Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) conversion

[Stefan]

Ok so at ~190k km, the clutch needs to be replaced on the Patrol. Apparently there is also problem with the dual mass flywheel.

Anyone have any experience on this?

[Russ Kellermann]

Thats not a bad innings for a clutch! jeepers.

All i know is the ZD30 has the duel mass flywheel. Nothing wrong with it at all.Stefan, as much as it pains me to say this, the genuine Nissan item is the best clutch for the patrol, others are good, and come close, but not as good as the nissan as far i've iv'e read (here and Auz). just look at the service your current one gave you.

[Stefan]

Is the Dual Mass Flywheel part of the clutch?

[Gerrit Loubser]

No Stefan, the dual mass flywheel is mounted to the end of the crankshaft just like a solid flywheel. The dual mass flywheel is like two separate flywheels, one inside the other. The two are attached to one another via a system of springs or even gears in some cases. They are employed in order to tune the driveline spring-mass system to reduce the amplitude of torsional vibrations and hence to improve refinement.

Due to the job that they do, the springs in dual mass flywheels are prone to fatigue failure. When this happens, the two separate flywheels can knock against each other and this leads to noises in the driveline that were not there originally. They are unfortunately not cheap at all to replace (much more expensive than solid flywheels). It is also quite difficult (sometimes impossible) to skim dual mass flywheels; the two halves both have to be held securely for machining and then one must ensure that all the machining swarf is removed from the system.

I am aware of solid flywheel replacement kits that are sold for the Patrol in Aussie, but I am not sure about locally. Perhaps someone will be able to make up a solid flywheel locally? It might also me possible to weld the parts of a dual mass flywheel together to make it solid, but this is getting deep into Heath Robinson territory .

[Herrie]

Maybe someone that have already replaced their 3.0D will have one for you!

[tour de frans]

Stefan
Ek weet van n 3l wat n v8 kry.Die 3l het gegroet en is n handrat,ek sal jou laat weet.
Groete

[Stefan]

Thanks all,

The Patrol is with Gregory and Allen at ANG Service Centre in Killarney Gardens. Had a call from Gregory this morning and the following has failed: (It took 5 guys to remove the gearbox! )

> The Clutch (Nissan: ZAR 4,817 Ex VAT)
> The Dual Mass flywheel (Nissan: ZAR 14,100 Ex VAT)
> The adapter plate to the gearbox (Part number unknown)

Dean at Masterparts referred me to a chap by the name of Michael who can manufacture a single-mass flywheel - anyone have any ideas how this will affect the vehicle?

[Russ Kellermann]

Stefan, i hope you get sorted with that flywheel. Perhaps talk to the guys on the Patrol.com site to see if they've done it before , and how. keep us updated, we gotta get you back in the saddle before Atlantis!!!

[Peter Connan]

Stefan try Alex Roux?

His 3l hand-grenaded recently and I beleive he is currently fitting a Lexus V8? Perhaps you can get the adaptor plate and flywheel from him?

[Stefan]

Will do, Just got a call from Michael and he can fit a solid (single mass?) flywheel for a quarter of the price of a DMF.

The problem with a 2nd hand DMF is 2fold:
1. The unit only exists within a manual transmission
2. They fail due to metal fatigue so any DMF with higher milage may be suspect