Hi guys

just got a few questions about the Z clutch. I have an 06 with just under 30k miles and shifting is always a pain with it.

Im used to standard hondas FWD which are such a breeze to drive but the Z is always giving me trouble starting off the line and shifting 1-2. The odd thing is that it runs a lot better right when i start it (cold), clutch feels very smooth and without hesitation. So far the dealers i have asked have told me there are no issues.

I just remember hondas being very soft and you could easily decide where the catch point was.

I have the throw out bearing chatter sound as well which is really annoying, anyone have a how to on replacing that ? Or is it a massive job worth avoiding?

Main troubling issue which may be related to the throw out bearing
- whenever its in gear, say even 6th gear on the hwy, if i press the clutch just a little bit but not enough for it to disengage (maybe 1/2 inch i feel like a slight vibration, if i let go it goes away.

Stop to 1st
- first of all its very slow, literally little cars fly by
- it seems like even above 1500 rpm the clutch feels warped or something, a little bit of vibration but its odd, even with high revs the gear seems to just run out of speed.
- if its in first and in gear say slowing down at a light there is a loud turbine like sound. It makes the same sound going forward too while speeding up in first. It doesnt seem to make this sound in 2nd --> 6th

1st to second
- ive gotten better at it since i got the car and put over 5000 miles on it (most of them were on the hwy getting home) but I learned to match the revs.


My main question is, how do i test if the clutch is warped or has any issues require maintenance. The car feels fine and pulls nicely to pass without hesitation but its just a few little issues bothering me. I got it used so I dont know the history of the vehicle. Things just seem off.

Any help would be appreciated. Im setting up an appointment with my dealer tomorrow morning for a test drive to see what they say and it might be covered under powertrain warranty like my previous oil issues

 

Welcome. Everything you describe is subjective. If you go from a car with, say, 120 pounds of torque to a Z with 240 pounds of torque, it will drive and feel different.

Assume Nissan will say “can not duplicate.”

 

what about the throw out bearing ? is that something i should consider replacing if it makes that chatter sound?

Maybe im just a shitty stick driver, i think my main issue is i drive an automatic car as a daily (~100 miles daily) so when i take the Z out i feel like im getting used to it all over again.

Ill go with the dealer guy inside to see how he drives it and it feels the same.

Thanks for the heads up

 

Yeah, that throwout bearing noise is normal. Everybody on here might flame you for asking about the noise. Anyway, that is how the Z's drivetrain is. Mostly, going from 1-2nd gear is usually notchy, but for some reason going to 3-6 gear is effortless. Anyway, just get used to driving it and you'll appreciate your riding in a Z rather than a Honda. Hope that helps a little.

 

ive seen the throw out bearing issue a few times so i think ill leave it be

It sounds like mine is normal then since the 3-6 is effortless and never has any issues (ie jerkiness).

BTW i love my Z and would never get a honda, i love the styling of the Z and would live with the tranny as is. My buddy has an 06 RSX and he drove my Z, he noted the same issues and he was joking around saying that we can trade cars, he doesnt mind the 1-2 shift issues if he can have the extra hp/torque

 

Glad you like it! Everybody here loves the Z's and they can't get enough of it. Anyway, the tranny is just built like that so don't worry. Btw, you can also just watch some 06 Z's on youtube if it helps.

 

Go waste a sales man's time and test drive another Z similar to yours. Then compare.

 

You wouldn't be complaining about the clutch and shifting problems if you'd gotten the 5AT. It's bullet proof, shifts quicker, and doesn't make annoying noises, too.

 

updates

1. i would never get it in 5AT

2. took it to a dealer about 30km from me for another opinion

Result
- they drove it around and said it feels like the flywheel has a hotspot causing the slight vibration at start. The biting later on is just a combination of that + i need to let the clutch out slower

- they suggested going on the hwy and pushing the clutch pedal fully in and out a few times (foot off gas pedal). This should help shave that hot spot or not make it as noticeable.

- I test drove a 05 350z on their lot and it had the same bearing sound, the clutch seemed almost the same as mine but the vibration was not as apparent, yet still there (it was more honda like) and the clutch felt softer than mine. It almost felt like the clutch was going on this one since i had to let it out more before it would catch
- between shifts again, it didnt really bite as much plus i took it slow since the guy was with me in the car.
- gear entry was terrible on this 350z, it was very rough and it was like i felt the gears jamming together, mine doesnt do that

I spoke with the tech while he was in the car with me and he was driving it, he said that he would personally get a new racing clutch installed somewhere else that runs hotter? (not sure what he meant by hot). He also added that the clutch life wont be affected by much if at all, its just annoying with that hotspot.

The only thing that bothers me is that sometimes it feels like it will take off smoothly and as i let the clutch out i feel this annoying vibration in the clutch pedal.

But at least they confirmed im not doing something wrong, i recall when i first got the car (3k miles ago) it was a real PITA to get going from the light and now it has become a lot smoother so perhaps the hotspot(s) was worse before.

Another thing i thought about, keeping in mind im new to the forum, is there a trans oil for the 350z? My other car needs tranny fluid like syncromesh, i was thinking maybe new trans fluid may help? What about the clutch? Perhaps it just needs some TLC

So now 350z experts, what do you recommend?

 

Any updates guys ?

the slipping feel at start is really pissing me off now. Its really bad when the car is warmed up too. It feels like the engine is gonna stall too since it makes you think its gripping and once you let go it catches.

Im looking at the FS section and clutches/flywheels are really cheap for the 350z.

Is there a how to for the swaps or is a shop only kind of install? I have an engine hoist and a lot of small tools but im not exactly sure what is involved with the Z.

My last test is to get my buddy to drive my car and see what he thinks. He has an 03 6mt Z, he's just always away for work.

Thanks guys

 

Is this slipping you're talking about intermittent or with every launch? Every once in a while I get a really unsettling chatter when I'm starting out on an incline. It's not like a normal slipping like if you're in 5th at a lower speed and you give it hard gas and the clutch cant take the load and you hear the rpm's slide up without getting any power. It's more like the clutch grabs then lets go rapidly, like a hard cha-cha-cha-cha. It really shakes the car, and I have to push the clutch in and try again by revving the engine up higher and letting the clutch out faster. It always seems like it does this when the rpm's and clutch engagement mesh just so and it just doesn't like it. I've learned how to avoid this combination, and otherwise the clutch is rock solid. I've never gotten any clutch burning smell at all, and I don't ever get what I would say is traditional slip whatsoever. I was worried my clutch was going out but when I test it out at low speed under load there is not a bit of slip. It's definitely weird and annoying but I don't know what else to do other than get a new clutch but it's not a critical thing right now.

 

thats a perfect description of mine, the cha cha cha shaking.

I drive an automatic car as my daily so it really throws me off when i dont drive my z for a week or so. I found that if i drive my Z continuously i get used to the clutch and avoid that mesh issue.

But ya im in the same situation, i think i just need a new clutch/flywheel combo to get rid of this issue. I found that giving it a bit more rev no longer has so much cha-cha rubbing feel to it.

I still have to try the slip test in higher gears but i doubt my clutch is slipping, i think its a flywheel hotspot just like my mechanic said

Let me know if you find out what is causing yours to act up.

Cheers
C

 

hi guys

i found a similar issue with the nissan trucks, some users its the hanger bearing on the driveshaft? Does the Z even have one ?

This is what the original post described, which is just what im getting. http://www.nissanforums.com/hb-truck...shudder-2.html
When starting out from a full stop, as I let the clutch out, the truck has developed a shake or shudder. Only briefly .5 a second just before the clutch fully engages. Once fully engaged everything is smooth. It's intermittent, today I rode the clutch a few times to see what would happen, after that I didn't experience the problem on the way home, not convinced it won't come back though. It's been happening for about 3 months.

Suggestions
- oil on clutch disc
- slipping clutch (tested, not slipping)
- final post, hanger bearing on driveshaft

I had this exact same problem. i put a new clutch in mine...still had the problem. mine was caused by the hanger bearing on the driveshaft.

What do you guys think? Is it easy to replace?

 

The Z doesn't have a hanger bearing on the driveshaft. See:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/350z-pa...4_715_778.html

 

thats what i initially thought, seems to be a truck thing only

BTW you really havent gone past 3000rpm on your car?

Thats insane

 

That's right. I've driven some 350Zs that weren't mine, and I've pushed them a bit harder. I've also been with other people driving their own Zs very aggressively. I know how they impressive they are when driven hard, but I just enjoy puttering around in a car that feels really good.

I'm the same way with my Silverado. It's got almost 60,000 miles on it without going over 2000rpm.

 

I feel the same way about my Z shifting from 1st to 2nd and hearing the notchy noise makes my heart drop every time. ): I feel as if my whole car is going to mess up but i'm learning to live with it. Oh and i also had Nissan check it out for me around 42000 miles and they replaced the tranny in it for me under warranty. And it ended up doing it like 1 week later. ): FML

 

yea mine does that too..
sometimes slow sometimes fast
and
my idle stay at 500rpm if not a/c on
if a/c is on then it raise up to 1000 rpm
btw my clutch grid o_O! and my tranny is really hard to shift
i hear cranking really loud while shifting 1st to 2nd
and hear some kind of the plate wheel is spinning sound..
and it jerks really bad i between 1500~2000rpm when it comes to stop

my car z has 33k miles still under warranty but
will Nissan dealer get me a new tranny plus free installation?
how about clutch ?
and my idle issue