I am getting vibrations in my 95 Maxima after getting a new clutch installed. The vibrations are most pronounced at 1K RPM but are subdued at other RPMs. I went back to the mechanic reasoning that the vibrations are probably caused by an improper clutch, but he said that if the clutch was out of balance, the vibrations should increase when RPM is increased, therefore is unwilling to accept that there could be a problem with the clutch.

I did not go to the dealership for clutch repair, as I did not want to spend a fortune on an old used car, but now I am wondering if I made the right decision. How much damage can an out-of-balance clutch cause to my car?

Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

An out of balance clutch will cause wear to the imput shaft seal and your rear main engine seal.

An out of balance clutch should be felt throughout the RPM range. The frequency should change as RPMs change. If thats not happening, it's not the clutch thats causing it.

 

njmaxseltd, thanks for your reply. The vibrations are being felt through the entire range of RPM, but at certain RPM they are more pronounced. Its as if at certain RPM and whole car chassis vibrates with engine, which at others, the vibrations are out of sync, but still there. Can you definitely rule out a problem with the clutch in that case?

If so, any other areas I should be looking at?

Thanks,

 

Did he install a new pilot bearing?

 

when things are spinning as fast as the engine on these cars, they will have harmonics where they vibrate worse at certain rpm and less at others..

sounds to me like the installer messed up and didn't put a few bolts in, or otherwise SOMETHING is out of balance in there. take it to another shop and have them look things over.

oh.. and
http://www.nissanforums.com/showthread.php?t=81526
http://www.nissanforums.com/showthread.php?t=81686

You were given the same advice by two people who know what they're talking about.. why post on yet another forum?

 

Matt, I posted in the other forums also because I was not sure of getting a response, since my problem seems to be unique. There are very few Nissan Maxima's with stick shift, and I search really hard for a similar problem before posting in the forums.

Oh, one more question: Is there something done to balance the flywheel before fitting the transmission back. Or is there a way to check the balance to make sure it is not out of balance again for some reason? The mechanic suggested that he could install a new flywheel (if i paid for it), but there must be a way to check that the new one has been installed with balancing all right?

Thanks in advance,

 

There's no real way of "balancing" a flywheel. It should already be as balanced as it will ever be. Theres "resurfacing", but that has to do with a good surface that touches the clutch.

 

Matt95, thanks for you response in this forum and the other. My mechanic finally agreed that there was indeed some problem with the flywheel at the time of resurfacing and took back my car for changing the flywheel. However, a new flywheel is not available in the market and he has my car for more than 2 week, waiting on the back-ordered flywheel to arrive. When it arrived today, he said it came without its teeth, so he has to again order the whole things again...

I am just wondering if is he is playing some games with me?

Thanks,

 

you should tell him to order a lightened flywheel.

 

The aluminium flywheel costs more, and I really don't want to race my car.

 

yea, I know, but who said you had to race with a racing flywheel?... Just seems like someone there doesn't know what they're ordering or the supplier is incompetent.