Looking for opinions.

I've owned my 6MT Sedan for over two years, and currently have 19,000 miles on the car. Within the first year, I replaced the clutch pedal assist spring with the lightweight spring here from JSolo, and naturally the clutch pedal was a little more resistant, but just a bit. (Much better feel, IMO.)

A few weeks ago, the clutch master slave cylinder blew out in a parking lot, and the clutch pedal just dumped to the floor, useless. It got repaired and replaced under warranty (with OEM parts), and I have the car back today. However, I swear it feels like my clutch pedal has less resistance than it used to. It feels too easy to engage.

Here's my question: could the clutch slave cylinder have been failing slowly over time, so that the hydraulic assist was being applied with increasingly less efficiency? Because now that I've a brand new one, the clutch pedal is more like most every other hydraulic-assisted clutch in the last 20 years. (weak )

Or could the new clutch fluid be making all the difference?

Either way, it feels different. How come?

 

Hydraulic assist? Please explain. Hydraulic fluid is what couples the master cylinder to the slave. There is no assist. What part got replaced exactly, the master (engine firewall), or slave (tranny got dropped) cylinder?

By less resistance you mean it takes less effort to depress to the pedal? Mostly the resistance is a function of the pressure plate. Unless they changed that, it should feel the same.

Also possible there may be some air in the line. Does the pedal get hard at the same point as it did before? Mine starts to get hard about 3/4" or so after depression.

Possible the old slave was binding in the travel too.

Frankly, if this was my car, I'd make sure the master was properly adjusted. With the pedal at the top, there should be some play in it before any movement in the master push rod. You'll have to get a flash light and take a good look. This ensures the clutch is fully engaged.

 

Well, the non-mechanic in me assumed that a hydraulic clutch meant there was a system that made it easier to engage the clutch. Not so? Sorry man, there are still many things in which I just turn the key and drive the car.

The clutch slave cylinder. They had to drop the transmission to do the repair, but not actually drain the gear oil or anything. I guess to get at the CSC, the transmission needs to come down.

Yep. It's real easy now, which surprised me. I rather liked the heavy clutch pedal.

No, just the CSC.

Yeah. I'm sensitive to the whole thing, hence the thread and the questions. Thanks for weighing in, man. If I continue to feel this way in another week or so, that something is not quite right, I'm going to discuss it with the INFINITI shop.

 

Unless there's air in the line, sounds like the old one was binding up possibly. How far from the top does the pedal get firm?

 

The engagement seems the same, just the weight of the pedal that's changed.

 

Maybe they put the stock spring back in?

 

Jsolo, would you care to explain what may have been binding previously?

Ignoring binding, I suspect that there may be some air in the system still. This is based on Rochester's description that the pedal feels lighter. Rather than pushing the pedal and facing resistance only from actuating the pressure plate, he may be compressing the air bubbles and actuating the pressure plate (i.e. two springs (air & the pressure plate) in series effectively reduces resistance).

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Rochester....

I had 2012 G37 Sedan in MW JUST like yours...

My first failure of the CSC occurred at 8,000 miles. Then again at 11,000 miles. Both times they replaced the fluid and sent me on my way. It finally failed one last time... (this time for GOOD) and I still to this day dont know how I made it to the dealer.

Anyways, THIS time...they actually listened to me for ONCE and they replaced my CSC.

I got the car back and I was like wow. It made me truly realize the CSC was defective from DAY ONE.

Clutch action was for sure lighter, but so much smoother. Gone was the retarded 1st gear clutch chatter. Everything was worlds smoother. Then the car went back to lease return at 18,000 miles.

I now have a 2014 "Q60" Coupe in 6MT and this car's clutch action is even better than the Sedan. Feels like the CSC was further improved for this year but I am still gonna get Jsolo's spring, I would like a heavier clutch.

Give it time my friend, you will readjust and you all will be well in time.

If not...have Jsolo design you an even weaker spring LOL

 

It's posts like this that reaffirm my faith and value in MyG37.com. Thanks, chilibowl.

In the few days that I've gotten the car back, and the very few times I've driven it, I've been keenly aware of my thoughts on the clutch. And I swear it's becoming more of a non-issue every day. Meaning, the new normal is becoming normal very rapidly. Like you, I suspect I had a bad CSC from Day One, and didn't know the difference, even though I've driven a few other 6MT G's, it just never seemed different enough to notice unless it was my car.

Granted, I've barely driven it... going in for a long awaited alignment tomorrow, which kept getting postponed, first for new new Springs, then for a new Tie-Rod End. After tomorrow morning's alignment, I'll be sure to be driving it much more. Well... assuming the alignment is reasonable.

Thanks again, chilibowl.

 

This is what this forum is about brother, to share experiences.

I am positive once you get your car back in full alignment and the entire car is 100% in perfect spec, you will enjoy your car that much more.

I must tell you, that Nissan has come a LONG way since the first G35 Coupe and 350Z.

I drove my buddies 03 350Z 11 years ago, and my god was that clutch pedal horrendous, and the transmission was the notchiest, crunchiest, loudest and most unrefined gearbox in the world. Its no wonder people would say the Honda S2000 was an absolute dream to drive...because it really was, in comparison to that first crap batch of 350Z's.

My 06 G35 coupe was worlds better, with the clutch much improved, but still need some more polishing.

I gotta say, this '14 Coupe is by far the most refined Ive seen from Nissan.

Now, its no longer the transmission thats poor, nor the clutch disc or flywheel, the weakest link is the hydraulics, but this last batch of 6MT's are by far the best Ive seen.

I think coupled with the RJM clutch pedal assembly and Jsolo's spring, you would have the most absolute solid setup. Its a shame we have to modify the car in order to makeup for Nissan's shortcomings.

Regardless, I have adapted to this car and I drive it smoothly every single day....some of my buddies have ridden in my car and are thoroughly impressed with how smoothly I shift..... Then again, I did write the ORIGINAL "How to drive a 6MT" thread on G35driver.com :-D

At the end of the day, Nissan built extremely solid cars with the G series...they are strong and stout and very reliable. They are not "THE BEST" at any one specific thing, but g*ddamn are they well rounded cars.

 

I thought about this too, but air in the system usually manifests itself as practically no effort to compress, not lighter pedal. I'm sticking with my binding theory If the original slave wasn't moving smoothly in the stroke that may increase the pedal effort.

What they need to do is do away with the dual mass flywheel and over sprung clutch. Might be a louder gear box but far improved feedback.

 

My clutch pedal dropped to the floor today and wouldn't come back up for a while. After about 15 minutes it was back.
I went home and replaced the DOT3 with DOT4 as per ITB13-005a. I took the car back out for 45 minutes of normal driving. It felt normal at first but as I got close to home it started feeling slushy. When I pulled into my garage I repped the clutch hard about 20 times, quickly, and it's dead again.

This actually occurred more than a year and a half ago.

Time to go to the dealer.
I hope they take my advice and replace the CSC. My dealer has always been great at taking care of things for me, without hassle. I hope it continues.
I'll show them this thread and this video I made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dV3...ature=youtu.be

 

Are you talking about Guelph Infiniti? If so, they have experience with this!

I had my car towed there when my CSC failed. I think it took them a day or two to conclude that both the CSC and master needed to be replaced. They were okay with me supplying parts and installed a new OEM master cylinder, ZSpeed HD CSC, Southbend flywheel and clutch.

If they do end up replacing the slave, make sure they recommend and cover a a new master cylinder under warranty.

 

Yes, Guelph.
Thanks for the info about your repairs there.
I'm driving mine there today. Hopefully it makes it without clutch failure.

 

Seems like we are either having CSC or 5th gear issues. I haven't had any CSC issues but my 5 gear is notchy as hell