Flywheel/ Throw-out barring "chatter"....
 

So I know we have a decent amount of transmission noise. I also know our light weight flywheel by nature is anything but quiet, and that you can expect the throw-out barring to making some "spinning chatter" (as another forum member put it)...

Here is my issue. The OCD in me, when I'm sitting at a light listening to the decently noisie sounds, can't help but think something is wrong.

Of course I understand that out cars have little to no sound dampening, and it really is a joy to hear everything the car is doing... I'm fine with all that, so long as everything I am hearing is good.

I guess what I'm getting at is: Should I just expect this much noise when the car is in nuetral, clutch pedal not depressed (most noises go away whe it is depressed)? Additionally, is the transmission "whine" in first gear - healthy and normal? (When winding out first gear, the trans just sounds likes it whining, even more so if you depress the clutch and slowly go to second or are in the process of putting it back into neutral. Once in neutral or second, the noise calms down and is gone)

Sorry for being such a baby, I just want to get the transmission looked at if any of this sounds a little too abnormal. Hope most of this makes sense.

The noises you are getting in neutral are 100% normal on the stock clutch however that is gone with my RSP setup. So if it is that big of a deal for you going with an aftermarket clutch will solve the problem. As for the whine in first gear? Not really sure, our trannys are noisy however your seem to be describing something worse. Maybe someone else can help with that issue.

Thanks for the info.

Yea there is a decently loud whine when (mainly) coming out of first to neutral at speed (once in neutral it's gone, but if I'm say at 10mpg in first - then depress the clutch - it's really noisy - like a loud whine ... Then going to neutral stops it). It can very lightly be heard traveling through the rev range in first.

What clutch did you upgrade too exactly?

Other then the over all "chatter" going away - how else did it change things?

Thanks again.

If you are talking about the chatter/clunking sound when depressing the clutch traveling slow under light load, this is normal. However i cannot recall ever having a whining noise. I personally am running a RSP clutch that I got from Specialty Z. I cant say enough about it. Has an almost stock like feel, but a MUCH better engagement. You also, like I said get rid of the whine and clunking. Sebastian (from specialty Z was very helpful I highly recommend you give him a call if you do tell him Blake from Fast Intentions sent you.

I am going to do that. What's the best way to get in touch?

he is on the forums as sebz and here is his shop # (818) 703-6272. Like I said the pedal feel is hardly stiffer than stock (if any) and really engages nice which makes the car more fun to drive as well! As far as I know most aftermarket clutches have a much stiffer pedal feel to get this nice quick engagement (which most drivers prefer in a sports car) I would have to say that is my favorite thing about the clutch. It also can hold up to 600whp or so I believe just incase the mod bug bites you! :tup:

Hey man. Thanks a lot. Hopefully - I can start to figure this 1st gear whine now.

Try to post up a video. Can you hear it with the windows up?

Trust me, our flywheels are anything BUT light weight, lol. They are a hefty 32lbs.

I got a Southbend stage 2 clutch and a 22lb flywheel that I bought from ZSpeed Performance. It feels just like stock, with just a tad bit more flywheel chatter when you are in neutral. But when you get on the gas, you can really feel the weight differences in the flywheel, the car just revs out so much quicker now.

Just remember, if you upgrade your clutch, upgrade the clutch slave cylinder as well.

The issue you describe with both the whine in first gear and the grindy/ mechanical noises in neutral are two things my Nismo was in the Nissan dealership for on Monday. I drove around with the tech + had the car on a lift and listened to the noise. He stated it was completely normal for these cars and put a brand new 2013 on the lift to compare. It is what it is apparently and although it stirs my OCD and makes me whiny it's normal.

So basically the brand new car made all the sounds too. Okay, now I am starting to really calm down. Damn you OCD.

Trust me, I too was not pleased with my 6K mile Z making the noises either! The tech looked at me like I was crazy for noticing the noises and/or caring! Yes the new Z made the same noises in neutral.

Honestly mine whines as well. The tech checked the fluid level and it was okay. It drives fine and is under warranty so when it blows up I guess I will just replace my thought of "because it's not right" with " because it has a supercharger" ; )

+ Rep ^^ Thanks for sharing that info. I feel alot better. :tiphat:

I'm still not understanding you guys when you say your hearing a whining noise. Clutch chatter in neutral and the 1st to 2nd clunk sound is normal and common on our Z's... But this is the first time I've heard about whining noise...

Not sure how else to explain it other than in first gear, I get a subtle mechanical whine from the transmission with quick acceleration. It sounds like straight gear dogbox race gearboxes as opposed to having the modern gear tooth profiles. The tech I had look at it said it was normal and this isn't the only vehicle I have had with this style gearbox that whines.

edit* and by this style gearbox I mean inline and under car, not transverse under hood. I realize the gearbox does not have straight cut gears ;)

I'm going to try and shoot a video when I can just for reference sake, but here is the best description I have.

When in first gear - If you steadily increase speed (rolling speed, not just engine speed - ie not just RPMs at a stand still), you can hear a subtle "whine". This is greatly augmented if you depress the clutch and leave 1st gear engaged while the car is still in motion.

Often when I experience this I am in first gear + accelerating and for some reason (usually traffic), need to return to neutral. I depress the clutch. In that instance, before I remove the car from 1st gear and return it to neutral - a "run-run-run-run-runnnn" in a whining fashion is herd....... That's my best attempt at describing what I hear.

Its isn't crazy loud, and you can't here it with the windows down or decent music playing BUT its there.

I second this.

I have a 09 Nismo with 40,000 miles, i have the whine, the chatter and the clunk. You can really hear the whine when you are rolling around in 1st gear, going up and down the revs. When im sitting at a stoplight, whether the clutch it in or not, i get tons of chatter, audible over the exhaust. I can make the chatter louder by giving it a slight rev to 2,000 rpm. Sounds like something is broken, my dad asked if the car was ok. But after seeing threads like this i guess its just Nismo noise.

The chatter and the heavy flywheel are def my least fav thing about the Nismo, def thinking about a lightweight flywheel

I have a 09 and mine wines in first and makes noise in neutral also. Glad its normal.

I've herd Lightwiegt flywheels are noiser...

my g35 did this too! the nismo is a bit quieter but im thinking once i put some more miles on it itll have the same noise

Granted mine does have some chatter (inevitable with a lightweight flywheel) while engaging I swear the noise in neutral is gone and I do not have the 1st gear whine.. nor did my G37 6MT

I own a 09' G37 6MT and from day one I have this noisy clutch chatter and whine in 1st/2nd gear. My buddy with an 08 G37had his clutch replaced under warranty and his doesn't make all that noise. He even asked me what's that whiney noise it sounds like you have a supercharger PSSSH I wished that were the case.

any OCD about the clutch/trannie/car ive had to let go. I now just look at it like she's talking to me. granted I treat her like a queen until shes warmed up. I went through three transmissions on my last IS300 so Im scared when new sounds come up just like yall are.

The chatter and whine is nismo language, like with whales nismos can communicate over vast distances

:iagree:

All I can say is I had a decent amount of noise when the car was in neutral when I first bought it - normal - and then when I switched to Torco oil, it got a lot louder but that is because Torco does not have all the dampening additives that most oils have. The clunk sound is definitely normal. The car is just telling you I "need to go faster". :rofl2:

Just my 2 cents worth.

Wow!! I feel better now I have a 2009 6spd and was complaining about it and there like its normal I'm like no way but I guess I was wrong learned alot today


1994 E34 530i
1996 E36 328is
2005 E46 330ci ZHP

in first gear when im driving slowly next to a wall or something similar i hear the whine.

yeah, its because 1st is such a tall gear. anyone ever drove a tractor? or a truck with high range? it makes a whine noise in 1st because its spinning like a mo fo inside even though your not moving very fast lol known as gear reduction :P theres nothing wrong with it, if it wasnt for engine noise, exhaust and all that the whine is there in EVERY GEAR at an eventual ground speed. the clunk and chatter I just ignore, its happened with all 3 370s ive owned and nothing ever broke.

Yeah I learn to ignore it/make fun of all the fun sounds that come from the clutch. I learned from 3 different 350s and 1 370Z that you get a noisy tranny. I like to sit at the drive-thru while I'm waiting for my food and listen as I clutch in to neutral and then out. My buddy gives me so much sh*t for it.

had same issue with my '10 Nismo. before my 3/36k warranty expired, the dealership replaced my flywheel assembly and problem fixed(part #12310-EY00A).....1st and 2nd gear was real noisy and after the new install, the shifting is much smoother and no more clutch noise. the only problem was air in the clutch pedal that was resolved the same day.