Competition Clutch 1990-1996 Nissan 300Z Stage 2 - Steelback Brass Plus Clutch Kit

Shopping for a clutch for a 1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX that has started to slip in the upper gears, smells hot after a spirited drive, or simply has 100,000-plus miles on the original disc? The Competition Clutch 6045-2100 Stage 2 kit is built for the non-turbo Z32 with the VG30DE and five-speed, and for RB-powered Skylines that have been converted to a push-type release. It is the friendliest step in the Competition Clutch lineup for this car: more holding power than stock with a pedal and engagement you can still live with in traffic.

What the clutch kit does in a Z32 300ZX

On the 300ZX the engine's flywheel, the disc and the pressure plate form a sandwich that turns the transmission input shaft. A hydraulic master and slave cylinder push the release bearing against the pressure plate fingers to open that sandwich when you press the pedal. This kit replaces the wear side of that system: a Competition Clutch performance pressure plate with higher clamp load, a single full-face disc, a new throwout bearing, a pilot bushing and an alignment tool. A flywheel is not part of the kit.

Competition Clutch describes the 6045-2100 as a 40-50 percent gain in torque capacity over the factory clutch, while its general Stage 2 copy quotes up to 80 percent and calls the friction material Brass Plus on an alloy backing. The spec table on the 6045-2100 listing itself lists the disc as organic, full face. Either way, a full-face disc engages progressively, which is why Stage 2 is the usual pick for a street Z with intake, exhaust and tune work rather than a big-boost build.

Symptoms that point to a worn 300ZX clutch

• RPM climbs without the car speeding up in fourth or fifth when you roll into the throttle
• Engagement point creeping toward the top of the pedal as the disc thins
• Shudder pulling away from a stop, often from a glazed disc or a hot-spotted flywheel
• A whir or chirp that changes when you touch the pedal, typical of a tired throwout bearing
• Gears that grind going into first or reverse even with the pedal on the floor

How to confirm before you buy

A Z32 clutch job means dropping the transmission, so rule out the hydraulics first. A pedal that sinks, a spongy feel, or a clutch that will not fully release usually traces to the master cylinder, the slave or air in the line rather than the disc. For slip, our slipping diagnosis guide walks through a high-gear, low-rpm load test that separates a worn disc from other causes. If the complaint is shudder on takeoff, the clutch chatter guide covers oil contamination and flywheel hot spots, and shift flare vs. slip explains what true slip feels like.

Fitment

Our listing covers the 1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX. Competition Clutch lists 6045-2100 for the 1990-96 300ZX and 1989-2002 Skyline, with the note that a Skyline needs a push-style release conversion. The 6045 number is the naturally aspirated car. The factory twin-turbo 300ZX takes a separate kit, 6046-2100, so check your engine before ordering. Because many of these cars have had transmission or engine swaps, compare the old disc diameter and spline count with the new one, or send us your year, VIN and what is in the car and we will confirm. More kits and parts are in our rebuild kits section.

Install notes

• Have the flywheel resurfaced or replace it. The 12.78 lb steel flywheel for the 300ZX is the matching Competition Clutch part and is worth doing while the transmission is out.
• Fix any rear main seal or input seal leak now; oil on a fresh organic disc brings chatter back fast.
• Put only a thin film of grease on the input shaft splines. Competition Clutch warns that excess grease can damage the disc and void the warranty.
• Use the supplied alignment tool, start every pressure plate bolt by hand and tighten them evenly in a crisscross pattern.
• Bleed the slave cylinder until the pedal is firm and check the release fork and pivot for wear.
• Break-in: Competition Clutch asks you to shift as often as possible for the first 500 miles so the disc material beds into the pressure plate and flywheel. Skip launches until then.

Need more grip later? The Stage 3 segmented ceramic kit and the Stage 4 six-puck kit use the same application but bite harder.

Will 6045-2100 fit a 300ZX Twin Turbo?

No. 6045-2100 is listed for the non-turbo 1990-96 300ZX and push-style Skyline conversions. Competition Clutch sells the twin-turbo car a separate Stage 2 kit, 6046-2100.

Does the kit come with a flywheel?

No. It includes the pressure plate, one disc, throwout bearing, pilot bushing and an alignment tool. Resurface your flywheel or add the 12.78 lb steel flywheel made for the 300ZX.

How much power will a Stage 2 clutch hold in a 300ZX?

Competition Clutch quotes a 40-50 percent torque capacity gain over stock for this kit, and up to 80 percent in its general Stage 2 description. It is meant for bolt-on and mildly modified cars, not high-boost builds.

Is the pedal heavier than stock?

Slightly. Competition Clutch describes the Stage 2 pedal as a little firmer than stock while keeping smooth, street-friendly engagement.

What should I replace with the clutch?

Resurface or replace the flywheel, replace a leaking rear main or input seal, inspect the release fork and pivot, and bleed the hydraulics. Replace a weak slave or master cylinder now since the transmission has to come out to reach the clutch.

How do I break it in?

Drive normally and shift often for the first 500 miles, avoiding hard launches, so the disc beds into the flywheel and pressure plate.

• How to Diagnose Transmission Slipping
• Shift Flare vs. Slip: How to Tell the Difference
• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost