Dual Mass flywheels...

[elpeede]

Smokin... my clutch was after reversing the caravan up the drive.. despite selecting low box as well.

I know.. those not in the know will be thinking don't ride the clutch..blah blah blah.. I don't! My 110 pushes the caravan up the same drive no sweat and its 21 years young.

The issue after a bit of reading appears to be the dual mass flywheel.. fitted to many modern cars to reduce vibration. The knock on is the clutch is after only a little reading unfit for purpose in a car supposedly designed to be a workhorse.

The solution it appears is to get a solid flywheel fitted and new clutch. The downside may be vibration at idle. Dealers quotes seem to be doing this at around £1500 (2011) ... and have been replacing R51 pathfinder clutches with solid mass flywheels under warantee if you still have one for cars that the owners tow with. Pretty much acknowedging that the clutch system is not fit for purpose.

Very disappointing, but a heads up for all.. anything it appears with a dual mass flywheel is equally likely to fall victim of this design flaw.

 

[cncfabs]

Smokin... my clutch was after reversing the caravan up the drive.. despite selecting low box as well.

I know.. those not in the know will be thinking don't ride the clutch..blah blah blah.. I don't! My 110 pushes the caravan up the same drive no sweat and its 21 years young.

The issue after a bit of reading appears to be the dual mass flywheel.. fitted to many modern cars to reduce vibration. The knock on is the clutch is after only a little reading unfit for purpose in a car supposedly designed to be a workhorse.

The solution it appears is to get a solid flywheel fitted and new clutch. The downside may be vibration at idle. Dealers quotes seem to be doing this at around £1500 (2011) ... and have been replacing R51 pathfinder clutches with solid mass flywheels under warantee if you still have one for cars that the owners tow with. Pretty much acknowedging that the clutch system is not fit for purpose.

Very disappointing, but a heads up for all.. anything it appears with a dual mass flywheel is equally likely to fall victim of this design flaw.

I belive the dual mass flywheel is to reduce vibration so the gearbox can be made cheaper if you put solid flyweel on you will prob end up destroying the gearbox over time

 

[elpeede]

I don't think that will be an issue .. at least for as long as I plan on keeping the car.

 

[lacroupade]

Honest John is always harping on about dual mass flywheels and their tendency to fail.....have a look at his website.

 

[elpeede]

Indeed.. makes for grim reading which is why I'm bitter not toward Nissan but to the buffon who invented dual mass flywheels then applied them to a workhorse of a 4x4.

Does make me very frustrated indeed.. the conversion kit I did find is £443 and realistically it would be engine out.. along with a air con regass and what ever other costs I can't think of right now for DIY.

£1500 seems to be the figure most oft quoted for main agent to sort it who would undoubtedly drop the box with workshop facilities to make the job simpler.

Apparently the vibration will be more "truck like".. I can cope with that as I'm used to Landrovers.. but yet another big bill on the horizon

 

[elpeede]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f2uX3L9PdY

Ok the link isn't a Nissan, but it explains pretty well how the DMF works and shows a Solid flywheel being used as a replacement. The Torsion damper moves effectively from the flywheel on the DMF to the clutch plate on the Solid mass arrangement. I'm going to have to get my hands on a workshop manual as I may be getting my hands dirty yet :naughty

 

[4wheel]

I had the same problem on a Golf which the previous owner had used to tow a horse box.Initially I thought it was an idle problem but then realised what it was.They are useless if you are going to do heavy towing and if left too long may disintergrate and destroy the gearbox anyway.Lightweight solid flywheel may be a solution :nenau

 

[Sedger]

Dual mass

.. had the same issues with my Rav4 at 134,000 miles. Unfortunately couldn't get orthodox replacement.......

 

[Dynamics]

EGR valves, dual mass flywheels... Reminds me of that old saying... KISS (Keep it simple stupid)

 

[Sparks61]

Agree about those Dual Mass Flywheels. Back in the UK I had a 2007 Outlander (new style). After 15000 ish I had a noise like release bearing going on changing gear up a hill. In to dealer - "ahhh yes sir - know issue" . Replace the DMF with a fixed one on warranty......

 

[ivan dinsmore]

I had this very problem on my '03 Patrol GR SVE. The mechanic I took it to sourced a place close (40 miles from here) who replace your broken DMF with one that has been previously broken then welded solid and repaired. This along with a new clutch cost me in the region of £750-850... And still going strong. Recently when towing a commercial car transporter to bring my '76 MK2 Escort home I was reversing and smelt what I thought was clutch burn. Found out after it was the Diff. So, still no probs with the DMF replacement. :clap