What Brand of Clutch Should I Buy For 240Z?

[Otto Skorzeny]

Hello,

I need to replace the clutch in a 1972 240Z, 5spd.

The car is not raced and is used for regular driving. It doesn't get hot rodded but will be driven fast. Do any of you have any suggestions for particular brands to purchase or to stay away from?

Rock Auto has the best prices and selection that I've found but the prices for a clutch kit range from $90 to $150.

Brands include Rhinopac ($90), Exedy ($112), Beck Arnley ($130), Valeo ($142)

Advance Auto has a Perfection kit for $100.

All of these kits come with pilot and release bearings and alignment tools.

If you don't like any of these choices, what do you suggest.

I will resurface the original flywheel.

Thanks very much.

[zKars]

Exedy is the OEM supplier. Good stuff. For casual street use, just about any of them are fine. Don't buy the cheapest... Just saying.

And HI! Just realized you're a newbie. Welcome to the site. Ton's of information in the archives including clutch reviews and news.

Edited September 16, 2013 by zKars

[LeonV]

As Jim already said, Exedy is OEM. Frankly, if you don't drive the car hard (clutch drops, power-shifting), any clutch will work just fine. Just be sure to have the correct clutch collar/pressure plate combo (search this). And welcome!

[240260280z]

I just put an Exedy in a 240z over a year ago. Works great.

[madkaw]

Exedy and drive it like you stole it- working good for me!

[Otto Skorzeny]

Thanks you guys.

I asked this same question on another Z site and the only name brand so far that anyone suggested (having used it himself) is Exedy.

That makes about 4 or 5 votes for Exedy which isn't the most expensive but about $25 more than the cheapest and about $30 less than the most expensive.

Unless anybody tells me different I think I'll order one tonight.

I do have some other questions about the car which you probably know the answer to.

[Reverend]

I'll be the third to suggest Exedy, but for reason. My shifting is super smooth and fast (Redline oils) and does not slip a bit even with agressive driving. Could not be happier. REMEMBER to change the pilot bushing too, i didnt... it squeals from time to time quite loudly..

[Jeff G 78]

Another vote for Exedy. I bought the kit off ebay for $102 shipped about 4 months ago for my race car. Make sure it's really an Exedy kit though. There a lot of sellers who throw the name around and then ship an off brand. Also, since you have a 5 speed, you have to match the clutch to the throwout bearing collar in your trans, so you will need to know what year trans you have. You will probably need the 6009 kit which covers the 280Z and 280ZX transmissions. Also make sure that you don't have a 2+2/Turbo flywheel. The clutch on those is a 240mm diameter rather than a 225mm diameter. When you do a search, look it up by the Exedy part number rather than relying on the seller to send you the right kit. The Exedy website lists all the P/N's if you don't have a '77 - '83 2 seater NA setup now.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I ordered an OEM 240Z kit and sure enough it was an Exedy. I have a mild L28 on it, and she holds torque just fine.

[Zed Head]

I picked up a Rhinopac off Craigslist last year and it works great. Smoother engagement than the Zoom Perfection kit I had from Napa. The Perfection clutch would chirp the tires, the Rhinopac not so much.

On making sure the new parts work correctly - the throwout bearing collar height needs to work with the pressure plate height, which would be independent of the transmission year (no offense intended Jeff G). Essentially all of the transmissions have the same mounting point for the slave cylinder. It's the stack height of the flywheel, pressure plate and top of the collar ears that must be right. ~92 mm from pressure plate mounting surface to the top of the collar ears seems to be the number to shoot for.

My Napa kit came with a collar. Some kits only provide a bearing. Make sure that the height of the stack of parts, from the mounting surface of the pressure plate up to the ears that the clutch fork rides on, is the same.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Zed Head

[Jeff G 78]

No offense taken Zed. I started to type that, but didn't follow through because I didn't have the accompanying chart. Yes, the collar needs to be measured and compared to the chart since the owner won't know if the collar stayed with the trans when they installed a 5 speed. I did a quick search, but couldn't find the chart online. Can somebody post it?

[Otto Skorzeny]

Hey, thanks a lot for all the tips you guys.

The clutch and pressure plate are sold together as a kit so I should be good to go in that department.

What is the collar you are talking about? Is it part of the release bearing? do I reuse the old one? What's the story?