How to tell if clutch is bad?
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Hi all,
Aside from the clutch actually malfunctioning, is there any way to tell if a replacement clutch will be needed in the near future BEFORE it starts acting up?
Aside from the clutch actually malfunctioning, is there any way to tell if a replacement clutch will be needed in the near future BEFORE it starts acting up?
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Originally Posted by dutchboy350Z
Start engine put it in 5th or 6th gear. Release clutch. If you DON'T stall, your clutch is kapoot. If you DO stall your clutch still has plenty of life.
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Originally Posted by dutchboy350Z
Start engine put it in 5th or 6th gear. Release clutch. If you DON'T stall, your clutch is kapoot. If you DO stall your clutch still has plenty of life.
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Originally Posted by cjeezy
Ok I couldn't wait. I put it in 5th and it immediately stalled out ![Smilie](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![Smilie](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I first found mine slipping by starting from say 30-40 mph or so, let the revs drop in 5th to pretty low (~1500 rpm), then mash the throttle. If its on the way out, the clutch may briefly slip and you'll see the revs go up but speed not as much as you'd expect, then the clutch catches and it feels normal at cruising speeds. I drove it something like 500 miles after that started up, and it was toast.
Or you could pull it and look at it (j/k!). In my case, that was pretty conclusive - seems like it got kind hot at times
![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![](http://homepage.mac.com/stracy01/.Pictures/hot-who-me-flywheel1.jpg)
And it should go w/o saying, but IMHO there is no reason to put another Nissan Clutch OEM "Valueline" in there (the < $300 all inclusive parts), same as you'd get with an Altima V6 or Maxima, it's just not up to the motor if you drive the car remotely hard.
I have plenty of company, check for clutch on this forum - I've seen as little as 10k miles and gone, and more than a few around 30-40k miles (myself included). Sure, I was hard on it at times, but I didn't go around doing donuts and clutch drops. My JWT has 17k miles and still feels great!
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Originally Posted by SteveZ
Not so sure I agree with that method only, you may see slippage at speed before that. Dropping the clutch from a standstill in 5th may still have enough grip to stall the motor. Try also a rolling test, IMHO that will show it's starting to go well before it actually stops working.
I first found mine slipping by starting from say 30-40 mph or so, let the revs drop in 5th to pretty low (~1500 rpm), then mash the throttle. If its on the way out, the clutch may briefly slip and you'll see the revs go up but speed not as much as you'd expect, then the clutch catches and it feels normal at cruising speeds. I drove it something like 500 miles after that started up, and it was toast.
Or you could pull it and look at it (j/k!). In my case, that was pretty conclusive - seems like it got kind hot at times![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![](http://homepage.mac.com/stracy01/.Pictures/hot-who-me-flywheel1.jpg)
And it should go w/o saying, but IMHO there is no reason to put another Nissan Clutch OEM "Valueline" in there (the < $300 all inclusive parts), same as you'd get with an Altima V6 or Maxima, it's just not up to the motor if you drive the car remotely hard.
I have plenty of company, check for clutch on this forum - I've seen as little as 10k miles and gone, and more than a few around 30-40k miles (myself included). Sure, I was hard on it at times, but I didn't go around doing donuts and clutch drops. My JWT has 17k miles and still feels great!
I first found mine slipping by starting from say 30-40 mph or so, let the revs drop in 5th to pretty low (~1500 rpm), then mash the throttle. If its on the way out, the clutch may briefly slip and you'll see the revs go up but speed not as much as you'd expect, then the clutch catches and it feels normal at cruising speeds. I drove it something like 500 miles after that started up, and it was toast.
Or you could pull it and look at it (j/k!). In my case, that was pretty conclusive - seems like it got kind hot at times
![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![](http://homepage.mac.com/stracy01/.Pictures/hot-who-me-flywheel1.jpg)
And it should go w/o saying, but IMHO there is no reason to put another Nissan Clutch OEM "Valueline" in there (the < $300 all inclusive parts), same as you'd get with an Altima V6 or Maxima, it's just not up to the motor if you drive the car remotely hard.
I have plenty of company, check for clutch on this forum - I've seen as little as 10k miles and gone, and more than a few around 30-40k miles (myself included). Sure, I was hard on it at times, but I didn't go around doing donuts and clutch drops. My JWT has 17k miles and still feels great!
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Originally Posted by cjeezy
Thanks for the feedback. So with your 5th gear test are you saying from a dead stop put the car in 5th and mash on the gas OR while cruising at 30-40 miles shift to 5th and mash on the gas? Not that it matters this second anyways as my car went in the shop today. It woulnt start this morning. The battery and alternator are trying to start the engine but its like its not getting fuel. My "service engine soon" light is on too."
I meant once up to speed rolling like 30-40 mph, lower than you'd use 5th gear normally, shift into 5th, mash the throttle, if you see a surge in revs w/o commensurate increase in speed, then it's slipping.
IF you need a replacement beware that myself and others have had requests to pre-approve an $1100 dual-mass OEM flywheel as part of the clutch replacement "just in case it needs to be replaced". I have a really hard time believing the FW cannot be usually machined back to tolerance, and the paranoid side says it's easier for the dealer to replace it new and it makes them more money. That's a fast way to turn a ~<$800 clutch job into a $1600-2000 job, don't let them take you there.
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Originally Posted by cjeezy
Just got a call back from the dealer. They said a CAM sensor needs replaced.
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Originally Posted by SteveZ
I have plenty of company, check for clutch on this forum - I've seen as little as 10k miles and gone, and more than a few around 30-40k miles (myself included). Sure, I was hard on it at times, but I didn't go around doing donuts and clutch drops. My JWT has 17k miles and still feels great!
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Originally Posted by dutchboy350Z
Just got back from the track last friday. I was launching at 4-5.5k on mickey tompsons. The JWT clutch flywheel took it like a champ. I did 20+ pulls without a problem. ![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
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Originally Posted by Nexx
N/A right dutch? i would hope the jwt would hold.
just watch the axles man.
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![Smilie](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I pulled two 1.9X 60 ft with only 248 rwhp in my fat **** roadster. I'll never go out on street tires again.
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