Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Thank You Frans.

You're welcome G-man

It certainly helps to shop around! Nissan quoted me approx R8000 for the clutch replacement whereas I had the same job performed at Triangle Brake Services Stellenbosch (021-8833028 - Kenny) for a little bit more than half Nissan's quotation. They used a Valeo replacement kit and the cost breakdown (excl VAT) was as follows:
New clutch kit - R 2100; Flywheel machining - R325; Labour - R 1500; Pilot shaft bush - R 75; Workshop consumables - R29; Friendly staff - R 0.
The Patrol 4.5 GRX is now pulling better than ever before and changing of the gears (normal road use and 4x4) is as smooth as can be.

Jys reg Fraans eier het myne ook gedoen met n kit van 1st motion in stikland en wat n lekker set en alles vir onder R2500

The time has come to replace Imvubu's clutch (at 242500 km). The clutch recently started to slip when accelerating hard through the gears and sometimes even when putting your foot down in 4th gear. I decided to attend to the clutch before doing damage to the flywheel and definitely before the 3 Provinces Patrol 60th Birthday bash.

Firstly, I found out that there is a lot of confusion in the aftermarket spares business in terms of which clutch is the correct one to use. Both the local Spares Shop and Midas use computerised spares cross-reference systems that indicated the Valeo NS21 kit to be the one for the 4.5 Patrol. Unfortunately this is wrong; the NS21 kit uses a friction plate that is only 250 mm in diameter, whereas the correct friction plate for the Patrol is 275 mm in diameter.

Some more searching then turned up the Valeo NS20 kit, which is indicated to be used on the 3.0 Diesel, 4.2 petrol and 4.5 petrol Patrols. I bought this kit (R2200 from Midas) and the box it came in had what seems like a LUK clutch kit part number (V222MK) hand written on it in addition to the Valeo number. Everything looked promising, but unfortunately the pressure plate on this kit is only provided with two instead of four dowel holes where it attaches to the flywheel . The problem is that we only found that out once my Patrol was in pieces.

While everything is removed I am having the rear main oil seal and front gearbox shaft oil seal replaced (and the pilot bearing as well, of course).

I have now returned the Valeo NS20 kit and decided to bite the bullet and order the friction plate, pressure plate and release bearing from Nissan. I suppose it would have been possible to re-engineer the Valeo pressure plate by adding two dowel holes, but I was a little hesitant to go that route. Now the only problem is that the friction plate is not available in SA and has been placed on back order for me . The expected time of arrival is about two weeks from now, which is horribly close to the 3 Provinces weekend . Please pray with me that the bits get here in time .

Ons hou duim vas

Gerrit ek hou al my duime vas.

Did you manage to get a refund on the Valeo clutch? If not, I would have a couple of holes drilled, just in case.

Also, I have found that there are a number of different Nissan franchise holders around (IC, McCarthy etc.), and they don't seem to talk to each other? Perhaps it's worth some phone time?

Voorspoed.

Peter Connan wrote:Did you manage to get a refund on the Valeo clutch?

Yes, Midas refunded me my money with no questions asked.

Peter Connan wrote:Also, I have found that there are a number of different Nissan franchise holders around (IC, McCarthy etc.), and they don't seem to talk to each other? Perhaps it's worth some phone time?

Good point. I will give that a bash.

Chuck Norris received a new clutch a few weeks ago and I also ended up with the OEM Nissan part. The bloke who did the work refused to use anything but the genuine Nissan bits due to the aftermarket issues you just mentioned.

It arrived a few days earlier than Nissan's P & A guys promised and works like a charm...

Hello Gerrit

Did you get Imvubu finished?