RE5R05A Planetary

A road-speed whine that grows louder in one gear, a gear that suddenly goes missing, or metal glitter on the pan magnet in a Nissan Titan, Armada, Pathfinder, Frontier, Xterra or Infiniti QX56 often traces back to a worn planetary gearset in the RE5R05A. This is a used original-equipment RE5R05A planetary, photographed on our bench as the assembled drum and gearset on its shaft. Buying a known used factory assembly lets you swap the damaged gears in one piece instead of hunting down individual carriers and shells. It is backed by a 1-year warranty.

What the planetary does in an RE5R05A

The RE5R05A is a five-speed rear-drive automatic, and every ratio it makes comes from planetary gearsets. Each set has a sun gear in the center, pinion gears riding on needle bearings in a carrier, and a ring gear around the outside. The clutches, brakes and band hold or drive one member of a set, and the gearset turns that into a reduction, direct drive, overdrive or reverse. The pinions spin fastest in the lower gears and in reverse, so worn pinion bearings and scored pins usually announce themselves as a whine in those ranges first. If the pinions lose their bearings or the splines strip, that ratio is gone.

Symptoms of a worn planetary

• Whine or howl that follows vehicle speed and changes from gear to gear
• Loss of one gear or no movement, while the engine revs normally
• Silver glitter or chunks of metal on the pan magnet
• Clunk or bind when the gearset locks up
• Ratio error codes after a hard failure

How to confirm before you buy

Note which gears make the noise and whether it changes with speed or engine rpm; a converter or pump noise follows rpm, a gearset noise follows road speed. Pull the pan and look at the debris. Then read codes, since a slipping element can feel like a missing gear. P0740-series codes point to the torque converter clutch circuit and P0750-series codes to the shift solenoids, both of which are hydraulic problems a planetary will not fix. Sonnax also reports that about half of RE5R05A cores show coolant intrusion from the radiator cooler, which washes out lubrication and wears pinion bearings. On the bench, rock each pinion in its carrier, check for rough rotation and measure pinion end play. Our RE5R05A transmission service guide lays out the diagnostic order.

Fitment

This planetary is listed for the RE5R05A without a specific year range. The transmission was built from 2002, starting with the Infiniti Q45, and later went into Nissan and Infiniti trucks and SUVs, and gearsets can differ between early and late units and between applications. Match tooth and spline counts and the shaft length against your old part, or send us your year, model and VIN. If you know you have an early unit, compare the 2003-2008 RE5R05A planetary. The full list of parts for this unit is on the RE5R05A collection page.

Install notes

• Replace the thrust washers and needle bearings on both sides of the gearset rather than reusing the old ones.
• Check every bushing the gearset rides on and replace any that are scored or worn oval.
• Measure end play after assembly and correct it with selective washers.
• Inspect the mating reaction shell and drums for damaged splines caused by the failure.
• Clean or replace the cooler and lines, and replace the filter and seals from a master rebuild kit.
• Refill with Genuine Nissan Matic S ATF and check the level warm, per Nissan's check procedure.

This is a used part, so inspect it yourself before it goes in: spin each pinion, check that there is no excessive play, and look for chipped teeth. Contact us before installing if anything is off.

Will this planetary fit my Titan or Armada?

It is listed for the RE5R05A, which those trucks use, but gearsets can vary by application and year. Match your old part or send us your VIN to confirm.

How do I know the whine is the planetary and not the converter?

A planetary whine follows road speed and changes between gears. Converter and pump noise follows engine rpm and is present in Park and Neutral.

Is this planetary new or used?

It is a used original-equipment assembly, as pictured, and it carries a 1-year warranty.

What else should I replace with the planetary?

Thrust washers and bearings, worn bushings, the filter and the seals. Inspect the reaction shell and drums for damaged splines too.

What fluid does the RE5R05A take?

Genuine Nissan Matic S ATF. Nissan lists Matic J as the approved alternative and warns against other fluids.

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