Manual Transmission Rebuild 4x4

[Pimshady57]

I have a 01 4x4 manual transmission with the VQ35 and FS5R30A transmission. Does anybody have experience with rebuilding these? I found a kit on rock auto with part ZMBK240DWS from USA Standard Gear. Everything says it is for the 01, but does anybody know for sure or have other options? I know I could 50/50 gamble and buy a used transmission and hope it works as well. 

[Lock]

I rebuilt mine in 2023. I had the service manual and followed that, but also found the below video and follow-up assembly videos the most useful.

 

 

I also downloaded the below website, which went offline but is still available on Internet Archive. 

https://web.archive.org/web/20170224101545/http://beergarage.com/PathTransmission1Remove.aspx

 

The Pathfinder trans is just the 300ZX trans with a pull clutch and different (replaceable) rear on the 4WD models. Means for 01-04 we have double-cone synchros on both 2nd and 3rd. 

 

The bearing kits (BK240) are all the same for this model of transmission, it's the kits with synchros that are different (which you generally can't get anyway).

 

I couldn't get the complete kit with bearings and synchros at the time, so I just bought the bearing kit ZMBK240, identified each synchro part # from Amayama and purchased them separately. You might find like me that you can order and pay for the full kit, then they'll refund you and say it's not available. 

 

Given their ages now I wouldn't install a used transmission without first opening it up. I bought my used trans from B&R and when arrived it was full of mud and wood chips and rust as it was obviously left outside in the rain. It 100% had to be cleaned and parts replaced. When in there I found the reverse gear missing a tooth, the reverse gear design is weak and its synchro doesn't work well so I replaced all those gears too. Apparently you should never put a 300ZX/Pathfinder manual into reverse until you've stopped and waited a second for the gears to slow down.

 

I replaced all the synchros because you wouldn't reuse them condition unknown. I also replaced the smaller inner gear bearings that don't come with the kit and are ignored - the new updated versions were minus one needle, probably for better oil flow. 

 

Shifts are smooth as butter, well worth the time. If you're interested I could put up a post on my rebuild. Pro tip, I used a toaster oven to heat up then drop the 'press fit' gears in place, made it so much easier and I don't feel like a caveman hammering on precision parts.

Edited June 28 by Lock