135,XXX on original clutch... is it on its way out?
 

First off, the clutch does not give me any problems. doesnt slip. i can put it in 5th at like 20mph and the car feels like its going to die.

I drive the car very spirited. for a while ive noticed, i used to be able to say, dump the clutch in 2nd and break the tires loose. Now the tires just catch and i get the burned clutch smell.

just the clutch getting old and wearing out? eventually, when the time comes what all should i replace with that many miles? and are there any cons to going aftermarket?

thanks

The burning smell is a sign that it's time to switch it out. Also, the clutch pedal engaging high and high revs without gaining speed.

I say replace it all out. Clutch and flywheel. Aftermarket flywheels will come with chattering. It's not unbearable, but can get annoying. It's worth the upgrade, imo and it's a world of difference.

yeah ive heard about the chatter. brands anyone recommends? right now im only putting down 270ish+ but if i ever want to go FI would i need something more?

Like many others, I went with JWT. IIRC it says that it can handle FI cars, but I'd go with something a lil' more hefty if that's what you're planing. Maybe twin plated like Cusco or Exedy?

well who knows when that will be. I have 2 extra vq's that i would like to send one off and be built. but thats way down the road

did you install it yourself? i do pretty much all of my own work. but after that freaking rear wheel hub last week... ive done a clutch in a jeep wrangler, but the Z would seem a little more delicate

The odor is simply friction between the pressure plate and flywheel. You are spinning the pressure plate against the flywheel not allowing it to catch. You can burn any clutch new or old.

well if it is happening more frequently, then that is a sign of wear? right?

sounded like me.. i had the same problem with 119k on my car i got the nismo clutch and flywheel .. its a huge difference.. it revs quicker... and also the chatter is minimal to basically non since its not as light as the others.. great combination

good to know. thanks for the input. im taking everything into consideration at this point

I actually laughed when I read the thread title. 135k is a lot for any clutch really, especially in a sports car.

Lol yeah it is really. And to give a little history, I have not been kind to this clutch. At like 80k I literally broke 3rd gear in 2 pieces. And at 107k I blew the engine. So to me, its amazing it lasted this long. When I had the gear replaced, the guy told me that the clutch did not have a lot of wear on it amazingly. Cause I debated replacing it then.

5th gear at 20MPH? Of course it feels like it will die when your RPMS are that low for that speed and gear. :icon14:

Yeah.. That's a pretty common way to see if your clutch is slipping. But anyway

^.....yep. It's 3rd gear. :rolleyes: No way can you gauge in 5th without all that rattling and commotion.

hmmm. well i frequent these forums usually every day if not every other for the past 5 years, and go straight to the tech forums and read at least 1 clutch thread a day it seems. and ~5th gear seems to be the common "high gear/low RPM's" that everyone suggests trying. in fact ive never heard 3rd until now. and my z does not rattle :dunno:

Same thing is happening to me at 124k. Original clutch, no slippage, is fine for normal and spirited driving. Just can't dump the clutch and spin the rear tires anymore when I feel saucy. Had someone following behind me and his girlfriend was complaining of the dead raccoon I must have hit.

I guess I have to change it for her sake.

^^ same happened to me. Its still going strong though. If it holds out a bit more I can upgrade to twin disk :P I'm at 130k.. But i bought the car with 90k on it. Don't know if its be changed ever before or not.

yeah i think i may wait it out for a couple months. save my money for something not so cheap

Yes; however, the fiction surface is designed to wear. That is what it is supposed to do. Just like brake pads.