300ZX Clutch Problems

Clutch Kit Parts

My 300ZX clutch problems began with a rear main seal leak. It wasn’t long after the clutch started slipping that the Z wouldn’t move at all. When I put the vehicle up in the air to check it out I saw what was going on.

The rear main seal wasn’t leaking very much but it was enough to cause the clutch to fail. Oil and friction material such as the type that is contained on the clutch disc don’t go well together.

The clutch disc friction material actually begins to soak up the engine oil like a sponge. A slippery spongy clutch is the opposite of what you need to move the vehicle properly.

This type of clutch problem is actually quite common and happens to many manual transmission vehicles from manufacturers both foreign and domestic.

300ZX flywheel problems

I pulled the transmission and remove the clutch and pressure plate. I could see that there was some heat scoring and a bluish color to the flywheel surface. I decided to send the flywheel out to be resurfaced at a local machine shop. Read more