The Nissan clutch sucks, period. I had two test days (aprox 4.5 hours), one full race weekend (1.2 hours) and the start of another race weekend (45min) and the clutch blew. The problem is with the clutch material, its not very durable, when we removed the transmission we found the clutch disk material seperated from the disk and disentigrated. We are not the only team that has had this problem, everyone who races one of these cars in SCCA T2 has gone through a clutch at some point, most people are changing them after 5 races, some as little as two. In comparison, my last racecar (1995 BMW M3) had 6 seasons of racing on it and last I heard the new owner still hasnt had to change to clutch!! SO ITS NOT THE DRIVER.

Do yourself a favor, replace the clutch with a Nismo clutch and never worry about it again....

 

I have seen OEM Cluthces last 5000 miles... I have seen OEM Clutches last 60+

It all depends on the driver and how long he rides the clutch when they shift...

 

I don't believe we're talking about cars that are put through multiple harsh RACE SESSIONS ON A TRACK. I've had my Z to plenty of track days and driven it very hard since I bought it, and my clutch looked fantastic after 38K miles. Furthermore, I don't believe the STOCK clutch was ever intended to be used in a car that is RACED on a very regular basis. So ONE BMW M3 you owned had a clutch that lasted a long time while being raced. Ever stop to think that the extra 10 grand that the BMW cost over a Z was put to fitting the car with some parts that we're more heavy duty that what you'd find in a typical street car that can be used for light track duty such as the STOCK 350Z?

 

Well at least you got 6 seasons out of the M3 without making the money shift But I don't think your comparison applies in this case.

I'm still waiting for some hard data from the original poster. Give us some specifics as far as how far the revs increase in comparison to MPH in various driving situations. I've never driven the lower end 3000GT SL, but if thats what you're used to driving I'm sure its quite different from the Z.

 

BriGuyMax,
The M3 cost $37500 when new so no $10k price difference. It wouldnt cost much for Nissan to put a good clutch in the car.

My First point is, dont jump all over this guy telling him he's a s****y driver, when you dont know if he is or not, when the stock clutchs are garbage. Sure somebody might get a lot of miles out of the stock clutch, but they might have lucked out and got a clutch that came out of the factory absolutely perfect with good bonding of the clutch material too the plate. On the other hand you might get a good driver that got a Monday or a Friday clutch that doesnt have good bonding and it either disentigrates or wears quickly.

My Second point is, in a car that has 287hp out of the box, Nissan should have made an OEM clutch that could handle more than this (say 350hp), instead the clutch isnt capable of handling 287hp at hight RPM downshifts. Given that this is a sports car, and that Nissan should figure a lot of their customers will be driving these cars at DE events or hard on the street, they could have come up with a little better material for the clutch disk.

 

My clutch has 73k miles on it, has survied A TON of abuse. Clutch drops from 3k - 6k, power shifting (which I've done ever since I started driving the car, I dont like to lose momentum while shifting), and engine braking. About 40k miles of my car are literally due to 'Canyon Runs' in the rocky mountains that me and my buds have been doing for years and even though it's not as competitive as a race track; we don't take it easy on our cars and the clutch was like a 2nd gas pedal. I've been pushing 300chp for over a year with all my abuse as well. I had my tranny replaced around 35-40k miles (can't even remember now) and they said I didnt need clutch or flywheel replaced cause it looked fine. Now I dont expect it to last to 150k miles with the abuse I put it through, but for the past 2 years, the clutch has taken it like a complete champ.

 

You can get a 350Z for 28K NEW. I stick with my original statement.

I didn't tell him he was a sh!tty driver...other people did.

Just like we don't know if he's a good driver or not...YOU don't know if the 350Z's stock clutch is garbage. You have ONE SAMPLE to go from on ONE car that you RACED. How the hell does that kind of abuse deem a failed stock clutch "garbage"????

They did. There are plenty of guys with Supercharger kits putting out OVER 350whp that are still using the stock clutch...hell there are Twin Turbo Z's with over 400whp that ran on the stock clutch for a while.

If you think that the HP a motor produces has anything to do with clutch wear on high RPM downshifts then you need to get off the racetrack and go back to the basics.

Myself and a majority of the users on this forum who mod their cars and run their cars at track events have had ZERO problems with the stock clutch. Maybe you should do a little research on how OTHER PEOPLE besides yourself have found the stock clutch to last before you go bashing it and Nissan.

Based on your logic...since I had ZERO problems with my stock clutch...have drag raced with it...have taken my car to HPDE's....I think the stock clutch is great.

BTW - You never responded about the Nismo clutch that still uses a STOCK DISC. You praised that item. Way to completely contradict yourself.

 

BriGuyMax,
Did you read my post? EVERYONE that is racing a T2 prepared 350Z in SCCA is having problems with the clutch. We are talking about 10 racecars. Are you saying that we all dont know what the hell we are talking about and that we dont know how to shift? Are you telling me that drivers, including myself, that have won numerous SCCA National Races, Divisional Championships and several who have won National Championships dont know what we are saying? Also Nissan Motorsports in CA has acknowledged that the stock clutch is GARBAGE and has petitioned SCCA to allow us to run the Nismo clutch because of reliability issues.

PS: Check your facts, Nismo MAKES A CLUTCH DISK AND PRESSURE PLATE. Look over your Nismo catalog or check out Performance Nissans website a little closer. So, No I did not contradict myself, you just dont know what the hell your talking about

 

ok tough guy...I didn't realize that the 350Z sold at nissan dealers was supposed to be a race prepped car.

Futhermore...so 350Z's in T2 are going through clutches every couple races. On most race circuits with FULL RACE PREPPED CARS, they change out things like clutchs every freaking race.

CHECK YOUR FACTS. Nismo itself doesn't make ****...they re-brand other aftermarket products for the most part. Nissan sources it's clutch business out to Exedy. So get a f-ing clue.

The nismo clutch is JUST A STOCK DISC WITH A GRABBIER PRESSURE PLATE. Just like most other aftermarket clutch upgrades for the 350Z. If you believe the garbage in the catalog than you're an idiot. The "Nismo" disc uses the same material as a stock disc. The only reason that you won't go through a nismo clutch as fast is because the pressure plate is grabbier and doesn't let you slip and heat up the clutch as much on upshifts and downshifts.

I don't care how "accomplished" a racer you are...just because you can drive a car doesn't mean you know d!ck about how everything works inside the car.

Get off your f-ing soapbox.

 

Back at ya, flame boy.

 

Obviously there is no reasoning with you. If you want to be an a*****e then fine. I thought this was a forum where everyone can voice their opinion freely without having people like you make cheap shots. If you dont agree with me, you are entitled to your opinion but you have no right to attack me.

Most cars that race in T2 have no problem making a stock clutch last a season or more. I am not saying that Nissan should have a race ready car on the showroom but even the people at Nissan Motorsports admit that the clutch is weak on this car.

I never said Nismo made their own clutchs, how this is relevant, I dont know? Like most major companies, Nismo works with outside vendors who are experts in certain components, ie: Exedy for clutchs and have them build a component to their own spec. But I digress, this is not the point and what point you were trying to make other than to continue to be a a*****e, who knows?

As far as the Nismo clutch disk being a stock disk, YOU ARE WRONG. The Nismo clutch disk is MADE OUT OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL, the disk itself is also different and you have to use the Nismo Pressure plate with the Nismo clutch disk because the stock pressure plate will not fit. But I suppose you know this? I also suppose you know people at Nissan Motorsports and have discussed this with them, havent you? Or are you saying that the people at Nissan Motorsports, who have access to all parts in the Nissan parts system, both OEM, Nismo and Nissan Motorsports parts are wrong? If you would like, give them a call at 310-538-2610 if you think you are right......

 

Oh, and I am not on a soapbox. I just thought that my experience with this subject might be able to help someone on this forum. Last time I checked, that was the point of having this forum.

 

Yeah but, the dude is not out racing his car every weekend, he just bought it and is claiming to be experiencing the problem in normal street driving. IMHO, while your argument may be valid technically, I'm not sure its entirely relevant to helping this guy ascertain whether or not his clutch is truly slipping or it is simply his inexperience with the 350Z making him think it is slipping when it is not.

 

The point I was trying to make was that these clutchs are not that great, sure some people can get high mileage out of them but others are not. There have been other post in the past with people having premature clutch wear/failure and I dont necessarily believe its because the person doesnt know how to drive.

 

you got 73k on your stock clutch and still working fine? that's good news... I just got my tranny replaced at 47k miles, not sure if it's still got stock clutch or new one... not listed on the invoice..

if it's old clutch, at least I know I can can look forward to 73k

 

It's probably got your original clutch in it. As I understand the tranny TSB, it does not include a new clutch or resurfacing of the flywheel. But the OEM unit is pretty robust- unless you've been abusing it...

 

oh my god... you guys are making me worried... I have my 2003 Enthusiast and it's only got 21500 miles on it... I really like my car, it doesn't have anything wrong with it yet, I just hope it would stay that way... >_<

 

this is kinda off topic but has anyone experienced red "Brake" light comes on @ WOT in 1st and 2nd gear? (not the slip light) i don't think it's noraml but any idea what might be wrong?


how much difference can you expect from a JWT clutch and flywheel combo?
which vendor has best deals for JWT clutch and flywheel?

 

i got 54k on my stock clutch and it hasnt slipped once!! and i slam it into 2nd gear everyday and spin the rear tires... i also am on my original tranny guess i got a good one..