Nissan Frontier Pathfinder

Rebuild vs. Reman vs. Used — The Nissan Decision, and Why the CVT Choice Is Almost Always Binary

By Dave at Gearbox Insider

The two Nissan transmissions in this series have very different repair economics, and the correct decision framework is different for each. RE5R05A — in-house rebuild is viable for most failures: The RE5R05A is a conventional five-speed automatic with good parts availability and manageable rebuild complexity. A full master kit from Transtar or Alto runs $250–$350. The TCC converter failure that shows up most often is a separate line item — a remanufactured converter from a quality supplier (Precision Industries, ATCO) runs $180–$240 and should always be replaced on any unit that presented with TCC shudder. Do not flush and re-use a shuddered converter. The clutch material that caused the shudder is suspended in the converter fluid and will contaminate the freshly rebuilt transmission within 10,000 miles.

Recommended Products

Precision Industries RE5R05A Remanufactured Torque Converter

Replace the converter on every RE5R05A TCC shudder job — reusing a shuddered converter contaminates a fresh rebuild and guarantees a comeback.

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