Dennis
E-mail
Q
We have been permanently on the road with our 2010 Mazda BT50, towing a 21-foot caravan, that is under 3-tonne load limit, and we are experiencing clutch shudder. We have already had one clutch replaced at approx 20,000 km, and we are now up to 33,000 km and have the clutch shudder back. Is this normal, or is it because they have too light a clutch system and not meant for pulling constantly, as they claim? We have spoken to others with the same problem, and also to people with Nissan Navarras who have to replace clutches as well.
Graham Smith
Ask Smithy
A
It is a relatively common complaint with the BT-50 when towing and we get quite a lot of complaints from Navara owners as well. The answer seems to be that the clutches fitted at the factory are marginal for heavy-duty use, and the answer from mechanics we've spoken to is to fit heavy-duty aftermarket clutches.
