2.8 GU clutch...don't try this at home folks!

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 21:02

ThreadID: 13731 Views:4222 Replies:7 FollowUps:7

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Nino & Kerry (VIC)

G'day all 2.8 GU owners and fellow forumites,
I've had a bad weekend. Spent two days flat on my back under the mighty GU just trying to save a few bucks!
Let me explain. When we bought the beast it developed a vibration at about 1500 rpm. I traced this problem (with the help of my local dealer and this great forum), to the duel mass flywheel. Nissan quoted $1300.00 for a new unit + fitting. Stuff that I thought, and tracked a FW down at a nissan wrecker in S.A for $130.00 + freight from a right off with 60,000 km on the clock. I took a gamble and got it, with the intention of replacing it when the clutch went, as it was too cheap to miss a bargain. Anyway ... the thrust bearing finally gave up the ghost, so it was about time to replace the clutch. Again I went down to my local Nissan dealer and priced up a clutch - and was quoted $890. Saying to myself 'stuff that' again, and being a cheap bastard, there was no way I was going to take it to a dealer.
So I did a search on this site, and have seen that quite a few people have recommended a Daikin clutch, so I rang around a few parts places, and managed to get a clutch kit for $230 - Bargain! So armed with my trusty manuals, both gregory's for the GQ and the GU, I set about removing the gear box in the garage.
Should anybody want to do this at home, I found it much better to split the transfer box from the gear box, and remove it in two sections. The job itself wasn't too bad and could be done by most people at home, with a little bit more than the basic tools. While I was there, I took the opportunity of regreasing the starter motor, and anything else that looked like it hadn't been done for a while, and rebuilt it up. Anyway, once I'd finished the job, I road tested it, and found that not only the vibration at 1500 had gone, but the car's driving like brand new again. Just want to say thanks to everybody that's posted anything about the 2.8 GU clutches, flywheels and the like, as you've all been a source of valuable information.
In case anybody's interested, the clutch kit part number from Daikin (EXEDY) is NSK-6794. As a side note, the flywheel fitted to the car has got EXEDY stamped into it, and I'm suspecting that the EXEDY Dakin clutch is probably a genuine unit direct from the manufacturer, rather than Nissan.
Thanks again to all, glad to be off my back!
Nino

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Reply By: Gajm (VIC) - Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 21:10

Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 21:10

Well done Nino....sounds like with the money you saved Kerry should let you get the locker youve been wanting (previous post). I read your post title and thought this was going to be a horror story. Glad to see you actualy got it all sorted, and won one for our side. I'll remember to ask you a few ?? if I have to replace mine at some stage...GQ tho

AnswerID: 63023

Follow Up By: Leroy - Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 21:48

Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 21:48

"I read your post title and thought this was going to be a horror story"

Same here! Good work though. The gearboxes in the 2.8's must be a little smaller than the 4.2 as I didn't envy changing the clutch on the 4.2!

Leroy

FollowupID: 324358

Follow Up By: Nino & Kerry (VIC) - Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 22:42

Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 22:42

Hi all,
Fat chance of a locker. I've been told not til the credit card is a little more healthy looking.
And with regards to the weight of the box, it's not too bad once it's split. It balanced quite well on the jack. Just had to get my lad to be the "Jack man" and it slid in OK.
I think a 4.2 box would be bad enough in a workshop let alone at home!
Now kerry has gone and not hovering behind me i can tell you i hope to have a locker by christmas,but don't tell her i said.

Cheers Nino

P.S if you do do this guys, change the rear main seal as well.
A lot of work to find it leaks in a few hundred km's

FollowupID: 324370

Reply By: Member - Bob L - Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 22:55

Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 22:55

Nino,
Thanks for the info. How many km's did you get out of the clutch, My GU was new Feb 2000 now hitting 60k.

Cheers
Bob L

AnswerID: 63035

Follow Up By: Nino & Kerry (VIC) - Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 23:02

Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 23:02

Bob,
we bought ours at 105,000 kms and now it has 195,494 to be exact ... but obviously don't know if it was changed before 105,000. So I think you've got a few to go before catching up ... we live in the country and as such, get quite a few clicks up, but mostly highway driving between towns.
Cheers,
Nino

FollowupID: 324371

Reply By: Bilbo - Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 23:12

Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 at 23:12

Clutch on an '83 Patrol with an SD33 and 4 speed box, went 220,000 kms. When new clutch was put in, the rivets were just kissing the flywheel. Phew - got my money's worth out of that.

Clutch on my 1989 Maverick ute, TD42 with a 5 speed box has 225,000 kms on it and still feels OK. Less gear changes and a tad more torque??

I DEFINITELY would not like to be taking a gearbox out of a GQ Maverick/Patrol. That mother scares me! I've seen smaller boxes in Scanias! Make a Yota box look puny!! I own both types - Yota and Nissan

Bilbo

AnswerID: 63039

Follow Up By: David N. - Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 10:04

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 10:04

Yeh,
My '90 Maverick TD 42 (similar kays to yours) still on original clutch and it still feels like new...touch wood.
Cheers

FollowupID: 324403

Reply By: rolande- Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 13:24

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 13:24

Nino,
Add up the savings. I was quoted $1100 -$1200 by a mechanic, (not dealer), when I thought there was a leak in the rear main, said to add about $100 to do the clutch as well. Turned out to be a $120 job replacing the tappet cover rubber seal.
Paid to get a second opinion. Guess who gets my work now.
Rolande

AnswerID: 63079

Reply By: Paul - Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 17:24

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 17:24

I had an oil leak in my 2000 patrol (fix under warrany) but it was one of those leaks where the gearbox and sumps had to come off.

Whilst the gearbox was off Nissan told me the cluch was near dead and I should get it replaced $900 parts only........

How I would of loved to of said ......let is sit there until I source some parts at a real price !!!

Paul

AnswerID: 63093

Follow Up By: Mrs Diamond - Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 17:54

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 17:54

why didnt you.
i needed to get our patrol towed to a nissan dealer earlier this year.
nissan part was nearly $300.they had none in stock any way.
i told them il find one from the wreckers.
no problem they said you can use the waiting room while you wait.
cant remember what the dealer was called but it was in cabulture.
great place they even rang around to find a second hand part.

FollowupID: 324436

Reply By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 18:05

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 18:05

Nino - how useful do you find the Gregorys manuals? I take it you use the GO for the 2.8td engine and the GU 3.0ltr one for the GU body, running gear etc?
Regards
Pete

AnswerID: 63105

Follow Up By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 18:25

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 18:25

ooops that should be GQ (I know they GO but....)

FollowupID: 324443

Follow Up By: Nino & Kerry (VIC) - Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 20:29

Monday, Jun 14, 2004 at 20:29

G'day Pete,
I use both Gregory's manuals, no. 512 & 519 exactly as you say, however I have found a few discrepancies. The biggest one being when I had a problem with my glow plugs, neither of the two vehicles have the same sort of system that is fitted to the GU 2.8. But otherwise, I just use the engine section from the GQ and of course the body work and running gear from the GU, and so far I've had no problems. It's a bit of a pity that they don't do one manual for that model, as it's a pain in the arse to have spent about $60 for two manuals, and still not get the full information on the one model. But with all the problems they've had with the 3 litres, who's laughing now owning a 2.8 ...
Cheers
Nino

FollowupID: 324468

Reply By: cokeaddict - Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 at 00:03

Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 at 00:03

I did clutch on my old GQ 4.2 diesel. I will NEVER do one again, let the grease monkeys have it i say. I dont care what they charge. Its one job i dont wish on anyone.

AnswerID: 63179