Whats the easiest way to tell if i need a new clutch?

[mycoupe8urs]

I went to my local infiniti dealer today to get my old wheel locks taken off and my service writer said that my clutch was done and i need a new one. My car hasn't had any problems as far as shifting, if anything i thought my clutch was pretty good. What are the signs to a worn out clutch on a G? And what is the best (and cheapest) clutch to go with ?

[SVTCOBRA]

Put the parking brake on, put it in 6th gear, slowly let out the clutch while applying a little gas.....if it keeps running, then your clutch is slipping. If it shuts off, then it probably isn't. Where is your clutch letting out??

[telcoman]

Put the parking brake on, put it in 6th gear, slowly let out the clutch while applying a little gas.....if it keeps running, then your clutch is slipping. If it shuts off, then it probably isn't. Where is your clutch letting out??

Speaking of clutches, I've noticed on a couple of occasions in very hot weather in bumper to bumper traffic with lots of shifting, the amount of free play at the top of the clutch petal increases from less then a 1/4 " to about an inch. The amount of play disappears and goes back to normal if stopped for 15 min or the next morning?Anyone have a guess as to why this happens?

Telcoman

[Kenrik]

Speaking of clutches, I've noticed on a couple of occasions in very hot weather in bumper to bumper traffic with lots of shifting, the amount of free play at the top of the clutch petal increases from less then a 1/4 " to about an inch. The amount of play disappears and goes back to normal if stopped for 15 min or the next morning?Anyone have a guess as to why this happens?

Telcoman

Clutch Fluid heats up..

[telcoman]

Clutch Fluid heats up..

Thanks, that makes sense. Can it do damage to the hydraulics if it gets too hot?

Telcoman

[rn79870]

Speaking of clutches, I've noticed on a couple of occasions in very hot weather in bumper to bumper traffic with lots of shifting, the amount of free play at the top of the clutch petal increases from less then a 1/4 " to about an inch. The amount of play disappears and goes back to normal if stopped for 15 min or the next morning?Anyone have a guess as to why this happens?

Telcoman

We need a good thread here on heat transfer in clutches.

[adren77]

We need a good thread here on heat transfer in clutches.

From your mouth comes the plague!

[telcoman]

We need a good thread here on heat transfer in clutches.

There was a thread awhile back on changing clutch fluid but I seem to recall some were changing it frequently that didn't seem to make sense to me?I can understand changing it if it became contaminated for some reason but if a clutch needs replacement that would probably be a good time to replace the fluid as well.

Telcoman

[joe603]

Most of the time the OEM clutch does not need to be replaced. Besides SVT's method, you can also drive the car on an incline, going slow in a high gear. If the engine rev's and you're not going faster, the clutch is slipping.

[Sentientbydesign]

Both Joe and SVT's methods are sound.

Unless it's slipping or you take the transmission out and look at the clutch and flywheel, there's not really any other way to know.

When you do the replacement. Fidanza, JWT, and Spec all make lighter single mass flywheels with replaceable friction discs so you won't ever have to resurface or replace your flywheel again (unless it cracks).

Any of the aftermarket flywheels WILL chatter. And they will sound more like a diesel truck when taking off from a stop. Keep that in mind before going the cheap route.