This is my first time actually posting a question on this site, and before you ask: YES I DID USE THE SEARCH BAR AT THE TOP....

Now, to the main point..

Background:
I have a 2008 350z with approx. 156k miles on it. The only modifications to the car are ART pipes, CAI's, and a Tomei Expreme TI catback. Furthermore, I recently had problems with my clutch slipping. After 150k miles on a stock clutch and flywheel, I would say that I have done well to keep my car in check. However, after some fun on a rainy day ( I think I had just aced my Cal exam and was super hyped) I clutch kicked a little too hard and noticed that my clutch was slipping afterwards. Keep in my mind that I had only "abused" it a handful of times, this was something that was bound to happen. I checked for the typical symptoms associated with slipping clutches (flooring it in a high gear and watching the RPM's climb up whilst the car remains at the same speed), and it was obvious my clutch had had enough and was giving up. Fast forward to Black Friday and Russ from Z1 managed to convince me to get a Z1 Road Race clutch kit with their CSC elimination kit. I also got an OEM master slave cylinder, thus everything essentially got replaced.

Now... Fast forward to post installation.
It's been about 2 weeks since I got the car back, and something just does not feel right with my car. I know its hard to diagnose problems via the internet but I hope that I can get SOME information regarding what in the heck is going on.

1) I cannot run through any of the gears with the engine OFF and clutch engaged (meaning the pedal is not pressed in). There seems to be something preventing me from shifting into any of the gears, as if the shifter plate is not aligned correctly or perhaps the forks attaching everything together are "messed up". Unfortunately, I did not do the installation myself otherwise I would give you better descriptions of things. 1st and 5th gear are practically impossible to access with engine off, and the same issue persists with the clutch pressed in and (hopefully) fully disengaged. I can somewhat run through the gears with the clutch in but its very difficult; much more so than it was with my stock clutch. When driving through traffic it becomes very annoying because I have to really shove into gear by either going into 2nd and the pressing forward into 1st. Same with Reverse but from 5th into 6th/Reverse. This is a slight nuisance that becomes an impossibility once it gets cold. Also, It may be in my head but my GF agrees with that the shifter and subsequently the gears all seem too far to the left or drivers side. I would believe this was just in my head if it wasn't for the fact that I typically bump her leg often when going into 5th and its a topic of conversation when I make jokes about getting in her way lol. But in all seriousness, I don't know if these are just unsubstantiated, paranoid, claims or whether they are actually real. So to summarize. I can't get into any gears while engine is OFF and clutch is NOT pressed in(thus engaged). When the engine is ON, 1st and Reverse are very difficult to get into and I must finesse may way in.

2) My clutch pedal started out being really hard and aggressive (meaning little travel and even little-er play) and now I have a good bit of play and it engages high again. When I first got the car, the clutch was really aggressive and I stalled 7 times pulling out of the driveway. However now it feels like its at the stock travel, which I don't really like. It is probably a lot harder to press in, and I've grown accustomed to it (hehe those leg sessions are really paying off), but I don't feel like its any different which makes me thing that there are some adjustments that need to be made. Which may be the reason that it won't go into gear while off, and it struggles to get into gear while on. Regardless, I've been told that the pedal may need to be readjusted, and it could potentially be not letting the slave have full travel, thus producing undesirable effects like my tranny not going into gear. But its just speculation. I don't know whether I should adjust the pedal, or go back and adjust the CSC elimination kit. Or the Slave or whether the clutch is properly alligned or.. or. or... theres just too much to check.

3) I hear a subtle whining noise when the clutch is engaged or with the pedal not pressed in. I know what a shitty throw out bearing sounds like, because I had one prior to switching it out with the installation of the kit, so I believe its the pilot bearing? I'm not entirely sure, but it doesn't sound like my old throw out bearing. It sounds more high pitched and whiney, almost like a small belt that needs replacing. As I said before the high pitched whining only occurs when the clutch is not pressed in, and is even heard when the car is moving. It is especially evident in parking decks, which is where I often park when I commute to school. Given that I have an obnoxiously loud exhaust setup, and I can still hear this high pitched sound cut through during cold starts, I have reason to believe its not normal. I have asked others about it and its speculated that the throwout bearing had been damaged upon installation but like I said, it just doesn't sound like the throw out bearing I had replaced so I don't know what to make of it.

4) These problems are not evident in the general performance of the car. For example, when the car is moving, it slides into gears beautifully, and the clutch disengages and engages charmingly and effectively. The only problem that I have now is that 5th gear tends to grind when I downshift into it from 6th. This happens especially if I try doing it very quickly, so it will only NOT do it if I am very gentle about it and stay on the clutch more. This may just be the syncrhos going bad, but this problem did not exist prior to the clutch install.

5) I hear a terrible rattling noise coming from the transmission/exhaust area at low RPMS and relatively high speeds. For example when I am in 5th or 6th gear cruising at 1,000-2,000 RPM and I give it just a little gas, there is a terrible rattling sound coming from under the car. Initially, I thought it was the springs on the Tomei, but after removing the springs entirely, the noise still occurred; albiet significantly quieter but still there. I actually had my drive shaft replaced as well, with a serviceable one, so I am wondering if something is wrong with that, or perhaps there is something loose that is rattling at those low speeds. It is important to keep in mind that this only happens when I am moving.


I know this is a very long post, my explanations are not ideal or very descriptive but I have really been frustrated with my attempts to research this issue. I hope that someone can take the time to see my rant, without assuming the worst. perhaps asking the important questions will get the gears turning with regards to finding a solution to some of these issues.