clutch chatter; 2013 G37
clutch chatter; 2013 G37
My car is a 2013 G37 6MT. Bought it March 1 this year, at which point it had about 200 miles' worth of test drives on it. Now I've got close to 6000 miles.
The car seems to be developing some clutch chatter. Just so we're all on the same page, "chatter" here means that the car accelerates unevenly during the initial clutch engagement from a standing start in first gear. Everything's fine once the clutch is fully engaged.
I don't think it's been like this for the entire past eight months; it seems to be worse lately. Is this a normal thing for the G37, or have I got a developing problem that I should eventually discuss with my dealer?
Regarding clutch health:
I'm generally very gentle with the clutch. My last car was a 2003 Maxima, which I sold this spring with 110,000 miles, still on its first clutch with no signs of slippage. Frankly, I'm crappy at sport launches because my muscle-memory is so strongly tuned for gentle, low-RPM engagements. The only thing I can think of that might have potentially damaged the clutch components on the G37 was a couple of times on the highway when I was attempting to downshift from 5th to 4th: I matched revs for 4th gear but then accidentally went to 6th instead before rapidly releasing the clutch (I blame the weak centering spring on the shifter). As you might expect, this dragged the engine RPM's down pretty much instantly, with virtually all of that energy being dissipated in the clutch. As far as clutch heating is concerned, I'm not sure how that compares with an aggressive sport-launch from a standing start.
The car seems to be developing some clutch chatter. Just so we're all on the same page, "chatter" here means that the car accelerates unevenly during the initial clutch engagement from a standing start in first gear. Everything's fine once the clutch is fully engaged.
I don't think it's been like this for the entire past eight months; it seems to be worse lately. Is this a normal thing for the G37, or have I got a developing problem that I should eventually discuss with my dealer?
Regarding clutch health:
I'm generally very gentle with the clutch. My last car was a 2003 Maxima, which I sold this spring with 110,000 miles, still on its first clutch with no signs of slippage. Frankly, I'm crappy at sport launches because my muscle-memory is so strongly tuned for gentle, low-RPM engagements. The only thing I can think of that might have potentially damaged the clutch components on the G37 was a couple of times on the highway when I was attempting to downshift from 5th to 4th: I matched revs for 4th gear but then accidentally went to 6th instead before rapidly releasing the clutch (I blame the weak centering spring on the shifter). As you might expect, this dragged the engine RPM's down pretty much instantly, with virtually all of that energy being dissipated in the clutch. As far as clutch heating is concerned, I'm not sure how that compares with an aggressive sport-launch from a standing start.
Registered Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 14
From: Northern Colorado, USA
The RJM clutch pedal helped me by getting the release point closer to the floor with a longer engagement span. Still not a great clutch feel, but better than stock. It's about $250 and not too hard to install.
It won't stop true clutch chattering, though. But it makes the car easier to drive smoothly.
It won't stop true clutch chattering, though. But it makes the car easier to drive smoothly.
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