Nissan 350Z and 370Z Clutch Upgrade: Which Clutch for Your Power Level
The VQ-powered Z cars are happy to take bolt-ons, a tune or a supercharger, and the factory clutch is usually the first thing to complain. The fix is not simply "buy the strongest clutch." A race-grade rigid disc will hold a lot of torque but is miserable in traffic, so the right pick depends on how much power you make and how the car is used.
Shop the Clutch Kits for Your 350Z or 370Z
These kits are in stock. Match the model years in each listing title to your car before ordering:
- ACT 370Z HD/Performance Street Sprung Clutch Kit (NZ2-HDSS) - the street-friendly upgrade.
- ACT 370Z XT/Performance Street Sprung Clutch Kit (NZ2-XTSS) - the Xtreme pressure plate for tuned and boosted cars.
- ACT 370Z XT/Race Rigid 6 Pad Clutch Kit (NZ2-XTR6) - race use.
- Clutch Masters 03-06 Nissan 350Z 3.5L FX400 Sprung Ceramic Clutch Kit (06047-HDCL) - for the early 350Z.
- Clutch Masters 03-06 Nissan 350Z 3.5L FX350 High Rev Sprung Fiber Clutch (06047-HRFF) - fiber kit for the early 350Z.
- ACT 07-09 350Z / 09-16 370Z XACT Streetlite Flywheel (600590) - for builders replacing the flywheel with the clutch.
Browse everything in our clutch kits collection and flywheels.
Signs the Z Needs a Clutch
- Revs rise under load without matching acceleration, usually in the upper gears.
- Burning smell after hard pulls or repeated launches.
- A pedal that engages higher and higher as the disc wears.
- Shudder from a glazed disc or a heat-marked flywheel.
Choose by Power Level
Manufacturers publish torque capacities, so you can compare them to your own numbers. ACT lists these for the 370Z kits we carry (the percent figures are over the factory clutch):
- ACT XT/Performance Street Sprung (NZ2-XTSS): a retailer listing of the kit gives 545 ft-lb, 89% over OE, with moderate to heavy pedal effort, smooth engagement and OE to mild gear rattle. This is the sweet spot for a tuned or supercharged car that still drives on the street.
- ACT XT/Race Rigid 6 Pad (NZ2-XTR6): a 695 ft-lb, 142% over OE kit with a ceramic solid disc, moderate to heavy pedal effort, aggressive engagement and increased gear rattle, recommended for race use only.
- ACT HD/Performance Street Sprung (NZ2-HDSS): built from ACT's most popular heavy-duty pressure plate and most popular street disc, which uses organic material with high copper content and a steel-backed lining. It is the pick for a mildly modified daily driver. Published torque figures for this kit vary by retailer, so confirm the rating with your seller if you are close to its limit.
For the earlier 350Z, ACT's 2003-2006 XT/Performance Street Sprung kit is described by Kamispeed as rated at 522 ft-lb (43% over OE) with a 9.8 inch (250 mm) disc and moderate to heavy pedal effort. Clutch Masters offers its FX350 and FX400 kits for the 2003-2006 car, and its FX400 uses a sprung ceramic disc that the manufacturer lists as extreme-duty, so expect a firmer pedal than an organic kit. Our FX725 twin-disc race kit with aluminum flywheel is a track-oriented option, not a daily-driver choice.
How to Use the Torque Numbers
Torque capacity is the number to compare against your own output. Take your engine's tuned peak torque (a dyno sheet is best) and choose a kit whose rating sits comfortably above it, because a clutch that is rated right at your peak torque will start to slip as the disc wears and heat builds. Then weigh the pedal: sprung organic street discs stay smooth in traffic, while rigid ceramic discs hold more but bring heavier effort, harsher engagement and more gear rattle. If the car sees traffic every day, buy the street disc with the stronger pressure plate and leave the race disc for a dedicated track car.
Finally, check the fitment lines in each listing title. The 350Z and 370Z share some parts but not all of them, and the 2003-2006 car, the 2007-2008 car and the 370Z are separate applications, so confirm the model years before you order.
Flywheel: Resurface, Replace or Lighten
A new clutch on a heat-marked flywheel will not last, so resurface or replace it. If you want faster revs, ACT's Streetlite flywheel (600590) is described as considerably lighter than stock and as ACT's most durable flywheel, and it can be resurfaced. A lower-cost route is a Competition Clutch nodular iron flywheel (listed for 07-08 350Z and 07-14 370Z), which the maker positions as an alternative to resurfacing a worn OEM flywheel. Our guide on when to replace the flywheel during a clutch job explains how to decide.
Replace While the Transmission Is Out
- Release bearing and pilot bearing (included in most kits where applicable).
- Rear main seal and transmission input seal if weeping.
- Clutch hydraulics if the pedal is soft: clutch hydraulics. Some 350Z kits, such as the 07-08 FX400 with hydraulic slave, include one.
Cost and Effort
This is a transmission-out job on a rear-wheel-drive car: plan a full day with a transmission jack. Doing the flywheel, seals and slave cylinder in the same job avoids a second teardown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which clutch is best for a daily-driven 370Z with a tune?
A sprung organic street kit such as the ACT XT/Performance Street Sprung (545 ft-lb, 89% over OE per its listing) keeps the pedal manageable while handling more torque than stock.
Is a rigid race clutch okay on the street?
ACT recommends its XT/Race Rigid kit for race use only, with aggressive engagement and increased gear rattle.
Do I need a new flywheel with a new clutch?
Resurface or replace it. A heat-marked or glazed flywheel shortens the life of the new disc.