Last night was my first attempt at changing the clutch line on my 2004 RX8. I had purchased the SS line from Rotary Performance to help alleviate the 1st - 2nd gear shifting issues many of us have experienced.

I will spare the details, but after 5 hours of work (removing OEM line, installing SS clutch line, re-installing SS clutch line, re-installing original OEM line) my car is exactly the same as when I started. My garage is now short about a quart of brake fluid and I am missing 5 hours of my life.

It's very disappointing that a $40 16-inch clutch line would leak upon install. I will be contacting Rotary Performance today to see how they would like to handle this. Hopefully, they will understand my frustrations.

 

So. what was the problem with the line. where was it leaky.

 

i have the RP clutch line and no problems here.

 

my RP clutch hose went in no problem. Works flawlessly. RP is a good company and they should help you out.

 

I've done this mod recently and I can say that the difference is very very slight. The clutch point is a bit higher on the pedal now, but the shifting is consistent, whereas high-rpm shifts before were all over the place in terms of when the clutch would engage. My dealership replaced my transmission for 1st- to 2nd problems, and I haven't had them since... Maybe you should bring the car in?

 

It was leaking from one of the ends. Happened to be the end that I placed on the upper connection point. I'm sure they are a good company, and I understand that you are bound to have one or two sneak past QC. Just frustrating to spend that much time, mainly because I kept assuming that it was something I was doing wrong.


Zen...
I'm out of warranty, and the problem is really only with shifts at/near redline. I've just been trying all the little fixes I've heard on here to try to minimize the issue.

 

Gotcha... I should have noted that in your sig. I'm assuming you mean the three main ones- synthetic trans fluid, ss clutch line and short shifter? If you don't have the latter, I highly recommend the AF shifter. That alone minimized my 1-2 shifting problems quite a bit before bringing it in for service.

 

Yeah...the short shifter is last on the list because it is the priciest. I am currently running Royal Purple fluids in the trans...and will eventually have the SS clutch line.


The update from my talks with Rotary Performance is that they are going to cover shipping back to their facility (after a little teeth pulling) and will send me a new clutch line. They, of course, claimed that "I was the first." Not sure if that's true, but...could be.

Anyway...I feel this is bare minimum customer service. Basically, they are fixing what they screwed up...period. I am not, however, being compensated in any way for the wasted time and frustration their screw-up put me through. To me that is the difference between simply patching a screw-up and turning a screw-up into a positive experience. I am not overly disappointed with RP, but my overall experience remains negative, and therefore I will not be shopping there again.

 

That's better than bare minimum. Most places wont cover return shipping, period. And, on such an inexpensive item, what would you have expected for better customer service? I'm not trivializing your trouble or part, but if you're not a long time customer, they've got to at least break even on the transaction, or it's not worth it to them, 'cause they've no idea if you're coming back or not.

 

I understand your frustration, but its not REALLY their fault that you got a defective clutch line. I have one personally, and did feel that it helped the 1-2 shift. They are doing exactly what they should, by replacing it. Lots of aftermarket companies do much less.

 

well, regardless i think he has a point. its not about money, its about a certain business model that really caters to the consumer. but i dont think RP is a big enough company to afford being really nice when they screw up.

 

pressure test the line.. line fails or you fail..

95% of the problems are on the install side.. i would take that money..

empathy, and understanding.. fine.

but it is the part or the install.. diy is a risk.. if you want not to lose time you have to pay not to lose time.

i dealt with this with shocks.. they were replaced in a not very timely manner. but they were replaced..

beers

 

I think its normal to cover the part, cuz there is a possibility that the part was in fact , broken in the first place.

but covering the return shipping is something thats .... too nice.

IF its my company, I will do the exchange, but I am not going to cover the return shipping.

 

Update:

Finally got around to installing the new SS Clutch Line from Rotary Performance. No issues with this one (so I would like to disagree with everyone who blamed installer error for the previous issues). The line went in fairly easily...just like last time, but all is good this time around.

Impressions...

It did not alleviate my 1-2 shift issues at high RPM, but I suspect this is more a syncro issue than anything else anyway. What the SS Clutch Line did do is provide much more consistent engagement / disengagement and made for easier down shifting at higher speeds. Overall, I am still satisfied with this mod...but still a little upset about the issues I had with the first SS line.

 

If spending hours installing parts on your car is not worth the effort to you, then pay someone else... If the part worked or not, you've gained some knowledge and hands-in experience you didn't have before... Its a DIY reward. They did well by you. Most companies would have blamed it on installer... In that light, maybe you didn't make the same mistake this time?.?.?

 

Adjust your clutch pedal...my factory settings had LOTS of play for the plunger...

More than likely if your experiencing the shift issues...its already too late...its like cancer...it will get progressively worse...unfortunately you are out of warranty...

 

You sure everything is tight and nothing is cross-threaded?

5 hours sure is a long time for this.

Took me maybe 1.5.

 

I know...I'm basically trying to put band aids on a larger issue. I have adjusted my clutch pedal as well, and this may be part of what has given me positive impressions of the SS clutch line.

 

Yes...nothing was cross-threaded. I checked and double checked. It took me so long because I installed the line...spend a bunch of time trying to get the system to bleed (which is tough when the system isn't sealed fully)...took out the line...reinstalled the line...tried to bleed again...then finally reinstalled the stock line. Basically 3 clutch-line installs in 1.

Maybe my frustrations were slightly unfair...but how would it have worked had I had them professionally installed. That installer would have spent time installing, only to find the product to be defective. I'm sure I would still have been charged for his time...right? I doubt RP or any other company would offer to reimburse me for that cost.

 

To bleed the system you could of cut a piece of latex out from a glove, place it over the resevoir and put the cap back on the create a suction so air doesnt get in the lines.

As for the people at RP, they are really nice and Ive never had a problem with them.

 

Uhh...when bleeding, you just stop every now and then and fill the reservoir. If you're catching the old stuff in a clear container (which most people do, to watch for bubbles) you see how much has been pumped through, and can judge the "now and then" fairly well.

Ken

 

using a speedbleeder is pretty essential for this.

I can actually bleed my clutch by just reaching my hand under the hood with a socket. Makes it very easy.

 

Yup...I did that. The air was getting in through the leaky SS line.

But it's all a moot point now...The new line is installed, and I'm happy with the investment....even if there was more of my time invested than I had anticipated.

 

hydraulics can be frustrating. Tight hard-to-reach spaces and anything less than perfect fails. Piece could have passed a factory pressure test then failed under normal stress of installation. I'd be disappointed too, but If it's a well-respected company then I probably wouldn't be too upset. Their service in the case seems adequate; a crappy place would have refused an RMA. A truly excellent customer service would have express shipped you a new one immediately. That's rare, but I've had it happen from time to time -- those are the places that you stick with. The only really disappointing thing in your story though was that you said you had to do some "teeth pulling". I'd give them a B-

 

Rotate between ATE blue and ATE gold...

Easy way to tell when you've completely bled the system....heh