RE5R05A Planetary 2003

A gear whine that rises and falls with road speed, a gear that has simply gone missing, or a 5-speed automatic that will not move at all even though the clutches look healthy can all lead back to a planetary carrier. This listing is a used, original-equipment RE5R05A planetary carrier assembly from a 2003 unit, the generation that went into early rear-drive Nissan and Infiniti cars such as the 350Z and G35. It is sold as the assembly shown in the photos, with the pinion gears, needle bearing and splined hub in place, and it carries a 1-year warranty.

What the planetary carrier does in a 2003 RE5R05A

The RE5R05A builds its five forward gears and reverse from three simple planetary gearsets, called the front, mid and rear sets. Each carrier holds a ring of pinion gears on pins and bearings, and the clutches and brakes decide which member of each set is driven, held or left free. The sets are tied together mechanically, so one damaged carrier can take out several ratios at once. A FenderBender case study on a rebuilt RE5R05A in a 2006 Xterra shows how this happens: the center ring gear indexes into the rear planetary carrier with 16 small tabs and is held by a snap ring, and when every one of those tabs sheared, the drive path to the middle ring gear and the output side was broken and the truck would not move.

Symptoms that point to a planetary carrier

• Whine or growl that tracks vehicle speed and changes from gear to gear
• Loss of one or more specific gears while the others still pull normally
• No movement in drive or reverse with a good fluid level and no slipping clutch packs
• Bronze or steel flake in the pan, a sign of worn pinion pins, bushings or thrust washers
• Blued or loose pinion gears, chipped teeth or broken carrier tabs found on teardown

How to confirm before you buy

Start outside the case. Check the fluid level and condition, read codes with a scan tool, and rule out the solenoid and valve body faults that are common on this unit; our RE5R05A service guide walks through those checks. A carrier problem is confirmed on the bench. Spin each pinion by hand and feel for roughness, check pinion end play against a new carrier, look for heat discoloration around the pins, and inspect every tab and spline where the carrier meets a ring gear or drum. Air check the clutch circuits with regulated air no higher than 50 psi so a sealing problem is not mistaken for a broken gearset.

Fitment

This carrier is listed for 2003 RE5R05A transmissions. The RE5R05A entered production in 2002 and was revised many times across cars, trucks and SUVs, so a 2003 part is not automatically the same as a later truck part. Compare the tooth count, spline count, hub height and tab pattern with the carrier you are replacing, and match it to the same position, front, mid or rear, before you order. If you are unsure, send us your year and VIN and we will check it first. You can see every RE5R05A part we stock on the RE5R05A collection page.

Install notes

• This is a used assembly. Clean it, spin every pinion, and check end play and thrust washers before it goes in.
• Replace the thrust bearings, thrust washers and any worn bushings at the carrier. Fit the snap rings fully into their grooves.
• Check the one-way clutch in the same area; a RE5R05A sprag clutch for 2003-2006 is listed if yours freewheels or locks both ways.
• Inspect the mating RE5R05A reaction shell and ring gear teeth for the same wear.
• Install new frictions, steels and seals from a RE5R05A master rebuild kit while the unit is open.
• Flush or replace the cooler. Sonnax reports that a large share of RE5R05A cores it sees were damaged by water from a failed radiator cooler.
• Fill with the Nissan ATF your owner's manual lists for your model year, check the level hot, and let the transmission relearn shifts on a full warm-up drive.

Will this planetary fit my 2003 Nissan or Infiniti?

It is listed for 2003 RE5R05A transmissions. Because the RE5R05A was built in many revisions and has three planetary sets, match the tooth count, splines, tab pattern and position against your old carrier, or send your year and VIN and we will confirm it before it ships.

Is this the front, mid or rear carrier?

It is the assembly shown in the photos. Compare it side by side with the carrier you removed, including the hub splines and the tabs that engage the ring gear, so you install it in the correct position.

What noise does a bad RE5R05A planetary make?

Usually a whine or growl that changes with road speed and often changes pitch from gear to gear. A carrier with broken tabs or stripped splines can instead cause a sudden loss of a gear or no movement at all.

What should I replace along with the carrier?

Thrust bearings, thrust washers and worn bushings at minimum, plus the snap rings if they are distorted. If the unit made metal, rebuild the clutches and flush or replace the cooler so debris does not return.

What fluid does the RE5R05A use?

Use the Nissan ATF specified in the owner's manual for your model year and avoid universal fluids. Check the level at operating temperature after the first drive.

• Nissan/Infiniti RE5R05A Transmission Service Guide: Pathfinder, Armada, QX56