So we ripped apart an 05 350z (unfortunatly we do not have a Track or 35th Anny model yet to see why they make more HP)...

This is what we found.







The new clutch is on the left... the 03/04 clutch is on the right.

The contact area is about a 1/4" smaller in Diameter. The flywheel stayed the same.

Clutch pedal as we know is different...

 

is this for the better?

 

Neat.

 

Less contact area, wouldn't that mean less grip and less ability to handle horsepower?

 

uh, ok...so what does that mean?

 

It really depends on the friction material. The Porsche Carrera GT has a 6" diameter clutch.

Michael.

 

It means it's just like anything else that is smaller during acceleration...

17" wheels will turn over faster than 19" persay...

Good move Nissan!

 

is it also lighter or the same weight?

 

Technically... it should be lighter.

Which in effect will give the feeling of a lighter flywheel.

 

well if i was going to do a jwt clutch/flywheel there is no intrested in the 05 stock clutch unless its better made than the jwt.

How, thanks performance Nissan to tear apart a car to see the differenced between the 04 and the 05! Lets see how they make 300hp beside the exhuast timing.

 

05's additional horsepower has already been clearly stated by Nissan/Infiniti in the press releases.

Aside from necessary ECU changes ... there's the addition of variable valve timing for the exhaust valves, slightly hotter cam, 7000rpm redline and others.

 

Wow, you guys must be slow during the holiday season just to tear apart a brand new car.

Nice find, keep um coming.

 

I'm curious. I am out of the loop.

What are the differences in the clutch pedal?

 

could I put an 05 clutch in my 03?

 

You guys at Performance Nissan really are a tribule to the Z Community. I can't believe some of the stuff you come up with...Especially this. Good Find!

Jeff

 

is this better than the 04, and can you interchange with 05?

 

That's one weird looking pressure plate? Some sorta dual-mass PP to go with the flywheel? It looks heavier to me.

 

i've read people were having problems w/ the '05 trannies

 

Well, Haven't had a chance to do any tests on it, not sure if we are going to because I doubt it will hold any more then the 03 / 04 clutch.

But, From driving 05's even with Tilton's installed I have found this...

This pressure plate is defiantly lighter (pressure wize) when compared to the 03/04... The springs can be easily pressed with your thumb... This will add to easier pedal stroke for the 03/04 if I am correct...

The 05 with a Tilton Full Street set up is very nice to drive... The new clutch pedal in the 05 has a different throw feel to it... It does not feel like it is a lever that moves in a circular motion, but more of a straight down motion. It also does not sit as high as the 03 / 04 pedals...

I have had both the stock 03 clutch pedal in my Z along with the upgraded 04... The 04 is defiantly nicer then the 03 but the 05 doesn't seem to Pop up as quickly when side stepping or lifting your foot off it correctly...

Now, Keep in mind that the 05's that I have driven I was fairly easy on. One of them I did not side step or accelerate hard, just felt pedal feel from daily driving (well not my daily driving style) and the other one is one before and after a tilton clutch with 12 miles on it, and I felt bad ripping it up... Ill get a chance to drive this car again next week (with probably 30 miles on it.. hehe)...

So far it looks like the clutch pedals are completely interchangeable... So for those of you who want a different feel from your clutch pedal (lighter) I recommend picking up an 05 clutch pedal...

Since the clutch pedal does significantly change the feel of even the TILTON Full Street Clutch, changing the clutch to get a lighter pedal feel is not needed...

OEM 05 Clutch Pedal Assembly - NON-Base

OEM 05 Clutch Pedal Assembly - BASE

 

I think the wring that is in there is to keep from hyperextending the pressure plate... Kind of like how we put in the pedal stop's for the tilton's, this is another way...

Remember back in my threads I was saying something about how I felt the 350z stock set up shifted better when only pressing in the pedal half way...