4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Clutch Suggestions please!? SPEC sucks!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-09-2008, 05:54 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
96mAx2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,037
Clutch Suggestions please!? SPEC sucks!!!

Hello everyone,

Last year, I went with a Fidanza flywheel and a SPEC STAGE 1 CLUTCH and I absolutely hate it! The clutch cannot even hold the measly power that my maxima has and I only have an intake, headers, ypipe, HF cat and a greddy cat back. When I shift hard from 1st to 2nd with my B&M shifter it doesn't even chirp... It actually slips for a few seconds before grapping and then it smells. My stock clutch was better and it had about 120k on it.

Basically, I'm going with a stage 3 clutch but I want some good suggestions. I don't want to spend more than 500$ on a clutch. Also, any chance of getting some money back from SPEC if I make a big stink about it? I definitely don't want to use their product anymore...Help is appreciated!

In advance, thanks for the feedback
96mAx2fast is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 06:46 PM
  #2  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Maxtank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Shippensburg, PA
Posts: 1,781
I had an exedy stage 1, held great, then the throwout bearing blew and took out the clutch and pressure plate (luckily didn't do any damage to the flywheel). I'm back on stock now and i'm having no problems.

If your not boosted, a stage 3 is severe overkill. Is your pedal adjusted correctly? I had to play with mine when the exedy was in.
Maxtank is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 06:49 PM
  #3  
I love lamp.
iTrader: (24)
 
maximase86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,697
Clutchnet clutches FTW.
maximase86 is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 06:50 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Shadow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,147
SPEC may help you out, they have a pretty good warranty policy. Back in the day when I was in the business, we were a SPEC dealer and on occasion a customer would have a problem like yours. SPEC would usually take care of it and warranty the clutch.
Shadow is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 07:59 PM
  #5  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (10)
 
toddemullins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 516
Was the flywheel new? If it was used, did you have it resurfaced? It is really hard to imagine the Spec stage I would not hold a VQ30 with a few bolt-ons. You are not going to like the Spec Stage III for daily driving.
toddemullins is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 08:53 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
QNO_A32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NY
Posts: 1,107
+1 on Exedy stage 1. i have it and its good for daily driving and will chirp 3rd every time.
QNO_A32 is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 09:04 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
laflyer23's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: So California
Posts: 325
I like the 00-01 maxima clutch.
laflyer23 is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 09:29 PM
  #8  
Member
iTrader: (2)
 
deadlydreamx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: West Orange, NJ
Posts: 213
i have a clutch masters stage 1 with the fidanza flywheel and so far its been good to me. Ive chirped 2nd by mistake once. I have about 800 miles on it so far.
deadlydreamx is offline  
Old 06-09-2008, 09:47 PM
  #9  
a.k.a. STuNtMAN
iTrader: (11)
 
JonBlz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Br00kLyN N.Y.
Posts: 1,382
spec suck because you went with a stage 1 stage 1-2 they suck but the stage 3 Spec hands down best clutch i EVER EVER HAD and it holds boost GREAT
JonBlz is offline  
Old 06-10-2008, 05:03 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
96mAx2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,037
Originally Posted by Maxtank
I had an exedy stage 1, held great, then the throwout bearing blew and took out the clutch and pressure plate (luckily didn't do any damage to the flywheel). I'm back on stock now and i'm having no problems.

If your not boosted, a stage 3 is severe overkill. Is your pedal adjusted correctly? I had to play with mine when the exedy was in.
My flywheel was new when I got it... I was told by Jeff@maximumtuning that we should never adjust the pedal because it is hydraulic and it would not be good...
96mAx2fast is offline  
Old 06-10-2008, 06:10 AM
  #11  
'Trynna' is not a word
iTrader: (19)
 
mtrai760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle Area, WA
Posts: 7,081
Originally Posted by 96mAx2fast
My flywheel was new when I got it... I was told by Jeff@maximumtuning that we should never adjust the pedal because it is hydraulic and it would not be good...
You were given bad advice.
mtrai760 is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 06:11 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
96mAx2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,037
what would adjusting my clutch do? It holds fine while the car is in the gear ( never slips) and it grabs right in the middle. The problem occurs when I shift hard. It just doesn't grip immediately n hard.I want my car to jump and spin the wheels when I shift hard.
96mAx2fast is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 10:41 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
clint240sx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Antonio, Tx
Posts: 457
hmm...i have a spec stg 1 clutch, and i dont have your problem. if i shift poorly, then yes. but i chirp 2nd and dont have any problems with my clutch. i've put about 15,xxx miles on it too.
clint240sx is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 03:01 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
96mAx2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,037
I wonder what it could be? I find this quite strange... How can I diagnose this problem? Should I or shouldn't I adjust my clutch? if so, how do I do it?
96mAx2fast is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 03:35 PM
  #15  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Seximus Maximus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 316
6-puck Clutchnet with Clutchnet PP = GODLY

Feels almost stock on the pedal pressure and holds like a beast. Best ive ever felt or owned.
Seximus Maximus is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 08:56 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
96mAx2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,037
Originally Posted by Seximus Maximus
6-puck Clutchnet with Clutchnet PP = GODLY

Feels almost stock on the pedal pressure and holds like a beast. Best ive ever felt or owned.
where did you get it and how much?
96mAx2fast is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 09:05 PM
  #17  
I love lamp.
iTrader: (24)
 
maximase86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,697
www.clutchnet.com

I run the 6-puck as well...though I moved from the 1x red to a yellow plate to soften the pedal more for daily driving/make life easier for my wife when she drives the car.

S
maximase86 is offline  
Old 06-12-2008, 11:37 PM
  #18  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Seximus Maximus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 316
Ya the 6 puck sprunghub is amazing

Last edited by Seximus Maximus; 06-12-2008 at 11:41 PM.
Seximus Maximus is offline  
Old 06-13-2008, 12:30 AM
  #19  
Junior Member
 
beez5spdmax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 74
if u listen to jeff at maxiumtuning he sucks he rebuilt my tranny and took a month in a half with my car n then he tried to rip me off with a clutch price. wanted 300 dollars 4 a clutch went on line and got it 4 120 shipped. and he even bent my findanza fly wheel my mechanic had to fix his mistakes. he is overrated jeff i will never bring my car there ever again. go stock and u will be good
beez5spdmax is offline  
Old 07-23-2008, 05:34 PM
  #20  
Newbie - Just Registered
 
davygravyt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 8
Sorry to revive an old post like this, but I don't have enough posts to start my own thread.

I have a Spec Stage II clutch on my 1997 Maxima (3.5 swap 225whp) right now, and it just gave out on me. Well, I actually don't think it's bad, since it just suddenly stopped working, but I am planning on taking this opportunity to just replace the clutch, because I REALLY don't like my stage II. It grabs nice and hard, which is nice, but the pedal feel is probably the stiffest I've ever felt in a car, and I get a LOT of clutch chatter, to the point of grinding. Also, I feel like the clutch grabs a little bit too hard at launch, so it almost feels like I'm either not moving or lurching forward.

Has anyone else had problems like this with SPEC stage II clutches? Would I have more luck with a clutchnet? I don't want something that's gonna slip all over the place, but I also would really prefer a more drivable clutch than mine.

Thanks for the input.
davygravyt is offline  
Old 07-23-2008, 06:11 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
S1cTech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lowell/Boston, MA
Posts: 1,613
dude, u don't need a stage 3 clutch...lmao... That is for Maximas over 350HP... and you will not find a really good clutch kit under $500 for stage 3... maybe a little more if you look on group deals.. o and driving a Stage 3 is madly different from any other clutch just do you know... and you will stall...if you never driven one before...
S1cTech is offline  
Old 07-23-2008, 06:30 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
96mAx2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,037
Originally Posted by S1cTech
dude, u don't need a stage 3 clutch...lmao... That is for Maximas over 350HP... and you will not find a really good clutch kit under $500 for stage 3... maybe a little more if you look on group deals.. o and driving a Stage 3 is madly different from any other clutch just do you know... and you will stall...if you never driven one before...
I regularly drive an EVO IX with a twin disc clutch and a stroker moter pushing well over 750 HP. I should be OK... Thanks though
96mAx2fast is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jmlee44
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
8
10-02-2022 02:13 PM
gigabyte
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
8
01-06-2017 06:05 PM
Cipitiox
Wheels/Tires
4
09-30-2015 06:16 PM
DC_Juggernaut
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
4
09-28-2015 04:07 PM
Pied
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
0
09-26-2015 03:29 PM



Quick Reply: Clutch Suggestions please!? SPEC sucks!!!



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:44 AM.