Clutch for GU Patrol

Submitted: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 10:26
ThreadID: 5135 Views:3111 Replies:5 FollowUps:7
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Does anyone have any experience with changing the clutch for a 2.8 td GU. According to the experts I may have to replace the flywheel, which is a dual mass flywheel and cannot be machined. The cost of this flywheel is $1600. I have done 100,000 kms and didnt expect to change it so soon. I have only recently bought an off road van to tow, so I will need to fit a heavy duty clutch. Can anyone recommend a Brake & Clutch specialist in Melbourne area.

Regards

John
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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:07

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:07
mate had a GU 3.0 (got that bad he traded it on a Prado!), he got 50,000klms out of his clutch towing a trailer probably 20-25% of the time, rest was Geelong to Melbourne city, and was told "...he should be happy with that"...

The flywheel, I remember him copping this too, he is in Melbourne, Im trying to get him on Yahoo Messenger at the moment to get the full story, when I get it I will post it for you.

He went with a heavy duty Dakin or Safari clutch if I remember correctly.

AnswerID: 21203

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:15

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:15
Just got onto him.

Geelong Nissan arranged it for him, YES YOU CAN HAVE IT MACHINED.
His brothers 3.0 GU Clutch went at 60,000klms too.
(just got him on MSN messenger too!)

It was a Dakin BUT John says
"its hard to find the part number for the 3.0 one as it is same dimensions as the 4.2 one"

Details are in the Patrol4wd List Archive...
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FollowupID: 13759

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:54

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:54
Steve then goes on to say
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place in Sydney and a Place in Melbourne Does it.
A NEW flywheel. $2500
Mine was machined.... then cracked 15,000km later... not sure if cracking was related to machine, or dodgy install, or just bad luck, or abuse (Q78s were WORKING HARD at the time it cracked)... Cracked one was Replaced under Warranty... not sure if flywheel was Faulty, or dealerbleeped up so they replaced...
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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FollowupID: 13769

Follow Up By: desert - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 18:35

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 18:35
Truckster, I wasn't having a go at you, just trying to get across the inadequency of the Nissan 2.8 and it's short comings, to johnad. It seems that this topical subject of towing and it's relationship with small engined 4x4's doesn't seem to get the message across to people who insist on pushing the envelope, so to speak. I guess, to put it bluntly, nobody likes to admit they have bought a dud!
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FollowupID: 13803

Reply By: srowlandson - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:41

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 14:41
I had mine (clutch) replaced @ 55,000 (on a ZD30). Flywheel was Machined. 15,000 km later the Flywheel Cracked and was Replaced under warranty...

Not sure if it cracked due to:
1: Manufacturers Fault
2: Damaged when Machining
3: Weakened with machine
4: Giving the car HEAPS with the 36" Swampers on at the time of failure....

I didnt ask questions, as I was not expecting warranty on it , and just Smiled at the time....

but... YOU CAN have these Clutches Machined... Rex Gorrell Nissan Will have all the Info you need. Your Your Dealer to Call them, or if you want, Head down to get them to do it... Since they know about it...

AnswerID: 21206

Follow Up By: desert - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 15:08

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 15:08
Johnad. Of course they can be machined. How do you think they made it in the first place. Disregard all before about 3.0 litre clutch, it is not the same as the 2.8 litre. Yes you can have it machined, stronger clamping pressure and all that crap, but in the end it is simply not physically large enough to withstand the rigors of towing for any great length of time. If towing is your want in life then trade in on an auto, or better still, up date to a 4.2 litre version and save yourself the expensive and reliability problems associated with the small 2.8 clutch and gearbox.
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FollowupID: 13770

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 15:21

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 15:21
Wasnt sayin the 2.8 and 3.0 were similar... I was getting at the fact the lies from dealers it can't be machined, which as ya say it can.

Agree with the Auto thing, but then again would be nice to be rich enough to be able to chop and change like that!!! Would have got a Ferrari for the Sydney trip last week ;)~
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FollowupID: 13773

Reply By: Big John (QLD) - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 22:05

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 22:05
Johnad, You can have a new solid fly wheel machine up. We had it done on one of our 2.8TD's and it worked well. I am not sure of the exact details, though I will ring my mechanic tomorrow and leave another reply tomorrow night.. We were told the same as you, but my mechanic had hear of this system which worked out a lot cheaper.

regards John.
AnswerID: 21238

Follow Up By: Big John (QLD) - Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 15:34

Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 15:34
John, The people to ring regarding the new solid fly wheel is Nick's Clutch service Ph. 07 32779403. They could machine you a new fly wheel and send it to you and you have your own mechanic fit it. This way you will save $1000.00 and when you need to replace your clutch next time you will only have to buy a kit. My mechanic said that the new fly wheel was one of the best pieces of workmanship he had seen. If you want to talk to my machanic, (whom you will find very helpful) give Gary at Nudgee Automotives a call on 07 32665344 and tell him that John from AJC said to give him a call.

Hope this is of some help

Regards John.
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FollowupID: 13866

Reply By: Andrew - Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 22:08

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at 22:08
Just as a matter of interest, at what Km's are people having to change clutches in 4.2TD Gu's.

Plenty of negativity about the 3.0lt. I thought the gear boxes and therefore clutches were the same in both.

Is it just me or are those replacing cluthes at 50 - 60,000km giving them a hard time.

cheers crew
AnswerID: 21239

Follow Up By: Geoff - Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 12:42

Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 12:42
My Series 1 4.2td clutch started slipping at 56,000 k's.
Absolutely NO abuse. Treated like a baby.
No sign of wear or ill-treatment, so Nissan replaced it under warranty. I got them to put in a Daikin H/D unit. (No faith in the stocker)
As well as cases like mine, I've also heard reports of people getting plenty of life out of them.

Cheers
Geoff
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FollowupID: 13861

Reply By: Member - Michael - Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 03:06

Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at 03:06
The Dual Mass flywheel is not meant to be machined.Like undersized disc rotors there are a few places that will machine them.But that does not make it right.They have springs similar to a clutch plate and after doing 80,000 to 100,00kms who knows how to measure the wear on these springs.I deal with probably the biggest Clutch remanufacturer in Australia and they have no real way of testing a clutch plate to see if the springs have any load resistance on them, so how do you test a dual mass flywheel please let me know i will pass on the information.I am a part owner very large and very reputable brake and clutch workshop.Lots of late model vehicles have this very questionable design flywheel Eg late model commodores hilux dsl and nissans.Like the MQ with the L28,The GQ with the RB30 and the RD28T the on to GU with the RD28T also then the ZD30 they have a place but not in front of a van or boat.Its best left to the bigger motor with the bigger drive train thats designed for that.Would you have bought a 4 cylinder commodore to tow your caravan with no you would have bought it for the 42 miles to the gallon advertised on tv.I am sure i will get a lot of people saying there Vehicle will tow the Queen Mary on a tandem trailer but it was not designed for that and after repeated use will fail.I deal with a lot off dealerships and have written more then a few warranty reports for them.Most of the manufacturers will repair them under warranty to escape the backlash.Remember apples for apples.Gotta get out there. Debbie and Mike
AnswerID: 21258

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