05 SE Clutch/flywheel Issue...... help

[kll67]

Have an 05 Altima SE w/68000 miles. Clutch gets "spongy" every now and then and acts like there is air in line. Also, when going around 80, and you give it gas like when going up a hill, it feels like the right front is vibrating very badly. Dealer replaced wheel bearings and hub assembly. Now they say the clutch needs replaced due to the spongyness and the flywheel is causing the vibration when under a load at 80 mph. If it were the flywheel, wouldn't you feel it at other speeds as well? There is no noticable slipping in the clutch either. Am I getting ready to spend $$$$$ on something that won'tcorrect the problem? Any advice is appreciated.

[pm_page6776]

A worn pressure plate can cause a spongy feel, but more often it is due to a failing clutch master cylinder. Flywheel runout will be a vibration when releasing the clutch pedal more so than at high speeds (unless it is slipping). Don't just buy a flywheel, they run about $1000. Nissan specifies to reuse the flywheel unless runout is out of specification. It is a "dual mass" flywheel and can not be machined, only replaced. I can't say they are wrong, just giving you a heads up.

[Darius]

If you need it to be replaced, get an aftermarket one that is cheaper and can be machined. You could probably go thru two aftermarket flywheels for the price of an OEM dual mass, sissy flywheel.

[low91240sx]