exactly sure but my 95 has 103000 miles and on it and it is running great. 60k ssems like that would be the time that a clutch would go out, but that is about it. Hopefully you tranny continues to work as well as mine has.


Adam

Alex97se

My 97 SE has 70k on it, and the shifter/gates really suck, that's just my opinion though. I'm going to get a short shift kit and a trans fluid flush within the next two weeks. I'll let you know how it goes.

98maxse5spd

iTrader: (5)

thanks Adam. it would be cool to hear from people who haven't had problems as well, to get an idea how prevalent the problems are.

mike

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

mine just went 2 weeks ago COMLETELY at 78k.....$1625 for a rebuild...but I'm pretty sure that my failure had at least something to do with a dumb nissan tech that screwed up my detent springs in my tranny last year.

kratz74

Well I have 105K on mine and never had a problem. Still have original clutch. Only have changed tires and oil. Oh and I put Redline synthetic oil in manual tranny about 10K miles ago. It shifts much smoother now! I routinely hit 4-5000 rpm and once a week probably hit or approach 6000 rpm. Still spins 2nd gear fairly easily.

abnorm

You guys are scaring me! I have 72k on mine, still on original clutch and it seems just fine. Hope it won't go COMPLETELY too.

party_boy

I purchsed a new clutch just in case it goes anytime soon. Its just sitting in my garage. I run my max HAAARRRRDDD. Hope that helps.
Check your fluids religously.

abnorm

Hey nice pictures of the meet in SF. Too bad I missed it. When was it?

Dave B

Hmmm, I rarely hear of problems with the 5 speeds. However, if you beat on it, it will eventually break. No car can handle constant abuse. I'd bet that most people who've had problems are hard drivers and/or run power adders (NOS, SCs). My 5 speed has 76K miles, orginal clutch, and over 60 1/4 mile passes. I've had absolutely no problems. My clutch has never slipped on me.

Driving your car fast and driving it hard are two different things. I like to accelerate thru the gears around town, but I don't slam it into the next gear (ie driving fast). Only when I'm at the track do I shift as fast as possible (ie driving hard). Driving hard is very hard on the tranny. Driving fast does little to the tranny.


Dave

j-95G

you might want to check out the clutch. sounds like it could be the throw out bearing.

blizz20oma

iTrader: (1)

Hard to get into third gear when shifting through the sequence, or just downshifting? If just downshifting, don't worry about it. If it grinds going into third, coming from the honda world, synchros were always in question in that case (if it grinded one specific gear through the sequence, even when the clutch was pressed clearly to the floor)

I'm surprised Daniel B. hasn't posted on this thread about how a clutch/tranny could last 150k+ if treated properly

Sure its not your hard driving habits, what with all those performance mods?

loup1276

BJJ

I have 125,000+ on my 96 and I am still on the stock clutch, I have had no problems but the clutch started to show its age at the track two weeks ago so I will be getting another soon.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Uh... if you drive like a crazed manic, you tranny will not last as long. If you drive like a granny, it will probably last forever.

abnorm

I just changed my transmition fluid to Redline MT-90 yesterday. Getting into 3rd and 4th requires no effort now. Hell, if you blow on it hard enough, it will shift.

BriGuyMax

iTrader: (1)

Dave,
I do agree that if you beat on it and shift hard...it will eventually break, but I don't think that power adders really shorten the life of the tranny. I don't think my NOS had ANYTHING to do with my 3rd gear and sender gear going out. I had only installed the NOS 2 months before they went out. Manual trannies are "direct drive" so "horsepower" doesn't wear them out, crappy drivers do

Mine went out becuase of a detent spring that was incorrectly re-installed and got pulled inside the tranny but a shift rod.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

I have your same car, with mods. My tranny should have died 50K miles ago Still the stock clutch, too with 110,000 on the odo. The 'getting into 3rd' issue is really no biggie. The only time I have trouble going from 2 to 3 is when I am hard charging and shifting at red-line very quickly. I usually have to wait a heartbeat or so for the tranny to let me get into 3rd. I had the same problem on my previous car, a MKIII Supra Turbo. Putting in Red-line MT-90 makes shifting a whole lot easier, though.

Maybe this issue is amplified with guys who have NOS or an SC. The significant increase in torque and power would put more stress on the tranny. Hell, an auto Max with an SC is a time bomb. Its not a question of if the tranny will go, but when

DW

KWheelzSB

iTrader: (1)

1995 Max SE 5-speed
80k/mi
original clutch
original tranny
no problems

doing a tranny fluid change in a couple weeks: Redline MT-90

tomj

What if you drive like a crazed, maniac, granny?

RICOiz704

162k original clutch and tranny

Nuff said

Dave B

For those of you that have problems shifting to 3rd, try pushing the shifter forward with your open palm with your fingers facing the passenger side of the car. I am certain many of you will find shifting to 3rd much easier. You'll also NEVER miss the 2-3 shift EVER. Shifting pistol grip style on the 2-3, like most "virgin racers", will result in notchy shifts and getting hung up between the gates.

To shift the 3-4 effectively, invert your hand so that your thumb is pointed down, grasp the front of the shifter and pull back. Bam!! A smooth and very quick shift with no misshifts.


Dave

97GreenMax

Never heard of that.