Many people have conflicting views about which clutch works best for the swap? Some have clutches that last but another person may have the same clutch for only a couple months b4 it gives way? Please state the stages of the clutch ur using

 

I don't have personal experience with this, but I would think that the 5th gen stock clutch is best for drivability and streetability. You start getting into the fancier/exotic clutch material your looking at pretty specific applications.
As far as a clutch wearing out in like 3 months... sure it can happen but it either wasn't set up right or the fool rode the clutch all the way down the road. My guess is the second one.

 

I have spec stage 3 but I'm boosted and its a hit/miss clutch in terms of who like them or not. I would go Exedy StageII if I was NA 3.5 tho.

 

I have the spec stage2 on my 3.5. ~800 miles on it so far. No problems at all. There are some issues about spec's build quality, but from my 1st hand experience, excellent. If ever soemthing happens I'll start a thread about it, lol

 

I have a exedy stage 1 and it's been holding up well. Even a stage 1 is a little rough for street driving. With the 3.5 and a stage 1 or better clutch, you have to be really careful not to peel out the tires all over the place accidently and freak people out.

The stock clutch will be best for normal driving. Remember, clutches only wear when they slip. As long as you don't abuse it (drag racing, etc), the stock clutch will be fine. If you're going to race it, you *MUST* upgrade the clutch as the stocker will be burned up quickly.

 

i got a stage 3 and it's just a pain in the *** to drive...i hope it gets better i have only been drivign on it for about 20 miles.

 

Edit- a stage 3 what brand???

 

Anyone know how much a 5th gen clutch assembly (disk+pressure plate) runs directly from the stealership?

 

best clutch with best ratings is the clutchnet. You pay more but everyone says feel is great and reliability is on point. If money wasnt an issue they have different stages I believe....they have group deals on them sometimes, you may want to check that forum for more info on them as well. I'm running exedy stage 1....fine for the power i'm running but wont hold up to a 3.5 swap...atleast not for long.

 

The Clutchnet is definately the way to go to do it once and do it right.

 

5th gen disc + PP + t/o bearing came out to $180ish from Dave B "the parts guy" plus shippin. This was just under 2 yrs ago, thats why there's an "-ish" behind the price, but i know for a fact it was $180 something. VERY economical (and yes it is a true 5th gen clutch, not key value caca) relative to the aftermarket options, and a very strong clutch indeed.

 

But since that 5thgen clutch is made for the 3.0 motor, I doubt it will b able to hold the power of a 3.5 motor in a lighter body 4th gen and if so, for how long?

 

U r not making much sense my man.

1. I'm sure that what kind of car the motor and tranny will be in will determine how much power it will make. Only how fast the car will be. A lighter car will be quicker but the whp should still be the same if it was in a 4th gen max or a Sentra like what Travis swaps them in.

2. A 3.5 in a 5th gen is making more power than a 3.5 in a 4th gen when using the 3.0 equipment (which you are), meaning that a 5th gen is putting more power to the ground using a stock clutch which would be more than adequate.

 

This is what I was trying to tell you my dude, this is wha makes me question the 5th gen clutch for the swap.

 

Read this:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....5th+gen+clutch

I don't know. I've read too many threads about people using the 5th gen clutch in the 4th gen.

 

That thread got me confused.

 

my clutch is toast also, ive been thinking about going with a jwt clutch

 

Which clutch is best will depend on your mods and how you drive.

If you're just slapping the 3.5 in with a Y-pipe, no VTCs, and no tune, and you only drive your car on the street, the 5th gen clutch will be totally fine.

If you're putting it in with Cattman headers, VTCs, and an aggressive tune, and you take your car to the drag strip all the time, you're going to want to get a clutch with more holding power.

If it were me, I'd probably take a 5th gen clutch with any set of mods up to a y-pipe, catback, VTCs, and a rough tune. I would probably also throw in a lightweight flywheel and lightweight pulley, just to be on the safe side. But that's only with street driving. With that setup at the strip, or with anything more, I'd go to an ACT Stage 1.

 

I had a SPEC Stage 3 in my 3.5 swap and I absolutely loved it. Stock pedal feel as well as the ability to hold 370? +ft/lbs.

 

300zx spec stage 2 clutch and i love it.Stock Pedal feel with about 450 lbs.tq i think

 

300ZX uses the same clutch as max, thas interesting?

 

is that confirmed? the 300zx uses the same clutch/pp as the max?

 

If you only drive it on the street, 5th gen clutch. If you track it, clutchnet 6-puck all the way. The Red pressure plate. But keep in mind that the weak 5-speeds do not like too much clutch. They tend to blow gears because of it.

 

Yes very true.

 

what exactly do u mean by too much clutch?

 

If your clutch engages too sharply and permits too little slip, the drivetrain shock will hurt your tranny over time.

 

That is what a 5th gen clutch did to my transmission with a 3.5 swap (fluke accident nonetheless). I've been running the 5th gen clutch for a few months now, over about 5k miles. I have a bit of clutch chatter, but that I believe is from a misaligned clutch pedal. I'm running a rough tune right now, no extreme timing advance, just a/f. This clutch is great for everyday driving wiith a 3.5 swap. I do not reccomend it for moderate track use though. It's a great street clutch that is comfortable in traffic.

 

how did u have that fluke accident, is it from track use or a misaligned clutch pedal, how do I keep myself from misaligning my clutch pedal, so wha clutch u gonna get after this, since I heard clutches over stage 3 engage too sharp and ruin 4th gen trannies also, I just think the 4th gen trannies suck

 

It's a long story how that happend. It's partly from dumping the clutch at the track, from low fluid, and from the torque that the 3.5 puts out off the line.

I'm not getting a different clutch, I'm sticking with my 5th gen clutch.

And yes, 4th gen trannies do suck. I've had mine rebuilt twice.

 

I got a tranny w/ 43k miles on it from a 2001 2 years ago becuz a stage 2 act destoyed mine, so safe to say no more track runs 4 u

 

I'm considering replacing the spec stage 2 with the 5th gen setup I have sitting around. The engagement of this clutch is so unpredictable as it seems to change everyday. I hate it.

Could I use the PP from the spec setup with the 5th gen disc and have a slightly stronger setup? I did not compared them, so i don't know if it would work.

I would like to do a few track runs a year(Maybe 2-5 a year?) with this car, but otherwise its my DD.

 

The PP has more to do with clutch feel than the disc does, so swapping in a 5th gen disc and keeping the Spec PP won't solve your problems. I'd say just swap the whole assembly.

 

That transmission had a bad input shaft bearing in it for a while didn't it?