Hey Guys,

Is it normal to get Clutch chatter when you go to a lightweight Aluminum flywheel by Fidanza or Clutchmasters from the Stock unit? Is this a common side effect on the 5th gen Max?

We've got a customer with 2001 Maxima SE who is using the ClutchMasters FX100 (Stage 1) Clutch with Clutchmasters flywheel and he is getting significant clutch chatter at take off, even more chatter going into Reverse and some chatter down shifting into second gear.

It's puzzling to me, because the Clutch kit has a full-face disc, just like stock. Normally you get chatter when switch to a pucked style disc....

Would appreciate your input everyone

Thanks,
Mike

 

No, it's not normal to get a lot of chatter. A small amount maybe, until it's broken in, but not a large amount with a stage 1 clutch like that. 2 things come to mind:

A: Who did the installation? Did they properly clean the flywheel and clutch cover before installing them? Any oil or contaminents at all and you can have chatter problems as the clutch disc slips across those areas and then grabs.

B: Have they checked there motor mounts and transmission mount? Worn/broken mounts can contribute to clutch chatter.

 

Ditto on the worn mounts.

It could be that since things now grab great you are really thinking it's chatter when it is really worn mounts allowing shiddering and wheel hop.

 

Anyone else have any insight whether confirming the previous posted ideas or anything new?

Thanks,
Mike

 

A kevlar clutch disk can chatter till it brakes in but an organic friction material usually wont. I'm pretty sure the stage 1 is organic.

Motor mounts could cause some chatter but they're easy to diagnose. They'd be clunking if they were that bad.

It could also be from the install. Like mtrai760 said. If the packing/storage grease wasn't cleaned off the friction surfaces it could cause a lot of problems. Also, if all the mounting bolts weren't tourqed properly it could either be loose or warped from uneven tourque. They could have warped the flywheel by not following the proper torque pattern.

I had a bad problem with a Clutchmaster clutch that left me kind of biased. I had a very bad vibration at idle and low RPM after instaling a stage 3 clutch and Fidanza flywheel. I pulled it all back out and had the clutch and f'wheel balanced. They said the clutch was the most out of balance they've ever seen.

That obviously left a bad taste in my mouth about Clutchmaster. Especially since I was doing this in my home garage on jackstands. It wouldn't surprise me if it was the parts.

Unfortunately, anything but the motor mounts will require removing the parts to diagnose. He'll have to pull it all out and send it to a machine shop to make sure it's all balanced and true.

 

I'm Mike's customer and I apologize for the long delay responding.
To answer your questions, an ASE mechanic installed the new Clutch Masters Stage 1 (organic disc) clutch and the Clutch Masters alum. flywheel (13 lbs.) I'm assuming he cleaned parts off well before installing,
but I don't know for sure. Chatter and wheel hop were present right at the beginning of 500 mile break-in and the chatter was enough to cause
a small leak in the rear main engine seal. Now that engine seal needs replacement, I will have mechanic check balance of the clutch and flywheel.

I had Nissan dealer check the engine and tranny mounts and they
said mounts looked OK. Will have independent ASE mechanic verify mounts are OK. >>>Thanks for your feedback.

 

Yes, Clutch Masters Stage 1 clutch kit uses an organic disc.
I now have about 1,500 miles on new clutch and flywheel, break in has helped, but still have major chatter going into reverse. Some chatter
at take off and even some chatter downshifting into 2nd gear.

The ASE mechanic who installed CM clutch and CM flywheel, said he
doesn't "like" the CM alum. flywheel and I should switch back to an OEM
flywheel. As you said, I wouldn't be surprised to find the CM clutch and/or the CM flywheel out of balance.

If CM Flywheel looks OK and is balanced I will probably have
an Exedy Stage 1 clutch installed as a replacement to try to solve this chatter problem.

Anyone want to buy a slightly used CM Stage 1 clutch kit for cheap ??

 

Make sure the flywheel gets balanced AND trued. If it's warped that could cause chattering.

What's the weight difference between the 3.0 flywheel and the Clutchmasters? The 3.5 cars have very heavy flywheels so the lightweight flywheels make a big difference.

 

I just had my tranny swapped today, kept the exedy stg 1 disk but swapped out the fidanza insert. ZERO chatter