Vigilante
Member
So yeah as the thread title suggests, I don't think these clutches are any good in these new D40's. I have a 2012 ST (Spainish built) with ~24,000 km's on the clock and the standard clutch is not working for me.
Right now the engagement point is about 4/5ths of the way out from the floor and gets worse after I go 4WD'ing when muddy water is involved. I have been wheeling about 5 times in the last 6 months and water must be getting up into the bell housing because the shudder on the clutch is absolutely absurd after doing any kind of boghole or water crossing.
The Nissan dealer confirmed to me that there are indeed holes in the bell housing for cooling or drainage purposes - is this fair dinkum? I can see one at the bottom of the bell housing but none anywhere else .... I am not proclaiming to be an expert but why would you make a 4wd with holes in the bell housing? Is this normal? Just seems like a recipe for early clutch failure.
I had a chat with the dealer and explained that I wasn't happy with the clutch operation nor how long it is lasting. I inquired about there being a potential warranty claim coming from me in the near future about it but they fobbed me off saying the clutch is a wear and tear item so would be unlikely to be covered. I rebutted by saying that ~24,000 km's is pretty ordinary clutch life ... the dealer then insinuated that I must drive it like a dickhead for it to wear out like that ...
Anyway I am pretty ****en disappointed at the moment. I have been a Nissan boy my entire life. Grew up with my old man driving Navara's and Patrol's and just love my Nissan. But man, for them to do put together such a piece of shit for my first purchase... I must say I am very sad. I understand that modern clutches are an issue on most (if not all) new 4wd utes so that gives me some solace but yeah, still ****en ordinary imo. Might as well look into after market options ... gonna have to spend the money sooner or later ...
For the record I consider myself to be a good manual driver. I know EVERYONE reckons this but I have a pretty solid track record. My last car was a 2001 VU ute and I sold it recently with the original clutch still going strong after 220,000 km's. And yeah, I gave it shit every now and again without ever having an issue.
Right now the engagement point is about 4/5ths of the way out from the floor and gets worse after I go 4WD'ing when muddy water is involved. I have been wheeling about 5 times in the last 6 months and water must be getting up into the bell housing because the shudder on the clutch is absolutely absurd after doing any kind of boghole or water crossing.
The Nissan dealer confirmed to me that there are indeed holes in the bell housing for cooling or drainage purposes - is this fair dinkum? I can see one at the bottom of the bell housing but none anywhere else .... I am not proclaiming to be an expert but why would you make a 4wd with holes in the bell housing? Is this normal? Just seems like a recipe for early clutch failure.
I had a chat with the dealer and explained that I wasn't happy with the clutch operation nor how long it is lasting. I inquired about there being a potential warranty claim coming from me in the near future about it but they fobbed me off saying the clutch is a wear and tear item so would be unlikely to be covered. I rebutted by saying that ~24,000 km's is pretty ordinary clutch life ... the dealer then insinuated that I must drive it like a dickhead for it to wear out like that ...
Anyway I am pretty ****en disappointed at the moment. I have been a Nissan boy my entire life. Grew up with my old man driving Navara's and Patrol's and just love my Nissan. But man, for them to do put together such a piece of shit for my first purchase... I must say I am very sad. I understand that modern clutches are an issue on most (if not all) new 4wd utes so that gives me some solace but yeah, still ****en ordinary imo. Might as well look into after market options ... gonna have to spend the money sooner or later ...
For the record I consider myself to be a good manual driver. I know EVERYONE reckons this but I have a pretty solid track record. My last car was a 2001 VU ute and I sold it recently with the original clutch still going strong after 220,000 km's. And yeah, I gave it shit every now and again without ever having an issue.