Clutch Life

14062 Views 18 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Notabiker, Jan 27, 2014

Mabe

Discussion Starter · Feb 19, 2010 (Edited)

I have read a a bunch of threads here as I look at buying a new Frontier 6spd. I am a bit concerned that it sounds like clutch life is an issue. I drive 50,000+ miles per year and plan to keep my next truck for 150-200k.

Most of my driving is highway and I am experienced with stick. My current VW Golf has 160k on it and the original clutch. Do I need to worry about replacing a Frontier clutch every 40-60k?

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

dubie2003

· #2 · Feb 19, 2010

If you are experienced, you should be fine but I am not sure on the 150k thing.

Most that torch a clutch/flywheel either drive it hard and ride the clutch, offroad and once again ride the clutch or its their first stick.

If you do wear thru the clutch/flywheel, there are aftermarket options now that you can go with that should work a bit better then the OEM set-up.

Alec

· #3 · Feb 19, 2010

if you are driving highway and know what you're doing you should get 150k with no problem

savagehenry

· #4 · Feb 19, 2010

never had a problem with mine. I agree with the other posters that as long as you know how to drive a stick you should be fine.

allaboutatv

· #5 · Feb 19, 2010

got 55k on my 6sp and drive the crap out of it, can't tell any difference between when it was brand new and now

Clint

· #6 · Feb 19, 2010

I'm on my fourth Frontier, first one with a stick and this is my favorite by far. I should have done this earlier as I prefer a manual transmission. The others were LE and SE and sticks weren't available. Back then it had to be an XE or this generation a SE so I dropped a trim level and could not be more pleased.
I always got high mileage out of all my manual cars/trucks and expect to with this one too.

Clint

FitzIngarage

· #7 · Feb 19, 2010

Dittoes so far on my '06 with 27,500 Miles. Not a great many miles yet, but like allaboutatv, mine shifts just as well as when I bought it. My mileage is 1/3 city and 2/3 highway. I drive conservatively and try to rev match if I need to downshift for a speed zone or whatever. I've put over 200,000 Miles on three previous vehicles and never replaced a clutch, so am hoping that my Frontier does as well.

Lil Kim

· #8 · Feb 19, 2010

You should be fine if you're mostly highway driving.

mustard23

· #9 · Feb 19, 2010

mine went out at 22k but I did take it in twice before then saying I thought it was out of adjustment. because it always smelled hot when i was in traffic or had load on it.

Now from what I have learned talking to people is both Toyota and Nissan clutches are made to slip when they have to much of a load on them to take pressure off the rear end. So if you use the clutch hard they go out quickly. Mine blew at Pismo Dunes driving sand puts a huge load of the clutch. This is also were OC4banger blew his.

ToddG

· #10 · Feb 19, 2010

Once again we must keep in perspective here that a good percentage of people come to forums because they have a problem and post about it.
Therefore you will hear a lot of negative things when in reality the percentage of these negative things is very small when compared to the entire sum of any particular vehicle on the road.

I have never owned an automatic vehicle in my 25+ years of driving and I have never had to replace a clutch, ever.
I have a 6 speed with 27,xxx on the clutch and expect the clutch to last me a long, long time.

Glacier08

· #11 · Feb 19, 2010

^^ Agreed. No reason it wouldn't last to at least 200k, city or highway driving.

mustard23

· #12 · Feb 19, 2010

ToddG said:
Once again we must keep in perspective here that a good percentage of people come to forums because they have a problem and post about it.
Therefore you will hear a lot of negative things when in reality the percentage of these negative things is very small when compared to the entire sum of any particular vehicle on the road.

I have never owned an automatic vehicle in my 25+ years of driving and I have never had to replace a clutch, ever.
I have a 6 speed with 27,xxx on the clutch and expect the clutch to last me a long, long time.

very very true.. I get frustrated about all the front diffs are weak shoats.. I abuse my truck. and never broken a dif. Mien went out, at 22k but I had in the shop at 12k and 16k because I knew my clutch was not right, and I pushed it. I think if you don't have any signs that you clutch going out you will be good. Nizmut pushes his truck just as hard as me and he still is running the stock clutch.

Dan in Littleton

· #13 · Feb 19, 2010

I have almost 83k on my truck and I'm on my third clutch. I don't drive any harder than my previous 3 trucks which all had manual transmissions which had no problems. When I had this last one installed, I asked the tech about an aftermarket clutch and he said they make one, but they don't make an aftermarket clutch release bearing so it wouldn't make sense getting the aftermarket clutch. I don't know if he was full of bs, but at the time I really didn't care.

mustard23

· #14 · Feb 19, 2010 (Edited)

Dan in Littleton said:
I have almost 83k on my truck and I'm on my third clutch. I don't drive any harder than my previous 3 trucks which all had manual transmissions which had no problems. When I had this last one installed, I asked the tech about an aftermarket clutch and he said they make one, but they don't make an aftermarket clutch release bearing so it wouldn't make sense getting the aftermarket clutch. I don't know if he was full of bs, but at the time I really didn't care.

that sounds like some BS, do you tow with your truck?

http://www.specclutch.com/ come with new bearings I'm sure the Jim Wolf tech do also but the JWT clutches they want to use there lightened flywheel.

Dan in Littleton

· #15 · Feb 19, 2010

what sounds like bs? I'm on my third clutch or the tech. said it would be pointless to buy an aftermarket clutch? As far as towing, I've towed 2 trailers and both were under 2500 pounds.

mustard23

· #16 · Feb 19, 2010

the tech... are you taking it to a clutch shop or back to Nissan?

Dan in Littleton

· #17 · Feb 19, 2010

mustard23 said:
the tech... are you taking it to a clutch shop or back to Nissan?

I took it to the local nissan dealership. I checked out that website you attached and I wished I had gone that route instead.

mustard23

· #18 · Feb 19, 2010

yeah I took mine to a nissan dealer, they quoted me $2200 to replace, it was $800 at a clutch shop.. unless it's warranty work I never go to a dealer they charge 3 times what a normal shop will. and You can go to a specialty shop and get better service.

Notabiker

· #19 · Jan 27, 2014

I drove 3100 miles in five days towing approx 2500 lbs and that was 40k ago with stock fluids in everything with no issues. Dealer here was apprised I have 70k on the stock clutch. Apparently people here don't know how to shift.

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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