New Clutch, help me decide, can't search
 

Well my 97 Maxima SE finaly needs a new clutch.

Here are my options:

$200 OEM - Go to the dealer and have them replace it with OEM Parts
$115 Exedy Clutch Kit - Aftermarket, opinions?
$150 Valeo - Aftermarket, they claim they are OEM, opinions?

Sorry if this has been brought up before but some reason I can't do a search. It's been a real long time since my last post.

i have that exedy clutch from ebay. i paid like 140$ shipped. so far i have made over 6K miles on it and dont have any problems

ive got the exedy stage one in my basment goin in tommorrow so ill let ya know. however real results will come after 500 miles....:)

How does the exedy do in racing situations?

I can't search either.. can someone point me to a thread that has some info on replacing my fourth gen clutch with one from a fifth gen?
thanks,.

Thanks for the input. Does anyone else have the excedy clutch. I don't need a racing clutch just the standard. The real question now is if the dealer will install the excedy clutch.

WielkiWaac, compared to stock is the clutch pedal more stiff or softer? How does it compare to stock?

only one i would buy is the ACT Stage 1 perfect feel with the extreme pressure plate, www.nipponpower.com

5th Gen clutch. If you just have basic bolt-ons it will be plenty.

These are the part #s

1. Release bearing - 30502-41U20
2. Clutch Disc (old #)- 30100-2Y904; new #-C0100-6E600
3. Clutch Cover/Pressure Plate - 30210-89F00

Read d00df00d's opinion on the clutch.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=460251

I had an ACT stage 1, didn't like it. Stiff pedal for not a lot of extra torque capacity.

Replaced it with an Exedy OEM type replacement. Handles stock torque just fine, but the pedal is even softer. Nice clutch for daily driving. I got it for $121 shipped from ProClutch on eBay. Ships by USPS Priority, so you get it good and fast too.

Dave

I had the Exedy Stage 1 and now I'm back to OEM just for kicks.. honestly out of all my friends and my setups the Exedy St. 1 seemed the best to me. I do hear great things about the 5th Gen setup although once again I doubt its as good for what I do as the Exedy aftermarket.

I just replaced my clutch in my 95...i went with an OEM 5th gen...so far im happy with it. The pedal feels about the same, but it does perform a bit better than before. I ended up pretty much replacing everything to do with the clutch--clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, clutch fork, slave cylinder, and had the flywheel resurfaced. I did the work my self, cause the lowest i could have it done for was $700....i called Nissan to see what they would do it for and they said 1300!!! i saved a ton doing it myself.

Great info guys. Now I guess the only thing to decide is which one OEM 5th gen or Excedy OEM replacement. I use the max for daily driving so I would like to have a soft clutch for easy driving.

I have a question for those with the 5 gen clutch. Compared to stock how much more stiff is it or is it the same.

I also hear that the Excedy is a good replacement, softer than stock and good balance of performance and daily driving.

And make sure you also read the update in post #6. :wiggle:

Interestingly, I've had both, so I can comment.

The Exedy was good. It gripped a little harder than stock, but was easy enough to use. Nothing special. It did chatter a lot and wear out on me rather quickly, but that could have been because my brother and I totally torched it a couple of times doing stupid stuff...

Either way, the 5th gen clutch eats it alive. There's just no comparison. Engagement is smoother and more linear, but grip and heat tolerance are WAY better, and it has NEVER chattered on me. There have been a couple of incidents where I slipped it too much on hard takeoffs, usually because of my loud music and often after sitting in traffic a lot in the blistering heat (read: HIGH clutch temps). But each time, as soon as I let the pedal out fully, the clutch just grabbed without a fuss and I continued on my way. In the same situations, the Exedy would start to overheat and slip, and I'd have to drive like a granny for at least a few minutes until it cooled down. The pedal is noticeably firmer, though. I definitely feel it when I'm in heavy traffic. But that is a price I am more than happy to pay, because this clutch is better than the OEM 4th gen and Exedy OEM replacement clutches in every single other way. I literally can't go a single day without appreciating it.

Cliffs:
Exedy => soft pedal
5th gen => EVERYTHING else

Either way, get a stainless steel clutch line. It's $25 and you will love it.

how does the ACT St. 1 compare to the 5th gen?

Handles significantly more power, much harder pedal, not as nice to use.

For The Win.....I will prolly have to order mine soon

From where should i order the 5th Gen clutch, Courtesy Nissan?

ACT clutch all the way. It will last longer feel better and drive better.

I just ordered my 5th gen clutch from Everything Nissan. $240 + $22 shipping for disc, plate, release bearing, pilot bearing, rear main seal, y-pipe gaskets, and left and right axle seals.

Same stuff at Jerry Rome Nissan priced out at $290 + shipping (which the webpage wouldn't disclose at time of order).

Just the disc, plate, and release bearing were about $320 (+tax) from my local stealership.

I also picked up a SS clutch line from group deals for $25. Just need 5 quarts of MT90 and I'm ready to install. Begone slipping clutch!!!

exedy stage one after the breakin.....petal feel is very close to stock and theres no slip...im not boosted yet just bolts ons.

That's nice, except that the scientific facts are that it will last the same, have mroe abrupt engagement, and tire your leg out in traffic. But yeah, other than that, ACT all the way :)

You guys are great, thanks for all the great info. I have decided to go with the 5th gen clutch after reading several posts. I have setup an appointment with the dealership to have the clutch replaced, labor is $690, parts are $190, and it includes resurface of the flywheel. Lets hope I don't need to replace the flywheel.

Make sure they are not installing a Key Value Clutch. Its a Nissan Brand Clutch but Very Low Quality and will slip within the first 100 miles you drive it. I would make sure they are using a genuine Nissan Clutch.

-matt

when u guys say 5 gen clutch is from 2000 to 2003 with 3.0 right not from 3.5 maxima??? just curious?? let me know thak u

5th gen clutch from a 2000 or 2001.

doesn't that motor have about 20 more horsies than the 4thgen,,, so with 40hp in mods, won't it start to be insufficient?

you make 40hp in mods sound like an easy task.. try to gain that without F/I, its not so easy.

Y-Pipe (roughly 15-20 HP)
ECU (Roughly 15 HP across the entire band) [Emanage will pull more HP since it can be even more fine tuned]
Catback (Roughly 5 HP)

That makes 35 HP minimum. Shouldn't be too hard to squeeze 5 more ponies in there with more mods.

most of those quotes are very optimistic and I didn't say you can't achieve it.. But theres some good money right there in just that list thats my point. Its definitely possible and has been done time and time again but its not like a snap of the fingers and theres 40hp.

Basically no it doesn't become insufficient (the clutch), some guys with the above mentioned mods and much more run on stock clutch and it does absolutely fine at the track..

I'll admit I didn't word that other post very well haha. I've been really out of it all day so excuse me.

No good company ever makes their cars with clutches that can't take any more than what the cars put out. There's always breathing room.

EDIT: Plus what Apparition said.

i have the Exedy in the car right now with a resurfaced stock flywheel: it chatters like a mofo at low engagement points.. is it the flywheel? i dunno. is it the clutch? eh. maybe. however the pedal pressure is feather light and engagement is very high. . i dont like it as much as the oem clutch felt.. sigh. but it was cheap.

i had the ACT HDMM in the car for a long *** time when i was supercharged, and it was mated with a mueller flywheel.. that thing gave my left leg a work out. pressure plate sucked, it was so stiff. in traffic it was terrible. however it did hold up great after years of track abuse and driving hard.

Ok now you got me worried! I just dropped off the car on Saturday to have the clutch replaced. How can I tell or make sure I get a Genuine Nissan Clutch? If the Value clutch is a nissan brand, wouldn't they just tell me that it's OE Nissan Clutch as opposed to a Genuine Nissan Clutch?

Is there a way to tell from the box or something?

Just got my car back from the shop today with my new 5th gen clutch (as described in my earlier post). Whoa it's so very nice. Lighter clutch pedal, grabby right off the floor. Feels very solid (of course this is after driving with a slippy clutch for the past 2 months).

Cost:
Parts: $240 + $22 s/h (clutch + rear main seal, pilot bushing, axle seals)
4 quarts MT90: $40
Flywheel resurface: $50
Labor: $450 including tax

Careful on it for the first 500 miles or so while it's breaking in. The engagement point will move farther up off the floor, so don't get too used to where it is now.

Glad you're satisfied!

One of my friend has taurus SHO, he recently put in a chemically treated clutch , If I rember correctly chemical was Koleen it basically reduces heat related wear & tear on any metal, thereby extending its's life.
You can google about koleen treatment on clutch and see if you want it

LOL, the wearing part of a clutch isn't metal.

Unless you're using a bronze puck clutch, in which case worrying about wear would be ghey.

i have an act stage 1. it's nice if you like to drive more aggressively, but being stuck in chicago traffic all the time makes it kinda suck. looking back i wish i had gotten the 5th gen clutch. it would have been less expensive as well and i only have a few bolt ons.

anyone know how much labor should be around for a clutch to be put in plus the SS lines. thanks

~$300.


just took my tranny and clucth off, took a couple hours (kepts snackin :D )

there is a site that sells the full 5th gen clutch for less than $200, I have seen it b4 but cant find it now