Final drive in 5-speed 4th Gen. bought the farm...
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Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 98
From: Clifton,NJ
Final drive in 5-speed 4th Gen. bought the farm...
Looks like my mechanic just codemned the final drive on a rebuilt 5 speed I just had put in 13 months ago. F* me! I just got the news, he claims it has chipped tooth and should replace ring also if we are in there. Transmissions are not my expertise at all, I was happy to be capable to pull off Water pump/tensioner and emissions replacements myself. I welcome advice here. Does anyone know what a new one installed costs, anyone know who does this work at pro level in Northeast? I"m in north NJ. Thanks. V
Last edited by scooby68; Nov 14, 2007 at 10:15 AM. Reason: add
your post is a little bit confusing. is the final drive gear (also called the 'ring gear') chipped or is the main shaft (some might also call it the pinion, counter shaft, or output shaft) chipped? They engage each other - also how does your mechanic know one of them is chipped, does he have the trans open?
The main shaft is about $180 and the final drive gear is about $125. you're going to be looking at at least a few hours worth of labor just to crack open the transmission and install the ring gear, quite a few more if you need to replace the main shaft. being as you're in there you should check out all the bearings, etc. so basically once you open it up it's going to easily snowball into a full rebuild which will cost you at least $800, plus the cost of any parts which are replaced which aren't typically replaced in a rebuild (like the main shaft or ring gear, etc).
The main shaft is about $180 and the final drive gear is about $125. you're going to be looking at at least a few hours worth of labor just to crack open the transmission and install the ring gear, quite a few more if you need to replace the main shaft. being as you're in there you should check out all the bearings, etc. so basically once you open it up it's going to easily snowball into a full rebuild which will cost you at least $800, plus the cost of any parts which are replaced which aren't typically replaced in a rebuild (like the main shaft or ring gear, etc).
Last edited by Nealoc187; Nov 14, 2007 at 05:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 98
From: Clifton,NJ
Thanks for the reply, the costs are helpful if it isn't covered. I'm still just getting info on the trans diagnosis, he said its a chipped gear, but I don't know if he's cracked it open yet, I'll be talking to him again today and find out, I found warranty information from rebuilder (Accurate Transmissions) and hopefully it will cover the issue, I don't know yet.
your post is a little bit confusing. is the final drive gear (also called the 'ring gear') chipped or is the main shaft (some might also call it the pinion, counter shaft, or output shaft) chipped? They engage each other - also how does your mechanic know one of them is chipped, does he have the trans open?
The main shaft is about $180 and the final drive gear is about $125. you're going to be looking at at least a few hours worth of labor just to crack open the transmission and install the ring gear, quite a few more if you need to replace the main shaft. being as you're in there you should check out all the bearings, etc. so basically once you open it up it's going to easily snowball into a full rebuild which will cost you at least $800, plus the cost of any parts which are replaced which aren't typically replaced in a rebuild (like the main shaft or ring gear, etc).
The main shaft is about $180 and the final drive gear is about $125. you're going to be looking at at least a few hours worth of labor just to crack open the transmission and install the ring gear, quite a few more if you need to replace the main shaft. being as you're in there you should check out all the bearings, etc. so basically once you open it up it's going to easily snowball into a full rebuild which will cost you at least $800, plus the cost of any parts which are replaced which aren't typically replaced in a rebuild (like the main shaft or ring gear, etc).
How many miles were on the tranny when it was rebuilt? Were any shafts/gears replaced during that rebuild?
Reason I ask is because the mainshaft (final drive pinion) sees a lot of wear, and even more if the car is driven for many miles on worn bearings. So your mechanic's guess is a good guess. Once rebuilt, the new bearings put things back in line, and if the gears broke in with the worn bearings they will now have bad contact and tend to chip. Same for replacement parts - if you mix and match a used gear to another new or used gear, it will have bad contact since the worn one won't match the other. The one time I experimented with that (not a customer car) it chipped immediately and sounded like dogcrap.
The only real solution is a brand new mainshaft and ring gear, or a matched set of used parts. The good news is the most wearing parts in these trannys is the bearings and final drive gears. If you get this rebuild done and change the final drive gears it will be as close to new as possible.
Reason I ask is because the mainshaft (final drive pinion) sees a lot of wear, and even more if the car is driven for many miles on worn bearings. So your mechanic's guess is a good guess. Once rebuilt, the new bearings put things back in line, and if the gears broke in with the worn bearings they will now have bad contact and tend to chip. Same for replacement parts - if you mix and match a used gear to another new or used gear, it will have bad contact since the worn one won't match the other. The one time I experimented with that (not a customer car) it chipped immediately and sounded like dogcrap.
The only real solution is a brand new mainshaft and ring gear, or a matched set of used parts. The good news is the most wearing parts in these trannys is the bearings and final drive gears. If you get this rebuild done and change the final drive gears it will be as close to new as possible.
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 98
From: Clifton,NJ
My mechanic couldn't locate a tranny locally last November 06 so this rebuilt came from Accurate Transmissions out of Illinois, I don't know what they shipped, my guy said it looked ok. The remanufactured trans as they call it cost $1600. for the part alone. I feel like I got nailed on this one, but I wasn't online here with the org yet, so I was unsupported and wanted it fixed, I still think I have alot of miles in this car despite its 200k status right now.
So that interesting about the gear tooth seating and bearing wear, I'll bet its the fact that did this in, but I put a whole year of driving on this first, over 15, but under 20k for this past year I suppose. Since I just finished emissions and Knock sensor the car has been performing great, so I've been driving it alot harder with its refound youth and I'm sure it precipitated this faster.
So far, I have new CV's, rebuilt trans, new clutch, rear main seal, then by me...full set of new brakes/calipers, rotors, new water pump, tensioner, alternator, knock sensor, camshaft postion sensor, grounding wires, rear half of exhaust, egr, clutch cylinders,.....whats left the oil pump and the cigarette lighter? lol Thanks for reply Vin
So that interesting about the gear tooth seating and bearing wear, I'll bet its the fact that did this in, but I put a whole year of driving on this first, over 15, but under 20k for this past year I suppose. Since I just finished emissions and Knock sensor the car has been performing great, so I've been driving it alot harder with its refound youth and I'm sure it precipitated this faster.
So far, I have new CV's, rebuilt trans, new clutch, rear main seal, then by me...full set of new brakes/calipers, rotors, new water pump, tensioner, alternator, knock sensor, camshaft postion sensor, grounding wires, rear half of exhaust, egr, clutch cylinders,.....whats left the oil pump and the cigarette lighter? lol Thanks for reply Vin
How many miles were on the tranny when it was rebuilt? Were any shafts/gears replaced during that rebuild?
Reason I ask is because the mainshaft (final drive pinion) sees a lot of wear, and even more if the car is driven for many miles on worn bearings. So your mechanic's guess is a good guess. Once rebuilt, the new bearings put things back in line, and if the gears broke in with the worn bearings they will now have bad contact and tend to chip. Same for replacement parts - if you mix and match a used gear to another new or used gear, it will have bad contact since the worn one won't match the other. The one time I experimented with that (not a customer car) it chipped immediately and sounded like dogcrap.
The only real solution is a brand new mainshaft and ring gear, or a matched set of used parts. The good news is the most wearing parts in these trannys is the bearings and final drive gears. If you get this rebuild done and change the final drive gears it will be as close to new as possible.
Reason I ask is because the mainshaft (final drive pinion) sees a lot of wear, and even more if the car is driven for many miles on worn bearings. So your mechanic's guess is a good guess. Once rebuilt, the new bearings put things back in line, and if the gears broke in with the worn bearings they will now have bad contact and tend to chip. Same for replacement parts - if you mix and match a used gear to another new or used gear, it will have bad contact since the worn one won't match the other. The one time I experimented with that (not a customer car) it chipped immediately and sounded like dogcrap.
The only real solution is a brand new mainshaft and ring gear, or a matched set of used parts. The good news is the most wearing parts in these trannys is the bearings and final drive gears. If you get this rebuild done and change the final drive gears it will be as close to new as possible.
Last edited by scooby68; Nov 15, 2007 at 10:06 AM.
You should join NYCMaximas.org if you're in Jersey...there are a couple guys on there who'd probably help you out and do the job for cheaper labor and do quality work (TJ_Maxx and Tavarish come to mind).
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