Transmission

A transmission or gearbox is a large assembly used for transmitting torque and power from the engine to the driveshaft and thus, the wheels of a vehicle. Transmissions often have multiple gears of different ratios, and switching through these gears can be done manually or automatically. Different gear ratios allow internal combustion engines, which work in a relatively limited range of speed (for example, 750rpm to 7000rpm) to provide power for a multitude of applications, like driving slowly up a steep hill, or very fast on a flat highway.

On the Z32

The Z32's manual transmission (known as the RS5R30A) was a 5-speed with double-cone synchronizers. The automatic (RE4R01A on the NA, RE4R03A on the TT) was a 4-speed.
The manual transmission had the following gear ratios:

• 1st: 3.214
• 2nd: 1.925
• 3rd: 1.302
• 4th: 1.000
• 5th: 0.752
• Rev: 2.275

The automatic transmission had the following gear ratios:

• 1st: 2.784
• 2nd: 1.544
• 3rd: 1.000
• 4th: 0.694
• Rev: 2.275

Problems

Both of the Z32 transmissions are very strong, but not without their faults. The automatic transmission tends to slip at higher power levels, but can be built to handle higher power and shift quicker. The manual transmission, while being virtually indestructible, is notorious for having a "soft synchro" problem. Over years of drivers aggressively "slamming it into gear," the synchronizers tend to wear and become difficult (and noisy) to put into gear. This is most commonly apparent with 2nd and 4th gears, but can happen to other gears as well.

The Japan-only 1998 Z32 was given an updated transmission, which had stronger synchronizers due to complaints about the soft synchro issue. It is a common, bolt-in upgrade for earlier Zs.