01 maxima clutch groan and vibration

[Aris]

first, apologies that my first post here is a question.

i have an 01 maxima se, and several months ago, the clutch started to develop a roughness and vibration, which could be felt throughout the car, when releasing the pedal and pulling away from a standstill. not the pedal itself, but rather from the transmission. well, it's steadily grown worse and developed a wonderful groaning noise to accompany it from time-to-time.

the odd thing is that it can be intermittent and seems to get worse the longer you drive the car during the day. if the car sits, it can be smooth initially, but then becomes rougher.

i've experimented with pumping the clutch pedal a few times before engagement (because i suspected a fluid problem), and i am tending to believe, in my delerium, that the clutch indeed is a bit smoother afterward.

anyway, i was wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar? i was going to have the system bled, but i saw a service bulletin for '02 cars having a friction plate problem. just thought i'd ask. thanks.

*disclaimer* - i really don't ride the clutch, and i haven't experienced any slippage.

[drjohn]

This is called clutch chatter and is caused by the clutch disc not contacting the flywheel properly and slipping and then vibrating across the surface of the flywheel do to uneven wear on the flywheel surface and the pressure plate. Weak pressure plate and worn out or broken engine mounts can amplify this condition.You are probably do for a clutch assembly and flywheel resurfacing

[Aris]

no kidding?! thanks for replying, drjohn. car only has 17.5k on the odo, too. ah, well. at least i know what i'm getting into. thanks again.