My max is starting to slip so im going to start saving for a new clutch.. it has 125 grand on it so im glad it lasted this long!! What is a good clutch to get? also, anyone that has had one installed, what kind of labor am I looking at? thanks

 

My Nissan dealer advertises a Maxima clutch replacement at $400. This price gets you a Nissan Key Value (low price line) clutch kit. Some Nissan owners have complained about the quality of Key Value parts. I haven't tried them.

Independent shops in my area advertise clutch replacements for $300. This price gets you a Brand X clutch. Beware!

I'm dissatisfied with my '99 Maxima's clutch. This car was bought new, has only 23K miles, and has always been driven gently. Despite this, the clutch moans and chatters. Therefore, if the clutch ever needs replacement I will not use Nissan parts.

 

Clutch. I never go back to the dealer for anythong. I personally think that the after after market clutch is better. you should try a centerforce or a clutch masters stage 1. i my self have as 5-spd with 56,500 on the original clutch and i will replace with a clutch masters stage 1 clutch as soon as school is out. I would not recommend ACT clutches beacuse i have read that they do damage to the tranny, and my friend put one in his civic and he had to change it.

 

I replaced my OEM clutch at 125,000 miles, too. I chose a Centerforce Gold aftermarket clutch, which may be described as a heavy-duty replacement for the OEM unit. It reportedly gives you 30% more grip than a stock unit, with less pedal effort, to boot!

When you get a new clutch, no matter which brand, remember to have the flywheel dressed. (The resurfaced flywheel will mate perfectly with your new clutch.) You also need to have a new pilot bushing and a new throw out bearing installed at the same time. These additional steps are *not* really optional; Make sure all this is done! Your total cost will be around $500 I think, give or take.

Somebody mentioned their ACT clutch "ruined" their tranny! LOL! That's ludicrous. LOL! I *do* believe it's possible to buy a clutch that is stronger than a half worn-out tranny. Add some spirited driving, and "PUKE" goes the tranny. I've heard that racers design their drive-trains such that their *clutch* is the weakest link, like a fuse if you will. That makes a lot of sense, because the clutch is relatively easy to fix and not as expensive as the tranny.

Good luck.

 

I've read that some modern engines use a short transaxle input shaft and dispense with the pilot bushing. The '99 Maxima factory shop manual depicts a short input shaft, but an exploded diagram of the engine clearly shows a pilot bushing.

Did you replace the clutch yourself? Did you actually see and replace the pilot bushing?

 

I started out with my clutch, which I bought from Stillen. I didn't do my own clutch replacement, though. I sifted through a mountain of loose papers in a desk drawer to see if I could find my service bill. When I found my bill, I saw I was charged for labor, flywheel resurfacing, and a throw-out bearing. I was not charged for a pilot bushing.

I seem to recall asking the mechanic if the pilot bushing had been replaced, at which point he replied, "It didn't need to be replaced." In retrospect, I'm *not sure* whether my car has a pilot bushing, based on the ambiguous nature of his reply. Hmmm... What say you?