Clutch issues/advice, 260z

[2sixTZombii]

I noticed that my clutch was starting to slip awhile back and it's been getting worse, well tonight on my way to work as I was merging onto the interstate, I shift into third at about 4k and it stayed right at 4k, then bounced up to about 4700, the car barely accelerating, let off the gas and the clutch grabs and it was a pita the rest of the way into work, but I was gentle and got to work and then back home again. This is wierd because I never really felt like it released all the way either now this. Also lately there has a ton of rattle going up hills under loads, like when you in the wrong gear for the speed your going. So I really don't if its the clutch itself, the pressure plate, or maybe the throwout bearing, but in any case it's for a clutch kit. Exedy can be had for 120 to my door, which I believe comes with everything I really need, which isn't bad. I saw a new used centerforce stage 1 on ebay that I think could be had reasonably, but not sure if its rght for a 260z, its listed as correct on the centerforce site for early 260s, but its hard to be sure wth a 260z. But now I'm reading bad stuff on Hybridz about centerforce stuff. What I wonder is first, is there anything else I'll need while in there, as it is I am figuring full clutch kit, and a tranny oil change, but am I missing something key? I hear about some weird about throwout collar differences. Is a stage one centerforce really any better than a OEM exedy? Or any other decent clutch? Or is the stage 1 worth it? I figure when/ I get my mild turbo/5 speed I could reuse a the centerforce, but only if its worth it. So any answers, warnings, or advice, would be great!

Thanks.

[2sixTZombii]

Well no replys but.... I scored a brand new centerforce clutch kit with throwout bearing tonight for 100 bucks plus shipping, so I'm pretty happy.

[rossiz]

wow - great deal, where did you find it?

i'm needing a clutch myself...

[2sixTZombii]

I've been watching it for awhile, it was on ebay. A guy was selling a few things for a 240z he was going to restore, this was one of the things he bought and never used. I was the only one that bid at the end of auction, so I got it for his reserve price. Pretty happy about, now I'm gonna order some gear oil, and get ready to drop my trans, wish I had the cash to swap it to a five speed as well.

[siteunseen]

I found the least expensive price for Red Line at amazon.com.

[2sixTZombii]

Thts what I seem to find as well. I was ready to try the swepco mix, but you can't buy it quarts, making it rather spendy. And I was scared of trying anything that isn't 100% proven on this tranny as it already seems to have issues. So I think I'll get the redline for now. Now I need a diff mount.

[2sixTZombii]

Figured I'd try here before posting another thread. Does anybody know if the clutch sleeve for the 260z is the same as the 240? Or the throwout bearing itself? Turns out it didn't come with a throwout bearing, but instead a new clutch sleeve, it came with

PN 30501-1C104. In anu case I got a brand new centerforce clutch kit for my car for 125 to my door, its here and indeed brand new.:-)

[2sixTZombii]

Also how many quarts do I need? 2 or 3, I'm getting mixed results searching.

[Zed Head]

The throwout bearing collar, which is what i think you mean by clutch sleeve, matches the pressure plate (aka clutch cover). It really has nothing to do with anything else. The reason is that different pressure plates can have the contact surfaces for the spring levers different distances from the flywheel surface. The collar height ensures that that the clutch fork will will sit at the right angle for the slave cylinder's range of motion.

That's probably why many kits come with new collars even though they don't really get much wear.

Forgot to say that the various liquid volumes needed is in either the Owners' Manual, the GI chapter, or the Tuneup chapter (maybe). Pretty sure it's in GI. You'll probably need a little less, because not all of it will drain out.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Zed Head

[2sixTZombii]

Thanks. I was calling it a clutch sleeve cause thats what it said on the part box from nissan, I've always heard it as a throwout bearing collar before but wanted to to be precise about the exact thing I had. Since, he bought this to go with this clutch kit, I would assume its correct I'll have to run PNs to be sure. I'll have to see if I can download an owners manual, as it seems to have some info left out of the FSM, my tablet and computer both died the same week so I have to redownload a bunch of that crap.

[2sixTZombii]

Alright for anyone who may find this while searching. According to the 1974 Owners manual tge manual tranny takes 1.5 Liters, or 3 1/8th us pts. Which comes to about 1.58 quarts. Meaning that yes two 1 quart bottles will be plently.Thanks Zed Head!

[Kurbycar32]

I was on vacation when you posted, but i did this exact same thing except I paid three times as much. Below are the part numbers from the Z store. Since I was in the clutch anyway I bought a stainless clutch hose. This is for a 240mm setup, mating to a aluminium flywheel

21-2013 Centerforce II Clutch, 81-86 280ZX-300ZX Turbo, 84-89 300ZX Non Turbo 1

21-2171 Stainless Steel Clutch Hose, 79-83 280ZX 1

21-2080 Clutch Pilot Bushing, 70-96 Z/ZX 1

60-9930 Clutch Pilot Tool 1

21-2122 Clutch Collar, 75-83 Z/ZX Coupe Non Turbo, 84-86 ZX Turbo 1

After much research I elected to use a clutch pilot bushing and not a bearing. When a bushing fails you get lots of noise and a broken bushing. When a bearing fails it has the chance of completely stripping the transmission shaft. I also have an actual 260z factory service manual, if you need something specific let me know.