I just looked at various threads in this website, and others are discussing this slave cylinder problem too. Just wanted you all to know, in case you wanted to check out those other threads. You have to do a search in the various forums to find them. I saw Whitt1 post in one of them, but didn't see most of you, which is why I'm posting this reply. My search was "slave cylinder".

As a side note, and to just "vent" a bit, it just blows me away, really, that so many of us 07 350Z owners are having this problem. I'm also REALLY getting upset that Nissan would make a track-ready car, the Nismo edition, and have it have this problem, without PROACTIVEY dealing with it once it became known. And doubly upset to hear so many Nissan owners getting the brush off from their dealers because they used the car on a track. In my view, if Nissan is going to make a track-ready car, then the warranty should apply to track use. My dealer replaced my slave cylinder under warranty, and I would have hoped that all Nissan dealers would act the same, but I guess not. Sad.

Finally, the additional news I'm getting is suggesting that upgrading the clutch fluid to something that doesn't burn up under high heat, like the Motul 660 I'm considering using, is NOT going to save the slave cylinder if it can't take the heat of running the car hard on a track. I'm in discussions with my Nissan dealer to work with me to find a solution. I'll keep you posted.

 

Mrossi, a couple things in response to your last post:

1) Did you actually see your fluid turn brown immediately after your track day? I wonder if there is a leak in the brake/clutch system, slowly allowing air/water/dirt to enter the system (turning it brown). This would also lower the boiling point and cause the fluid to boil at a lower temp.

2) How did the dealer explain to you that the slave cylinder "burned up", because that sounds like bs to me? Slave cylinders can crack and leak or break internally, but I have never heard of them burning up.

3) You shouldn't have to upgrade the brake fluid, Nissan does hundreds of hours of testing to make sure the brake system (including the fluid) can handle agressive driving. It's not like Nissan didn't know Z owners were going to take their cars to the occasional track day. Something else is wrong and I'm leaning toward a leaking seal/gasket in the slave or master cylinder.

These are just some of my ideas for everyone to think about. Hope it helps.

 

Corradoscl7,

Thanks for this. I'll give you all the info. I have. I'm not a tech person, just a layperson, so excuse my description below:

1. I smelled something burning every time I drove the car hard the several months before I went to the track. Not bad, mind you, but noticeable.

2. After runs at the track, incredible burning smell. Many people noticed it and suggested I stop driving the car on the track. After the car cooled down, I noticed the problem with the clutch. No resistance for first half of push down, and when pushed to the floor, it would not come back up, had to lift up with my foot.

3. I took the car to the Nissan dealer the day after the track event. They only did one thing - replace the clutch fluid. They said it was "black". I had not looked at the clutch fluid before the event - bougt the car in July, took it to the track in November, after 1,800 miles.

4. I took the car off the lot, and the clutch problem was not fixed. So I took it back the next day. The burnt smell was INCREDIBLE. Something that was in the car was burnt, no doubt.

5. The service rep called me and said the slave cylinder was burned up. So they had to replace it. Interestingly, the work order says, "problem caused by slave cylinder leasking [sic]". "Replace slave cylinder to solve problem". There were two cylinder parts mentioned. They also replaced the brake fluid - the work order did not say why.

6. The INCREDIBLE burnt smell is now gone. So I'm assuming that the INCREDIBLE smell was coming from the slave cylinder that was replaced. The only smell I have now is the much-more-mild smell when I drive it hard.

7. Other members of this forum, one who drives his Nismo only at track events, have upgraded the clutch fluid to Motul 600.

Anyway, I should know more later this week. My Nissan dealer is looking into these issues for me, so that I can track the car without destroying the slave cylinder.

 

Mrossi:

First off the brake/clutch system is the same thing, that is why the dealer noted that they changed the brake fluid. The brake fluid is used to operate the slave cylinder as well as the brakes, so they basically changed the clutch/brake fluid.

Secondly, the awful smell that you experienced was most likely the clutch burning up, not the slave clinder. The clutch burned up becuase the slave cylinder, as the dealer pointed out, was leaking. So now that they replaced your slave cylinder hopefully with the updated version you should be fine. Upgrading the brake/clutch fluid is a great idea, as it will give you much better brake pedal feel and clutch engagement.

 

Hey man sorry about your problem what the name of the dealership you take your car too and whats the names of the people you have spoken with?

 

I too noticed a slight burning smell around 2K miles. I thought it was was due to my poor clutch work. However, @ 3.5K miles the smell has decreased. No major clutch issues to report (cross my fingers). But I'll keep reading this thread for issues and answers!