[Wilkie]

Vehicle: 2007 4x4 Nismo, 51k miles, never towed anything or been loaded with more than 4-500 lbs of stuff.

Symptoms: Clutch began to slip while on a trip--seemed that it wasn't fully engaging when the clutch pedal was released. Had just replaced the clutch slave cylinder, properly bled etc.

What I did: while on the trip, suspecting the new slave cylinder was defective, I had it replaced with another new one. Same symptoms. Mechanic then cut about 3/8" off the slave cylinder pushrod--that allowed the clutch to fully engage, but it was still slipping--less than before but still slipping. After about 200 miles on the way home, the clutch failed altogether.

Had it towed to the nearest dealer (only a mile away)--Carolina Nissan, incidentally--they were very good. When they pulled the clutch, the lining was completely worn off the disk; both pressure plate and flywheel were scored. They replaced the assembly, and reinstalled the second slave cylinder with a full-length pushrod, and all was well.

Question: What happened? Are Frontiers notorious for clutch failure? If so, which part? Anyone know of a hidden/goodwill warranty on clutches? The problem couldn't have been either of the new slave cylinders. It's not me--I've been driving manual shift cars exclusively since 1963 and have yet to burn out a clutch--150,000 plus miles is about average for clutches in my vehicles. Neither the mechanic who installed the original slave cylinder, the mechanic who installed the second one, nor the techs at the dealership who did the clutch could explain it...Any ideas?

TIA
mike

 

[Nissan4Life]

Not uncommon to wear out a clutch in those number of miles.

 

[Undercover Brother]

Anyone know of a hidden/goodwill warranty on clutches

Clutches are wear items, you will not get it covered. Nor will they even consider a "goodwill" coverage on a 11 model year old vehicle.

 

[whistler]

Mine went with less than 7,000.

 

[scotj77]

I burnt my first clutch at about 7k. How so fast? I decided to play a bit with my newish truck for the first time. I power braked for a few seconds and lead off into a couple doughnuts, as i finished the doughnuts I noticed a strong smell of burnt clutch. My foot was not on the clutch while playing but the clutch was slipping none the less. After that the clutch was toast. lasted about 500 miles before it gave out all together. Replaced with factory clutch and flywheel. Took it "easy" (I drive harder than most) on the next one and it lasted about 30K. Replaced with factory clutch for another 30k After that I put in a jwt flywheel and clutch. That lasted 150K until the pilot bearing died(clutch still had some life), so I replaced with a center force II that has over 50k on it now and going strong. I like the centerforce with the jwt the best so far. The factory clutch and mushy flywheel are not for me and my driving style. I liked the Jwt clutch but it did slip under when towing or really getting into it, from time to time.



Are you the origional owner? loaned it to any lead foots or inexpirenced manual drivers?

 

[Ryno_7]

Clutch life is hit or miss in these trucks. I've heard if you slip it badly even once (where you can smell it) that's pretty much it. Planning on upgrading mine before it's trouble. I have 55k miles on it, Isn't slipping at all but it's been chattering for a year.

 

[Nissan4Life]

I burnt my first clutch at about 7k. How so fast? I decided to play a bit with my newish truck for the first time. I power braked for a few seconds and lead off into a couple doughnuts, as i finished the doughnuts I noticed a strong smell of burnt clutch. My foot was not on the clutch while playing but the clutch was slipping none the less. After that the clutch was toast. lasted about 500 miles before it gave out all together. Replaced with factory clutch and flywheel. Took it "easy" (I drive harder than most) on the next one and it lasted about 30K. Replaced with factory clutch for another 30k After that I put in a jwt flywheel and clutch. That lasted 150K until the pilot bearing died(clutch still had some life), so I replaced with a center force II that has over 50k on it now and going strong. I like the centerforce with the jwt the best so far. The factory clutch and mushy flywheel are not for me and my driving style. I liked the Jwt clutch but it did slip under when towing or really getting into it, from time to time.

The Jim Wolf flywheel is light weight. Otherwise I would consider it. I like heavy flywheels for the truck and even like the smoothness of the dual mass, once I got use to the vague engagement feel.

So far the centerforce seems like the best option for a more durable than OEM clutch. THere are 2 different version. Is that what the II is. You got the puck styled one?

 

[scotj77]

The Jim Wolf flywheel is light weight. Otherwise I would consider it. I like heavy flywheels for the truck and even like the smoothness of the dual mass, once I got use to the vague engagement feel.

So far the centerforce seems like the best option for a more durable than OEM clutch. THere are 2 different version. Is that what the II is. You got the puck styled one?

No the "puck" style one is a dual friction plate clutch. It isn't required until you are putting down way more power than what I have. The centerforce II is just a little beefier than the ceterforce I.

watch this

 

[Wilkie]

Are you the original owner? loaned it to any lead foots or inexperinced manual drivers?[/QUOTE]

Not the original owner but bought it with only 6700 miles on the odometer and a virgin trailer hitch. And the only person who's driven it besides me drives a stick shift jeep and (like me) is an "older guy" who knows manual trannies as well as I do.

The clutch was perfectly fine up until I changed the clutch slave cylinder; then it started slipping. But we couldn't find anything wrong with the new slave cylinder or how it was installed, bled etc. So that may have been just a coincidence.

Have also owned Datsun 521 and 720 trucks, and a V6 D21, all stick shift and all had close to 90k on their original clutches when I sold 'em. And my vintage BMWs (69 & 73) have over 150k on their clutches without a whimper. So I'm still kinda puzzled and a bit disappointed that a pretty rugged truck would have such a wimpy clutch.

mike

 

[shift_RUSH]

Original OEM clutch:

There are Gen 2 V6 6-sp folks w/ 100k+ on their stock clutch - and even a couple/few w/ 150k+ here at CF.
I had 185k on my Gen 1 when I sold it, but it only had a 4cyl which would most certainly increase a clutch's life.

Sometimes parts just fail w/o a clear reason as to why. It could have come from the factory w/ an issue (or two) that caused premature wear and thus failure.
.02

 

[Lil Kim]

I bought a new flywheel and clutch at roughly 35k miles? Not because my OEM was failing on me, but I knew it was a matter of time before i needed a new one. I got a group buy going a while back and got them both for $700? Installation cost me $300 in Yuma (border of Mexico). Not sure what is going on, but recently I've been having trouble getting it into 2nd. So i changed the transmission fluid out (60k miles on it)... and still having some trouble. The brakes are a little mushy, so i am in the process of replacing the brake fluids. I'm not a mechanic, but I do believe the clutch uses brake fluid.. might have something to do with the slave cylinder. If it starts to escalate, I'll take it to a shop.

 

[FitzIngarage]

There are Gen 2 V6 6-sp folks w/ 100k+ on their stock clutch - and even a couple/few w/ 150k+ here at CF. ...

My '06 4x2 has 155K Miles on it and my original clutch remains fine. I've never towed and have done only light hauling of firewood and landscaping materials, so perhaps that's helped.

 

[V8 man]

These clutches are well known for feeling perfect all the way up until they die.
The 4.0 engine has WAY more power then the older trucks. A little bit of bad driving can eat up clutches.

 

[scotj77]

why did you replace the slave cylinder?