Auto Transmission Guys

[kor0000]

I have an 04 Frontier with a manual tranny and a 94 Hardbody with a auto tranny. The 94 auto tranny isn't quite was it used to be and I would like to do my first auto tranny rebuild.

As a member of a hardbody forum, I posted a thread requesting suggestions of good rebuild kit manufacturers.

The responses I got on that forum were:

1: you are crazy if you try it yourself
2: don't try it yourself
3: listen to the guy who says don't try it yourself
4: google it

Most of the guys on that forum pay to have work done whereas I prefer to:

1: know the job was done right (by me)
2: learn stuff along the way
3: save money (b/c It's not how much you make, it's how much you spend)
4: not to let other's wrench on my toys (b/c they do shady work or my toys return with scratches and dents)

People on this forum seem to be more mechanically inclined.

So my question is can anyone on this forum suggest a manufacturer that makes good rebuild kits for Nissan auto tranny's? I prefer quality parts the first time around instead of doing the job twice.

[fronty2wd]

I don't want to be rude but if you can answer some questions i may be able to help you through it. Do you have access to a press and if so how many tons is it capable of and can it handle a 24 inch shaft plus any press tools that may add to the length. (everything in your tranny is pressed together. Do you feel comfortable with 150 little pieces that all look very similar laying in front of you with very slight differences. I'm not saying it's impossible but if you don't have much experience with an auto trans it a shot in the dark with no moon. You need to get a hold of a nissan auto trans manual (good luck i never saw one when i worked for them) You need to be very confident with using a micrometer as every clutch disk inside the trans must be measured. Check out courtesy parts. When you get to their website click in the middle where it says online catalog. THen select hardbody 86.5-94 then you will be able to select genuine nissan parts up in the top left corner then click on internal trans. This is the best place to get parts from. WHat exactly is wrong with the trans? You may just have something simple like a pump thats worn out or maybe just a couple of clutch packs worn out.

[NissanTy]

an auto tranny is 1 of 2 things i would NEVER touch, but hey gotta learn sometime right? i suggest a repair manual and if things go down south i assume there are junkyard transmission's available? or a aamco? i say go for it and tell us how it goes and pics wouldn't hurt either lol.

[adrenaline503]

I have never heard of a garage mechanic succesfully breaking down and rebuilding an automatic transmission and putting it back together correctly.

[kor0000]

fronty2wd

Not rude at all fronty2wd... That's why I posted the thread, I'd like to know what other mechanically inclined people have to say about my journey into the unknown, so fire away.

I do have access to a large press but am not sure of its max capabilities.

I'm quite comfortable with all the kibbles and bits.

I do have a source for a manual. I might be trying something crazy here but I wouldn't even consider it without a manual.

Thanks for the concern and pointing me toward courtesy parts. I'll check'em out.

The issue wih the tranny stemmed from a 1976 cj5 being pulled with my 94 Hardbody. In retrospect it was a mistake but hey it's all said and done now.
Some mistakes cost more than others!

I was in the jeep b/c the other guy wasn't sure he could keep from hittng my truck. That's about all I know. After the tow, my tranny slips from 2nd to 3rd when the rpm's are high. But it doesn't seem like a true slipping tranny that gets worse with time. When I'm getting on the throttle there is a jerk and then the shift from 2nd to 3rd. If I let off the gas a bit at the beggining of the shift (which I have learned to do and become accustomed to) the jerk is not noticeable. I have put ten's of thousands of miles on the truck since that day and the jerk has not gotten any worse. I know someone will say "hey just live with it" but the time has come to fix it.

I assume the tranny temp maxed-out. I changed the fluid and filter the day after which did nada. Any suggestions on particular parts will be appreciated. I've described the issue to a number of people but as you know most people know squat about auto tranny's.

I called a shop about it and they gave me a $2000 estimate for the rebuild.

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NissanTY

What's the other thing you wouldn't touch? Yeah, if you want to learn to do it ya gotta try sometime. If I follow through with it I will document it.

I'm sure there will be some good out-takes if I used video so I'll stick with pics. LOL


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adrenaline503

Come on now, you got to be more optimistic than that.


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Seriously guys (and gals) all jokes aside. It's not like I woke up yesterday and thought "hey I think my d**b-a*s should try to rebuild my tranny." The tranny has been lacking for quite some time now. When it was performing as it should the truck was a HOSS and I simply want my HOSS back. I have put serious thought into paying a shop to rebuild it but I'm never satisfied when they do it wrong and I have to return to the shop 4 or 5 times till they get it right. The cost of the rebuild isn't logical considering the value of the truck.
It's a 94 with 181K.

I have taught myself numerous things b/c I take the initiative to get the job done, but I will take all the advice I can get from ClubFrontier members that seem like they know what they are talking about.

Thanks Club Fronty members

[adrenaline503]

I think you should try it. Just label everything in case you need help putting it together.

[TxFront]

Remember to take pics of your tear down. When I rebuilt my first rear end this was the one thing that saved me when it was time to put everything back together.
Good luck with your rebuild

[NissanTy]

yeah man if you wanna do it i say go for it, the othewr thing i wouldn't wanna get much into is the suspension, your probably saying "what a tard" but for some reason suspension components just confuse the crap out of me.

[kor0000]

adrenaline503

I agree on the labeling. It may take a while to label every little bit during the tear down but that saves a tremendous amount of time/brain power during build-up. Gracias for the support. I began labeling when I rebuilt the engine in the same truck. My first engine rebuild.

I've got a couple of stand-by's if things go wrong.

Such as stealing my girlfriend's tranny out of her Pathfinder. HA! She'll never know what happened.

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TxFront

Pics will probably save my A** when it comes time to build-up. Thanks.

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NissanTy

Hey man, I wouldn't call you a tard. I'm sure people are thinking I'm nuts.

It took me a while to get comfortable with the idea of rebuilding the tranny. But how cool would it be to be able to say ya did it. YEAH! I figure if someone built it at the assembly plant I should be to build it too.

But hey if you aren't comfortable doing something it's probably best not to do it, you shouldn't feel bad about it. Everyone got limits, my limits come into play when working on my old man's Mercedes ML320, that car is quite a puzzle. Since I've started doing my own work I've been quite pleased with the outcomes and I lend a hand whenever anyone needs help.

So if all goes well, when all you auto tranny guys need a rebuild you can give me a call and I'll come running. ($$$$ Of course I'll need an expense account for the trip.) HA!

[demondrive]

i think it would be a doable thing if you take your time and think about everything you do, people tend to just rip things apart and then they dont remember what went where or what its for, often if you know how the trans works, and what part does what itll be easier to put it back together right the first time, ive done numerous mercedes auto transmisions, its no fun but it isnt impossible, ive never looked at a nissan one so i dont know about that, the mercedes ones didnt need a press, just an impact gun, but like everyone said take lots of pics, take your time and pay attention to everything! gl!