Clutch & Flywheel advice please
 

So, my clutch has been feeling like it's at the end of its life fairly recently ('09 6M Sport/Touring), which is odd considering that I drive like a grandma and just cleared 60k miles... but, I took it to my mechanic just to be safe.

According to him (and I trust him implicitly... not the kind of guy to try to upsell or yank my chain for $$) I need a new clutch, flywheel, and slave cylinder.

What is the best way to go? My Z is my daily driver. No track. No drag racing. I just want something that will be relatively smooth and good for day-in, day-out driving along with some peace of mind for the long haul.

I went with the ZSpeed stock replacement clutch and flywheel with the CMAK CSC delete. It's very smooth. I also have the RJM clutch pedal which helps.

http://zspeedperformance.com/ZSP-Sta...TG1-QD-FLY.htm

CSC:
Stick with the ZSpeed CMAK or heavy duty slave cylinder.

Flywheel:
For normal driving a light weight flywheel will be more annoying then beneficial. One in the low to mid 20lb range should be fine or just stick with oem.

Clutch:
Any non puck type will work fine. Any street clutch will be more then fine for a NA setup.

Z Speed Performance Quiet Design Stage 2 clutch,Nodular Iron 26 lb. steel flywheel, Z Speed Performace CMAK or heavy duty slave cylinder would be good choices. Also the Z Speed Performance Quiet Design Stage 2 clutch will more life and longevity than the Z Speed Performance Stage 1 OEM replacement clutch.

What is long life?

Well it looks like it's the beginning of the end of my clutch. (76k miles) Tried to do a 0-60 launch with my fat-assed friend in the passenger seat. Around 440# for the two of us. Brought the RPMs up and was attempting to launch hard. Clutch just slipped as we pulled off the line slowly. First thought it was wheel spin on a greasy spot but I knew better when I smelled the clutch at the next light. This sucks, now I have to decide what parts I'm going to get and if I'm going to do it myself. Looking for recommendations here too. Hard driving, good launch-ability, occasional track days, quiet operation and light flywheel. Is that combo even available?

You guys should just call up Joe at ZSpeed. He'll recommend the best setup for your needs - just tell him what those are. He's got great prices and the best customer service out there.

Check out ATS from corner 3 motorsports

I have South Bend Stage 2 clutch, South Bend 19LBS DXD Flywheel w/ quiet disk option, and ZSpeed CMAK and love it. Only thing is the chatter below 1500rpm is pretty annoying, but the weight reduction in rotating mass definitely is noticeable.

That sounds like the Competition stage 2 I put in my truck. Definitely want lower level of low RPM chatter.

I've got the z1 clutch / light flywheel waiting to be put in myself. Anyone have a clip of this flywheel chatter ?

Need to replace the disks also - anyone can explain the difference to expect between the full face disk and the unsprung full face disk ?

My car has 23k miles and the clutch doesn't grab on full upshifts. I'm picking up the Specialty Z clutch & flywheel soon. It comes with a Tilton slave. I recommend you replace the master cylinder as well with an RJM master cylinder. The clutch engagement is low, heavier than stock, but easier to read. It doesn't change pressure or get soft when hot either.

Depends really on how you use your Nissan 370Z? Street driven? Open track events? Time attack? Drag strip?

Exactly my point. :driving:

Nissan apparently finally fixed the CSC issue in 2018 with the Exide clutch and a softer pressure plate, so if you can find one in stock go for it.

I'm not a fan of the CSC delete kit. Every single modern manual car uses a concentric slave cylinder; going to the external slave cylinder seems backwards to me but hey, it works; if you like this design better it's only a matter of taste.

So in typical Nissan fashion, they could have redesigned the CSC years ago, or use a pressure plate that put less load on the old design. Granted, to compensate they used a clutch disc that has more grip.

I call :bs:

They didn't change the shitty design of the CSC. I don't believe a softer pressure plate is going to change jack. That rubber lining is not going stand up. I'll believe it when I hear the majority of 2018 owners did not have to change their CSC before their clutch.

So get the ZSpeed or Tilton heavy duty internal. It's not like a delete kit is the only aftermarket option.

Until more people hold them accountable and stop just shelling out the money when something like CSC failure happens, Nissan will continue to operate like every other car manufacturer where the only thing that matters is profit. It seems the consumers are the ones who have to force a recall in this situation.

I have the 2018+ clutch sitting here, A WHOPPING 1700lb clamp load with a 240mm disk, This is pretty weak... Even our stage one kit has 2,000lbs of clamp load and a 250mm disk.

And they are still using the same plastic concentric slave as before.

The only thing I like about it is they got rid of the junk self adjusting LUK pressure plate and went back to a standard Exedy pressure plate.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4b&oe=5A51CA53

Joe, Is your EXEDY kit the 6807 or the 06809FWHD?

Which kit? Link?

Low RPM/High load under 2300rpm rattle will always be there unless you run the stock dual mass flywheel.

Any kit will rattle some down low with a single mass flywheel.

You can get the "Quiet Disk Option" with the South Bend or ZSpeed kits which is a huge improvement over any other clutch on the market @ killing the very annoying idle rattle but it will not get rid of the low rpm/start out rattle.

Exedy Racing Stage 1 Clutch and Flywheel Package WHD CSC Option


LOL looks like the number is in the url...

That kit will rattle at idle and low rpm starts FYI.

I was looking at it since the new Zs are coming out with the EXEDY. Right now I'm thinking the

ZSpeed Performance Nissan Infinti OEM & Performance Parts

With the quiet clutch, cmak kit and your 17lb flywheel. 380 ft-lbs seems perfect for full bolt ons and perhaps a 50 or 75 nitrous shot some time in the future.

Shows $1280 for it right now.

Joe, I bought a second hand z1 clutch and light flywheel kit that is in good shape. Is the 'Quiet Disk' an option that I could use to replace the old plate in the z1 kit ?

I'm not sure what they use as far as disk thickness so I cannot tell you 100%
Most of our kits are engineered to work with a performance marcel cushioned disk so they engage smoothly but still retain an accurate bite point.
Some pressure plates will not release this type of clutch completely unless they are designed to work with it.

I tried calling ZSpeed today (Saturday) but didn't get any answer -- I'll try again next week.

I've decided to go with the Stage 3 South Bend clutch kit with CMAK and quiet disk, but don't have a clue which flywheel to select. I'll never track the car...it's basically just a fun toy to drive when the weather's nice. I'll need the Stage 3 to hold Topz's A2A kit. I don't like how the OEM flywheel "overshoots" revs when shifting in higher RPMs, but I appreciate how it contributes to a civilized drivetrain.

Where I drive are some stoplights/stop signs, and I really don't want to negatively affect the driveability of the car. I've read how touchy light flywheels can be, but I'm frustrated that the only choice at ZSpeed in the mid-20lb range is a nodular iron flywheel. On other cars, nodular iron doesn't get very good reviews.

I'd appreciate thoughts on the nodular iron flywheel vs. the 19lb DXD billet one, or other suggestions. Once I'm Ecutek-tuned with the supercharger, might the factory flywheel be an acceptable option?

Light flywheels are not really the main reason how the car takes off from a stop. It really has more to do with the clutch, Some clutches are more aggressive than others, I can make a 10lb flywheel drive just as well as a 30lb flywheel, Depends on the clutch set-up, car gearing etc.

The stage 3 daily will be about in the middle of super smooth and overly aggressive, It does not drive bad at all even with our 17lb flywheel. Yes it is a more aggressive than the Stage 2 Daily kit with the same flywheel but that is all in the clutch design.

Kits like the Southbend Stage 3 Daily have a non-marcel type disk, The Stage "2" Daily has a marcel type disk. This "Marcel" in the disk is what gives you the smoother, longer engagement window more like a stock clutch feel, Disks' "without" Marcel fin have a shorter engagement window and a more aggressive engagement.

The Southbend flywheel is a good "middle weight" for the 370Z @ 19lbs. 19lbs is really not that light regarding flywheels in a 3200ish lb car.

IMO 17-20 lbs is about as perfect as it gets for flywheel weight in this car. It is much more lively while retaining the driveability. Again, the clutch itself will play a more important role in how it actually drives though.

Thank you very much, Joe, for the detailed explanation! I called a little while ago and left a message on your machine.