A method and apparatus for radio link control (RLC) re-segmentation are disclosed. An original RLC protocol data unit (PDU) is generated from at least one RLC service data unit (SDU). The RLC PDU size is within a flexible maximum RLC PDU size. The original RLC PDU is stored in a retransmission buffer. If transmission of the original RLC PDU fails and the original RLC PDU size is larger than an updated maximum RLC PDU size, the original RLC PDU is segmented to segmented RLC PDUs. If transmission of one of the segmented RLC PDUs fails, the original RLC PDU may be re-segmented to smaller size RLC PDUs, or the segmented RLC PDU may be sub-segmented. Alternatively, the failed RLC PDU may be processes as an RLC SDU to generate encapsulating RLC PDUs for carrying the RLC PDU. Alternatively, an RLC SDU corresponding to the failed RLC PDU may be re-segmented.