NV3500 Clutch Recommendations

[bucket]

So, long story short, my son's truck had a 20 year old Chinese clutch in it when we bought it from our neighbor. It started having disengagement issues after driving a couple thousand miles. Upon removal, everything still looked new. After installing the new Napa clutch set, disengagement was good and the trans shifted beautifully. Now here we are, maybe 4000 miles later, the clutch is having disengagement issues again. Also, the clutch pedal gets stiff towards the bottom of travel, which was a symptom last time as well.

I'm guessing it's a pressure plate issue, again. Has anyone else had similar troubles lately? Has anyone had good luck with any particular higher end (but still affordable) clutch kit for a similar application? I don't want to keep doing clutch jobs if all the stock replacement stuff is garbage now.

 

[bucket]

Oh yeah @bluex what clutch have you been running in yours? I know you've used yours a good bit.

 

[fast 99]

One word, LUK

 

[bucket]

One word, LUK

I don't remember for sure, but I think LUK was the manufacturer of the Napa clutch kit I used.

 

[bluex]

One word, LUK

That's what's in mine as well.

 

[fast 99]

LUK has always been good. Have used them for decades. NAPA varying success.

In my business we used the trucks hard. Might be a long shot, we found out the aluminum bellhousings were bending. Kept records and replace them every 3rd clutch. If available get a dial indicator, check tranny opening for run out. Offset dowels may still be available.

 

[bucket]

LUK has always been good to me in the past as well. But not this last time. The bellhousing is non-removeable on the 3500, unfortunately. I didn't suspect an alignment issue, due to the fact that it worked perfectly for several thousand miles.