Nissan Silvia: S15 6-speed gearbox circlip/layshaft failure and clutch worn by drifting
S15 6-speed gearbox circlip/layshaft failure and clutch worn by drifting is a common transmission fault on the Nissan Silvia on the 1999–2002 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 10 documented faults on the Nissan Silvia.
- Vehicle
- Nissan Silvia
- Years
- 1999–2002
- Fuel
- petrol
- Gearbox
- manual
- System
- Transmission
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The S15 Spec-R six-speed manual (Aisin-based box) has a well-documented weakness where the locating circlip on the layshaft works loose, letting the gears move axially so that 3rd and 4th become hard or impossible to select, and the box can slip out of or refuse to hold 6th gear. Aggressive use - drifting, clutch-kicks and fast shifts - greatly increases the chance of the circlip jumping out, and owners also report pitting on the 4th counter gear and worn synchro/baulk-ring tapers on abused boxes. Nissan never recalled it. On the same hard-driven cars the clutch is often near the end of its life from launches and drift use, showing slip under load or judder on take-up. Specialists cure the circlip fault by machining the layshaft for an upgraded locking-collar location during a rebuild.
What you would notice
- 3rd and 4th gear become hard or impossible to select
- Gearbox pops out of 6th or will not hold 6th under load
- Grinding or crunch selecting gears when warm (worn synchros)
- Clutch slip under acceleration or judder on take-up
- Whine or notchy shift that worsens with hard driving
How to check it
Where to look. Six-speed manual transmission (layshaft circlip and synchros) and the clutch/flywheel at the bellhousing, under the transmission tunnel
On the test drive shift firmly through all six gears both cold and warm, checking that 3rd, 4th and 6th engage cleanly and that the box holds 6th under load without popping out.
Feel for clutch slip in a high-gear roll-on and for judder pulling away.
Ask whether the box has had the circlip / locking-collar fix or a rebuild, and inspect for gearbox and gearbox-mount oil leaks underneath.
What it costs to put right
$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Does it ever crunch or refuse 3rd, 4th or pop out of 6th?”
- “Has the gearbox had the circlip / locking-collar upgrade or a rebuild?”
- “When was the clutch last replaced, and has the car been drifted?”
- “Is there any whine or notchiness that gets worse when hot?”
Now check the Nissan Silvia you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
Nissan Silvia buyer questions
Is s15 6-speed gearbox circlip/layshaft failure and clutch worn by drifting serious on a Nissan Silvia?
We rate it major and common on the Nissan Silvia. The S15 Spec-R six-speed manual (Aisin-based box) has a well-documented weakness where the locating circlip on the layshaft works loose, letting the gears move axially so that 3rd and 4th become hard or impossible to select, and the box can slip out of or refuse to hold 6th gear. Aggressive use - drifting, clutch-kicks and fast shifts - greatly increases the chance of the circlip jumping out, and owners also report pitting on the 4th counter gear and worn synchro/baulk-ring tapers on abused boxes. Nissan never recalled it. On the same hard-driven cars the clutch is often near the end of its life from launches and drift use, showing slip under load or judder on take-up. Specialists cure the circlip fault by machining the layshaft for an upgraded locking-collar location during a rebuild.
How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Silvia?
$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Nissan Silvia years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1999–2002 Nissan Silvia. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
On the test drive shift firmly through all six gears both cold and warm, checking that 3rd, 4th and 6th engage cleanly and that the box holds 6th under load without popping out. Feel for clutch slip in a high-gear roll-on and for judder pulling away. Ask whether the box has had the circlip / locking-collar fix or a rebuild, and inspect for gearbox and gearbox-mount oil leaks underneath. Look here: Six-speed manual transmission (layshaft circlip and synchros) and the clutch/flywheel at the bellhousing, under the transmission tunnel