JF011E CVT Pulley Piston Rebuild Kit Nissan Altima

Pulley piston reseal kit for the Jatco JF011E continuously variable transmission, also cataloged as RE0F10A. Supplier part reference K181731-BL. It covers the primary (drive) and secondary (driven) pulley pistons on 2009-2012 Nissan Altima, 2009-2012 Nissan Rogue, 2007-2012 Nissan Sentra CVT and 2007-2012 Dodge Caliber. This is the pulley-side hydraulic hardware only - it is not a full overhaul kit and it does not include the steel belt, the filter or the pan gasket.

In a JF011E the ratio and the belt clamp load are both hydraulic. Line pressure pushes on a piston behind each movable sheave to squeeze the pulley halves together onto the steel push belt. The seals on those pistons are the only thing holding that pressure. Once they harden, take a set, or get nicked during a previous teardown, pressure bleeds past internally and the sheave cannot hold clamp. That is what a car is telling you when it judders pulling away from a stop, flares rpm on light throttle instead of holding a ratio, takes a second to move after you select drive, or drones as the belt starts to slip against a glazed sheave face. If a pressure test shows the pump and solenoids commanding correct pressure but the pulleys still will not hold it, the piston seals are where the pressure is going.

Bench work: with the unit out and the case split, pull the secondary pulley and then the primary, keeping the shim stack and any thrust washers in the order they came off - ratio and belt position depend on that stack. Cut the old seals off rather than pry, so you do not score the piston land or the bore. Clean both sealing surfaces and inspect the sheave faces for the polished band that means the belt has already been slipping; a glazed sheave will slip again on fresh seals. Lubricate the new seals with CVT fluid, roll them into their grooves without twisting, then walk each piston in square. Check the pulley for free travel by hand before the case goes back together.

Refill with genuine Nissan NS-2 or NS-3 CVT fluid per the model year - the JF011E will not tolerate a generic multi-vehicle ATF - then perform the CVT fluid deterioration reset and drive the relearn cycle before you road test. Confirm your pulley and piston shape against the photos before ordering; Jatco revised the JF011E pulley assembly partway through the production run.