OK so I bought the clutch parts from my local dealership because I needed them fast and they were the cheapest once you figure in the extra cost of shipping from an online distibutor. Now the problem is that the dealership doesn't sell their clutch as a kit and therefore it doesn't come with the alignment tool. They don't sell an alignment tool seperately, either. So I figured I'd just go to Auto-zone, Napa, or Advance and get it there. They only sell them in the clutch kit, not seperately. So I called Pep Boys, they don't sell one specifically for a 99 Frontier but they do have a "metric universal" alignment tool. Has anyone ever used one of these and how do they work? If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear it. I've heard of people using a piece of broom stick whittled down or something like that and someone in another post mentioned a ratchet extension wrapped with tape. I'm planning to replace this thing tomorrow morning and I'm kinda stuck right now. It's been quite a while since I helped someone replace a clutch and from what I remember the alignment tool was pretty much a must.

Thanx for any help you guys can offer.

I wrapped gaffer tape around a 1/2" socket extension and used that. I wrapped it up until it barely fit through the clutch plate, then put another layer of tape on it so the grooves splined the tape. The 1/2" socket end fit my pilot bushing perfectly. It worked for me.

I got my clutch kit from ABC (Nissan) and it didn't come with an alignment tool. I bought a "universal" alignment tool that has several different size sleeves but I don't know for sure if it has the size I need. I got it from Pep Boys. There are several sites that show plastic clutch alignment tools that are supposed to fit.

I bought the cheapest clutch kit I could from checker, and recieved a plastic alignment tool with it. I'd send it over, but it'll take a week.

If you include your location, someone local might be able to loan you one, or help some other way.

-Spike

I'm in SW Jacksonville, FL. I'm planning to just get the "universal tool" from Pep Boys. I think between that and some sort of redneck engineering I can figure it out, but if any body has a tool in the Orange Park area that would be great.

Thanx for all the help guys,
RoHo

I bought a universal kit from NAPA, with a bunch of different-sized ends, worked fine. The Nissan didn't give me nearly as much trouble as others I've done IIRC.

-Spike

Roho... wait 2 months and you can borrow mine. I'll be a lot closer then =)

When I helped Sandbag put in his clutch, we borrowed one from Auto Zone. They took it from a clutch kit they sold to lend to us.

Eyeball it and line it up by hand. About half the time I use a plastic tool I have to change it. In fact, I almost never use a tool, and if I do, I make darn sure that I double check the alignment by the below method.

Heres what you do...put the disc in the center and put it together, and put the pressure plate up there and tighten it up LOOSELY. Then, use an extension or something to line it up, then line up the edge of the disc w/the edge of the pressure plate. Also, there may be a circle, or groove in you pressure plate.

Your pressure plate has 3 or 4 open areas, w/o bolts holding it on, around it that you can see the disc through, look through there and line up your disc. Just find a concentric reference point, like a place on the flywheel, and make sure that your disc is the same distance all the way around.

YOu will be much closer this way, than using a pilot tool as the pilot tools usually fit the crank to loosely, or that have to be held exactly perpindicular to the flywheel. If you drop it down a bit, your disc won't be in the center.