Time to Replace the clutch?
 

Hello, everyone
I have had my z for 14000 km's now and i am thinking of replacing my clutch. The reason for that is because the clutch is going softer and softer everyday. I am beginning to worry about the clutch and so i drive slowly and clutching less. If i drive like a nanny, the clutch is fine.
However, if i drive spiritly and shifting really fast at high rpms, the clutch goes really soft to point that the point that u cant feel the engagement point. The clutch feels like the arcade game battle gear 4, if u have played that game before. However, there is no clutch smell nor slipping at all even when the clutch is really soft. So i am assuming it is not signs of wear-out clutch?
It seems when the car is running hot, the clutch goes soft?
The dealership quoted me $3k to replace the clutch, which is ridiculous. If I am replacing my clutch, i am definitely going aftermarket.

Will upgrading my clutch void my powertrain warranty? I mite have transmission problems as well as i occasionaly grind 5th gear.

Should I upgrade my clutch? Or is my clutch fine?

Also, if i am upgrading my clutch, should i go JWT or OS Giken triple plate? OR any other suggestions?

Thanks
I greatly apprecaite you guys help
Kevin

replacing clutch at 14000?

dear god we only replaced the clutch of our previous cars at 120.000 :roflpuke2:

You know this might be just the clutch being finally broken in. The same happened with my megane, it softened up after 20.000 but it was perfectly fine

The clutch might be overheating, causing the soft feeling. To see if the fluid is the issue you might want to try changing the clutch fluid.

X2

Use a good quality brake fluid with a high boiling point and that will help.

3k to replace a clutch? This has to be a misprint. The whole tranny doesnt cost that much...

my old renaultsport 225 cup megane had 65,000 miles on it after 2 years which was driven hard with numerous track days (renaults are not know for good clutches) yet that was fine, no way should the clutch need changing after 14,000kms

first of all, rep+1 added for everyone!

i think the dealership is trying to rip me off. they said stock flywheel is $1800 and clutch is $1200.

I did noticed today clutch returned to normal feeling, maybe it is just overheat. Should i just leave it then or should i change the clutch fluid?

Am i changing just clutch fluid or both clutch fluid and brake fluid?

My clutch returned to normal but my car is screeching like crazy today. sound like i am driving with my handbrake pulled. could be my brake pad gone?

anyways, thank you guys for the feed back!
kevin

You can change just the clutch fluid, but you replace it with Dot 4 brake fluid (they are the same fluid types).

BTW you never need to replace the stock flywheel, it doesn't go bad. You can install an after market light weight flywheel as an option ($400 part), but you only at worst need a clutch ($400 part). Install is a good 4-5 hours of labor.

If you have squealing under braking then your brake pads/rotors may be a little glazed from some hard stops. You can do a light sanding of the brake rotors to remove the glazing. If it is squealing under normal driving then the serpentine belt may be slipping a little and need an adjustment, or check pulley for errant fluids.

well the stock fly wheel may need resurfacing if you got it really hot and warped the plate. and its a pain to resurface two-piece flywheels so a lot of places would just replace the whole flywheel. surface grinders don't like parts that move, i've done it before but you would have to have lockout pins made to hold the top piece from turning, and it's a pain in general. chances are you're flywheel is fine though. if you drive the car on the street i would stay organic for the clutch material as it is the most forgiving. i would change the fluid first and see where that gets you. I had 10,000miles (16,000km) on my clutch when i put in my jwt clutch and flywheel and i still had plenty of material left on the stock clutch. I rarely see clutch replacement prices go over a thousand. but stealerships love to screw people on maintenance. just drive down to St Louis and have Lou hook you up.

thanks guys rep+1 added again!
i ll just change clutch fluid and see where it gets me.
BTW, my car was squealing under normal driving conditions, even when i am lightly accelerating. i was late for work and i got kinda pissed, so i did some hard accelerations and squealing went away! My z is ok now?
My clutch returns to normal and my car is not squealing anymore. Problems went away by itself. So should i just leave it then?
thanks
kevin

I would still change out the clutch fluid with a good Dot4 or better brake fluid. I found with my 07 HR that after a night of racing, the clutch fluid was pretty well done. It became regular maintenance item for me before and after racing.

How do you like your JWT clutch/flywheel? Better Performance wise?

driveability is fine, it does rev faster, and i wasn't slipping the clutch before so i can't really tell you if there was a huge performance difference until i have more power under the hood

Is the the clutch harder to press down now vs. Stock? Does it Acceleration faster due to lighter flywheel? So overall, your happy & you'd buy it again?

Change it to a 7AT! :stirthepot:

lol at zsteve.
is there DIY for clutch fluid change? i could only find transmission oil change. Does clutch fluid uses the same fluid as brake fluid? I noticed u guys keep on mentioning dot4 brake fluid for clutch.
Thanks, i handed out reps again!

get some dot4 brake fluid and 2 buddies. assign one guy to hold the fluid and keep the reservoir filled, another guy to push the pedal, then get under the car and find the thing that looks like a brake bleeder screw (because it is) and then just bleed it like you would brakes. If you can't do that have a mechanically inclined friend do the opening and closing for you.

what brake/clutch fluid would you guys recommend? what are the intervals for replacing clutch fluid?
sorry for keep on asking questions.
thanks

Kevin, I've noticed weird sounds with the car that seem to just correct themselves. Ive had it with my clutch (popping sound), injector tapping, and just about everything in the dash made noises for the first week. Its crazy, but the car is like a fine wine, gets better with age. lol Good luck.

I get one of the neighborhood kids to operate the clutch pedal while I bleed the clutch line. Nothing like training them early for hobby in sport cars :tup:

There always around helping me out and asking questions.

haha, nice
i guess i am gonna go ap racing prf608. looks like it is the best for clutch fluid.

Pedal is harder than stock with the new clutch but i have very heavy feet ;) so it doesn't bug me. as for the acceleration heck if i know the car went full bolt on's all at once so i can't really tell what did what other than it rev's faster, sounds great and would kick a stock cars @$$ but again i did intake exhaust testpipes, cooler, flywheel, tires, differential, swaybars, and fluids all at once soo...

Sorry to revive this thread again, i check the service manual and it says we should use DOT 3 for our clutch fluid? But everyone recommends me to use DOT4? Should i use DOT3 or DOT4?
Thanks
Kevin

1slow370: Did you change your CSC?

guys, if you are thinking about upgrading the clutch, take a look at this article...

Thank Zat_Zuma for some great info.

Good to know!