How to Remove A Transmission From Your Xterra, Frontier, Pathy (Clutch Replacement Part 1 of 2)

[@Ro53guy1]

I haven’t even watched the second half of the video and I can tell this is one of if not the highest quality video I’ve seen on this repair. Nice work

[@Rythecarguy]

Wow, thank you so much!

[@lifeisapeach8869]

I have a 2013 Nissan Frontier my transmission is going out this video was a huge help with taking mine out I am having it rebuilt thanks for making this video !

[@desolatetree]

Three minutes in and you answered several of my questions. I bought my Frontier at 200k miles, and the clutch would 'bite' nearly at the top. After a little research I had come to the conclusion that it was just a Nissan thing? Now I'm at 230k and my clutch slips BAD. I had been worried something else went out to cause it, but my slave cylinder is still working great, and I get no noise. I just got my clutch in, so this video came at a great time! I look forward to getting it fixed so I can quit driving my stinky 98 Continental, and back in my truck! Thanks for the video and all the help!

[@jonbar140]

I'm halfway through removing my frontiers transmission right now. It's amazing how much easier to wheel drive looks to do than four wheel drive. Good vid!

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks man! I really wish mine was 4WD. Hope your job is going well!

[@jonbar140]

@@Rythecarguy Just finished. 4wd is handy but the tansfer case and front differential REALLY made it harder to get the cats off. I tried to outsmart you and avoid taking them off but you were right, they needed to go. Thanks for the vid!

[@neilyakuza6595]

Being a 2nd Gen Xterra owner I really appreciate your Videos on the Xterra. Thanks for your efforts on these vids.

[@Rythecarguy]

you're welcome! Thanks so much for watching.

[@s.m.frederick9658]

I'm telling you he is #1!

[@nanovideo]

I am so grateful for this wonderful video. You have saved me hours and hours of time under a vehicle (in a junkyard).

[@Rythecarguy]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching.

[@DaytonCarCare]

Doing clutches are so fun. Fortunately the last one I did was on a 94 Porsche 968. I was surprised you don't even need to remove the transmission to replace the clutch. Definitely was a project converting my 99 Audi A4 Quattro from an automatic to a manual. Removing the big heavy AWD transmission was a chore, especially on jack stands.

[@jamesgoode8115]

So just did this on my 2007 Nissan frontier SE 2 wheel drive! This video helped me a lot and thank you for posting it! It helped me a lot with preparing and getting tools and all your guidance! 2 pointers I would like to give if you do this solely by yourself like I did! I only had to take off passenger side catalytic converter and exhaust to pull the transmission with wiggling and bending in my drivers side catalytic converter. Next the top two bolts are the hardest. My impact wrench wouldn’t break them loose because of how tight it was. I was using a 3/8 extension to adapter 1/2 impact wrench. What got it was taking my shifter lever completely off the 6 Botha that hold it in. I then used a small motorcycle jack stand I have to jam up top to push the transmission down. I then used the 3/8 extension from inside the truck through the shifter hole with a breaker bar and broke them loose. Hope this helps someone out there like this video helped me. Took me 4 days to do by myself.

[@Rythecarguy]

Great tips!

[@JDemasi]

i watch a lot of DIY car videos. this is one of if not the best ive ever seen, editing, camera views , your disciptions, all really good.

[@Rythecarguy]

That means a lot. Thank you.

[@Mubatsjc]

You’re absolutely right, this is the BEST video I’ve found on the internet. My buddy and I are going to attempt this job this weekend so wish us luck. 👍

[@Rythecarguy]

Good luck!! 🍀 🤞🏻 if you have any questions let me know. Especially on Sunday. I’ll be bored in the car all day.

[@jonbar140]

He never got back to us, he's probably still under the truck right now with the transmission on his chest

[@MrRailroader03]

Excellent video buddy! That crossmember in ours was a booger as well. We dropped the F bomb many times.

[@Rythecarguy]

Yea, what the heck was up with that? I am going to have to use my jack to get that thing back in place.

[@MrRailroader03]

@@Rythecarguy we actually cleaned it up a bit and put some synthetic grease on the contact points in case it ever needed to come out again. It's hateful for sure, ha!

[@subramanyamsarvepalli5294]

You did a great job. I am 80, not that much stamina as you have. If someone can help in the last part that would be great. Great lessons to learn.👍

[@Rythecarguy]

Thank you!

[@XCamaroX93]

I don’t even own a Xterra anymore but I still enjoy watching your videos!

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks man! I really appreciate the support. If you're a comatose guy you should check out my buddy Zack Calvin on YT. He's doing crazy stuff with his. You might like his content. 👍🏻if you check him out tell him I sent ya.

[@monkeyjungle100]

Hi Ry, I'm a big fan of the channel. And I actually had to replace all of my cats just this weekend. Long story short my passenger side front disintegrated and went to the passenger side rear cat clogging it up completely. Of course I replaced all of them. I have a little chip I found out the hard way when removing the front catch or the rear cats those studs that are sticking out actually unscrew if you will screw one of the nuts on all the cats you will find that you can lock the two nuts together with two wrenches and remove the stud and nut together and then you do not have to push any of them forward backward sideways it just drops straight down. Of course I'm probably never going to have to do this again but maybe you can pass it on to one of your viewers. It's so much easier that way. And the new cats I ordered included the nuts and bolts I guess they're a smaller diameter so they just slide through either side of the flange. Anyway just wanted to pass that on keep up the good work. John. 👍

[@Rythecarguy]

Great tip! Thank you.

[@monkeyjungle100]

👍👍

[@s.m.frederick9658]

Well ,Ry, this is actually the first time I've commented on any one of your videos, and I'm having to do this job now, I've been on this one forever, bc u , Ry. Always do the most thourough job and explain nearly every step , to a "T"... And I know I have the 2006 x 6spd manual .. 4X4. And I know that you will save me a great deal of cash . ( You already have) .. I love watching your "Step X Step" ..bc now I know I can do this . With exception of breaking some of those bolts .. I really Really Appreciate every expert video you have done on the "X" ! I will buy you a few beers after I am through.. !!! Promise that! From the bottom of my heart . "Thanks"♥️ ...Sandy 🤙

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks for the awesome comment, Sandy. I'm confident that you can knock it out of the park. Let me know how it goes!

[@MoontanMechanical]

Fantastic Video! Unfortunately for me, I'm in western Canada and have the added component of heavy HEAVY corrosion to deal with as well. I cant wait for the exhaust to literally disintegrate when I go to take the cats off.... thanks for showing me what I'm in for man!

[@Rythecarguy]

Oh man, I'm sorry!

[@ronaldwoods4545]

Good job Ray reminds of myself when I started out working on cars as a street mechanic I applaud your enthusiasm and passion I'm almost 60 and I'm gonna be doing the same job on a 2006 4 wheel drive on the ground 😀 👍 wish me luck 😀

[@Rythecarguy]

Best of luck ronald! I hope everything goes well.

[@Azntrutek2012]

Been following your channel for a while. But you earning my sub thru this video. Thank you for all your time and effort to make Xterra DIY video. Keep the good work coming, sir. 👍🏻

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks for the sub, you're welcome man. My Xterra is my favorite ride to wrench on. Need to get another project going on it.

[@DaveBuildsIt]

As many of your Xterra vids that I have watched over the last year or so, I would have thought that I had subbed your channel before tonight. I lost my Xterra after it was sandwiched between a guy that couldn't put down his cell phone and a 2019 Taco. It's hard to find a good one these days, but that drivetrain is so solid that I replaced it with a 2016 Frontier Pro 4x. I love the Frontier, but I miss the Xterra. It never let me down.

[@Rythecarguy]

Sorry to hear that. Glad you back on the platform at least. The Fronty will be very handy too.

[@thebr0dy]

Just a note as I'm going through this project on my 4wd off road-- the front drive shaft was a much harder job than the rear. Esp the front end of it, keeping the shaft locked in while cranking on two wrenches i locked together for leverage, due to clearance issues, was real hard. It proba ly took me an hour to get it out. The front u joint is also way smaller than the others, i had to lock it with an adjustable wrench as nothing else would fit. It also didn't fit too well. A piece of flat steel stock would have worked great.

[@thebr0dy]

Ooof the front flange on the driver's side cat also required a long handled, angle changeable ratchet, and a bit of creativity. That front transfer case...

[@aleahona1024]

Yea I’m currently working on the same thing and the front drive shaft was a pain in the asssss

[@vicpnut1]

I remember starting to do a clutch years ago in my Ford ranger . I was stopped dead at the very beginning when I could not remove the shifter bolts . Up to that point I’d have replaced clutches on every standard vehicle I’d ever owned (at least 6 vehicles I’d guess) … I could jot believe after two days of trying and asking around I had to have it fixed at a garage . I was happy to find out it took the shop almost a full day to get those bolts out and it wasn’t just my ignorance . Somehow rust , heat , salt etc made those bolts one with the transmission and if memory serves added many hundreds of dollars to the cost of the job . Apparently the mechanic was quite pissed off and thought I did some thing to cause the issue so I think they added even more to the job cost cause of that . It’s amazing but that was the First time I took on a repair that I knew I could do fairly easily and was shut down completely . And it seemed to open up some sort of new era of me not being able to complete what were once simple repairs to me . Lol I don’t know if it was the shot to my confidence or I’ve been on a long time line of bad luck doing my own repairs but that day back around 2003 was a harbinger of a string of bad luck … I wasn’t to KZbin savvy back then and don’t know if at that time there would’ve been a video of how to get around that issue . But now I’ve been able to get past some of my “bad luck “/ roadblocks because of people like you doing these comprehensive videos . So I guess thanks my man

[@Rythecarguy]

Hey you're welcome and I can tell you I am going through something like that right now. I am having a hell of a time on my Titan suspension and its pissing me off so bad. It makes me fell like I just cant do this type of work anymore. I think to myself "dude, if you can't do this now, what happens in a couple years? You'll be 40 and wanting to do less and less of this." I just got to keep going!

[@vicpnut1]

@@Rythecarguy yep it doesn’t get any easier as you get older , trust me .

[@kamalabbady6778]

great job men,since you have a garage you might be thinking about investing some money on low profile post lift, its really a time saver and make working on cars alot easier, think about it

[@mw-vj5cg]

This literally saved me days on my clutch replacement. Thank you.

[@Rythecarguy]

So glad to help! Thanks for watching. 👍🏻

[@christopherlopez6768]

Good for you man!!! I do not have the patience for that. I've been watching your videos for a few years now for my 05 xterra. A few weeks ago had a coolant leak and got tired of working on it. Sold it for a sad $650. I wanted to fix it and keep it for a third vehicle but the wife wanted it out of the driveway lol. Thanks for all the videos!!

[@Rythecarguy]

Oh my gosh. Please tell me your Xterra was not 4WD? Thanks for watching over the years my dude. 🤘🏻

[@christopherlopez6768]

Haha no it wasn't.

[@ike621]

Beer well earned. I was lucky enough to have a 2 post when changing my transmission. Unfortunately I didn't mark my driveshaft or know the flywheel was timed. Now I need to throw it back up on the lift and do it all over again. Cheers.

[@Rythecarguy]

Oh damn!! Sorry to hear that. Quick question for you since you’ve already done it. How much of the exhaust did you have to remove?

[@ike621]

@@Rythecarguy I removed all of the exhaust, it was easier to just pull the bolts for the hangers and drop. To reinstall start at the cats and work back.

[@jorgehetnandez1696]

What do you mean by flywheel timed?

[@ike621]

@@jorgehetnandez1696 the flywheel has timing marks you need to line up during installation. This allows the crank position sensor the ability to know the crankshaft position

[@jorgehetnandez1696]

@@ike621 I just finished watching this video. About to get started on replacing my manual transmission. First time in my life I remove a transmission. Thanks for the information.

[@sunderland86]

Took me hours to get those two top bolts loose. The reason is I kept messing around with 1/2 in extentions, and they were not rigid enough. I finally found two brand new 3/4 inch extensions I forgot I had. They stretched from the bolts all the way back to the gas tank, but didn't twist and bend when I put all the strength I had into my 3/4 inch long-handled ratchet. Between this fight, and the crossmember before it, I'm gonna need a lot of IB profune the next couple days.

[@Rythecarguy]

Amen, the cross member and those two bolts were the worst!! Glad you got it though.

[@viper_one_]

Thanks for the tip on removing the K beam. 2x4 and a floor jack did the trick! Oh and lots of hitting it with a hammer

[@richardgeorge8294]

Great video dude. I've got 155K on my 07, original clutch I'm assuming. Luckily I'm not experiencing any of the symptoms you described.

[@eminiscalperpro9729]

I luv my Xterra! The previous owner had just replaced the clutch with a new factory clutch kit and a new LUK flywheel. I think they recommend replacing the flywheel, maybe that's only if the surface is damaged b/c it has the dual friction or something like that, which is supposed to be resurfaced. I definitely would not go with a cheap aftermarket clutch. There are some upgrade clutch kits that are better than the factory one, but those are the only ones I would recommend besides the Nissan clutch. Good work..

[@eminiscalperpro9729]

sorry the flywheel is not supposed to be resurfaced..

[@curtthechameleon]

Finally got mine done. New clutch feels awesome.

[@Rythecarguy]

Hell yea! Isn't it great?

[@marjanmoro1291]

I am getting ready to do this job, I watched your video dozens of times! Memorized it! Haha Thank you for this great video! One question, the jack stands you used what was the height of them to get the clearance you got?

[@absolutelyknowbody]

Ended up pulling my motor with that flywheel access panel still in place lol. I really hope it didn't have to be removed beforehand. Doesn't look like I didn't any damage though

[@Rythecarguy]

Na, you should be fine. It only would be an issue if it snagged on something

[@heftex8339]

Tremendous video. Obviously a labor of love. Looking forward to seeing the clutch and seal install. Godspeed brother.

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks Fernando! I appreciate it. Hoping to record that video tomorrow. 🤞🏻just need to buy even more tools!

[@ahmadghosheh3104]

Fantastic Ry. I guess with automatic it will be pretty much the same process.

[@Rythecarguy]

Yea, there are a few small differences. For instance you need to rotate the crankshaft and actually remove the torque converter and drive plate bolts before removing the transmission, that an you need to take out the dipstick tube and it likely has more breather tubes. If you decide to do it dont for get to drain some of the fluid! 🤣

[@nateponyboy7201]

do the same steps apply for a 97 pathfinder

[@kevinlewis1235]

Is it easier to just pull the motor and tranny at once and just do all the maintenance? How about just pulling the transaxle out?

[@user-ns7em1qb9h]

Never stop sir I love your viedo

[@Rythecarguy]

Thank you! I will keep going for sure.

[@user-ns7em1qb9h]

Good luck sir

[@stevenshumate3430]

Need help with a 07 xterm automatic

[@vicmanshy]

Thank you so much for the video, Ry. It was a tremendous help.

[@ianbeltramo2834]

What is the size of the bolts for the heat shield? I am trying to plan ahead to make sure that I do this correctly. Thank you for putting this two-part video up I am going through them a second time to write down everything I need for the job. You were thorough and accurate.

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks Ian. Those were 10mm. I hope it all goes well!

[@jorgehetnandez1696]

How long did it take you to replace the transmission?

[@-EmCEE-]

How long did it take to do the whole job when you worked by yourself?

[@DonnieDeLo4577]

I NEED THIS LIFT! 😂. Let’s hope I can win!

[@seattlefishing4240]

Why does the description not include the year of this vehicle?

[@Rythecarguy]

It's in the first sentence.

[@Huhh1]

So why must the crankshaft position sensor be removed?

[@Rythecarguy]

To avoid damaging it when removing and replacing the transmission. They are expensive.

[@chaninski]

Hey Ry, are you going to do a video on new wheels and tires? Or just tires? Because I want to do the same All Dogs Offroad lift that you did.

[@RobertVance-gq2yf]

Nissan Maxima how to replace a clutch

[@JesusPerez-iv2ej]

Considering you now have the experience of taking out an engine from the Titan, if you had to do this job again, would you do it the same way (removing the transmission) or removing the engine? I’m at 144K miles, original clutch.

[@Rythecarguy]

Hey there Jesus. I have to say I would still drop the transmission. The only thing I would do differently is do a better job of strapping up the transmission jack and of course draining the transmission first lol.

[@ericraherimanjato9688]

You should’ve mentioned that this is for the v6 vehicle

[@Rythecarguy]

As opposed to the V8 Pathy? The second gen Xterra and Frontier only came in V6 as well as 99.999% of the pathys

[@a89mart]

At 13:53 what is the piece called where the two brass bolts and a big bolt are? Pretty much the middle of the screen. Trying to find out the name of that part.

[@Rythecarguy]

That's the motor mount

[@Ro53guy1]

Can you tell me if that tp55 was a 3/8 drive that you used? Also was it difficult to get them out? I wanna order one from my local parts place but I’ve been told if I don’t get one that is impact ready that it can be an issue? Your opinion please?

[@micah3532]

what model is the work light you are using? Thanks.

[@aleahona1024]

Very helpful! Thank you so much

[@Rythecarguy]

You're welcome!

[@DORSIAKILL]

Shift boot part number? I have the same issue. Changing clutch right now as well

[@Rythecarguy]

Hope it’s going well!

[@vicpnut1]

Oh how I wish my xterra was a standard

[@Rythecarguy]

I understand that. Harder to find though.

[@jasonthurston799]

After I removed the automatic transmission from my 2001 Frontier 3.3 King cab AT and re-installed it all is good except 4wd. When I put the 4wd shifter to it's neutral the ATP light comes on and if I try to get it into 4wd Low it grinds gears loudly. I can't get it into 2wd again because it grinds too. I then can't put the transmission back into park without grinding. I have to turn off the engine, put it into park and put the 4wd shifter back into 2wd and all is fine until I try to put it back into 4wd again. Also, this might be normal but when I have it in 2wd and I put it into neutral while in the air, the rear wheels spin while it's on blocks off of the ground....any ideas?

[@Rythecarguy]

Sounds like the shifters might be out of alignment. the gear shift and the 4wd shifter have cables and they can be adjusted on the side of the tranny. Try disconnecting them and shifting right on the side of the transfer case and see if it works (assuming you can do that safely).

[@jasonthurston799]

@@Rythecarguy Thanks for your help. It turned out that this is just normal behaviour. There is no gear synching and so you have to move through 4wd neutral very quickly before the shaft starts spinning too quickly. Found that in the manual. I just hadn't used the 4wd low in so many years that I assumed it wasn't working right when testing it after replacing the transmission.

[@Rythecarguy]

@@jasonthurston799 oh, good stuff! Glad you got it worked out.

[@engrobicfarms7818]

U did it man.

[@Rythecarguy]

🤘🏻

[@whats4dena1985]

Awesome video

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks Brian! I appreciate it. It’s long but I hope it’s details enough to walk people through.

[@morganmj]

Hi Great video. Was this a 4WD version? Did not see anything about the transfer case. Thanks for making these videos.

[@Rythecarguy]

Nope. This is 2WD. The only difference is you need to take off the front drive shaft and some extra wires from the transmission body when you have the 4WD

[@morganmj]

@@Rythecarguy Thanks for fast response.

[@alexdanzuka6734]

​@@Rythecarguywould you happen to know what that harness is called? Mine is a 1st gen and has damage to those wires connecting to the transfer case

[@DATODATOHERI89]

Excellent

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks!!

[@chrischavira2768]

Did you go with OEM rear main seal aswell

[@Rythecarguy]

Yes sir!

[@chrischavira2768]

Yeah I was debating between a napa and the OEM thanks bro these videos are very helpful 😎💯

[@GVA787]

Will xterra manual transmission fit a 2010 pathfinder?

[@Rythecarguy]

If it's also a manual and is the v6 then yes. Most likely l.

[@GVA787]

My pathfinder is not manual .

[@GVA787]

@@Rythecarguy is also a v6

[@Rythecarguy]

Converting to a manual is incredibly complicated. It's not as easy as just replacing the transmission's.

[@TrayJayRecords]

was this a 2wd?

[@Rythecarguy]

Yes

[@mclehed77]

Cried like a baby huh Aaammmmm we all know it was tears of joy that u got those bolts out,cause I'm sure they were a pain in the b#*@

[@Rythecarguy]

Totally! Lessons learned though. After doing it the first time I feel like I could do it in half the time.

[@jaysoncrutcher1367]

Looks like I'm in for a treat 😃🐱😃🐱 lol gonna rip mine out

[@Rythecarguy]

Yee haw!! 🤠

[@wcamericanmade9828]

And I just payed someone to fix mine... 🙃😐

[@Rythecarguy]

How much was it if you don’t mind me asking?

[@wcamericanmade9828]

@@Rythecarguy I had him do a couple other things as well, but my total came to 3600 I believe, I think about 1600 or 2000 for just the clutch replacement

[@Rythecarguy]

Wow. That’s more than I paid for my Xterra! I have to say though. This is at least one of those jobs where the labor is worth paying for. It’s a huge pain the ass.

[@wcamericanmade9828]

@@Rythecarguy its almost what I payed for mine but the engine is strong so I'll keep her running

[@Rythecarguy]

Hell yea!

[@78_CDV]

Ello

[@Rythecarguy]

Ello!

[@78_CDV]

Omg u replied

[@Rythecarguy]

Sure did! 🤘🏻👍🏻