Renault gearboxes (M3P, M5P, M5D): do they have the new 5th gear pignon bushing??

[kilou]

Hi,

here is some interesting information about JB and JC gearboxes built by Renault and which are also mounted on some of our S40. Lots of Renault (also quite recent ones) have had the 5th jumping out of gear. This is caused by the failure of a needle bearing which is suporting the 5th gear pignon and/or by the unscrewing of the primary or secondary shaft retaining bolts. Renault has issued a kit to replace the need bushing by a "one piece" unit which is more robust. This kit is "easily" installed and requires removal of the 5th gear carter only (gearbox does not need to be off the car). Since I'll soon renew my clutch and will have a fairly easy access to the 5th carter, I'd like to renew that bushing with the Renault kit. I did not experience particular problems with my 5th but I prefer doing this as preventive maintenance while I'm there.

The obvious question is to know if we Volvo owners also need this kit or if we all have the "updated" gearboxes (also early S40, my car is a MY1997)??? Does anybody know if our gearboxes need the new bushing that replace the needle bearing?

Here is the kit cover with Renault part nr:


What the kit contains:


Here is the new bushing (left, one piece) and old need bearing with its bushing (right, 2 pieces):


The new bushing in place on the primary shaft:


And the 5th gear pignon installed on top if it:


(source: http://www.forum-auto.com/sqlforum/s...t150265-70.htm)
All these pictures are taken on a JB1 gearbox mounted on a Renault R11. However this gearbox is very similar to our JB3 and JC5 gearboxes and the kit is the same for all.

[kilou]