Notices
RX-8 Racing Want to discuss autocrossing, road-racing and drag racing the RX-8? Bring it here. This is NOT a kills/street racing forum.

remember to bleed you brakes.

Old 11-08-2012, 09:38 AM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
LakeStreet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
remember to bleed you brakes.

So my clutch went out on track. Thunderhill, wanted to downshift from 3 to to, in turn 15 and it wouldn't disengage. It was 95 degrees that day and I was pushing pretty hard. No one seemed to be able to figure it out cause the car would still pull in gear.

What happened was the fluids boiled over (funny cause I'm using ATE blue) creating an air bubble which didn't disengage the clutch, putting so much heat a chunk literally shattered off.

The only visable evidence was there was brake fluid boiled over out the master cylendar.

Anyhow I thought I would pass along to you all to bleed your brakes. I had about 10 events on this fluid I think but guess that's too much.
Old 11-08-2012, 09:51 AM
  #2  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
RIWWP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 16,684
Likes: 0
Received 239 Likes on 109 Posts
Isn't one of the cardinal rules of tracking that you at a minimum re-bleed before every event? A more proper course of action is to replace the fluid entirely before each event. It's rather cheap insurance...
Old 11-08-2012, 10:17 AM
  #3  
Registered
 
kbrewmr2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
(stupid question warning)

With the RX8 the clutch and brakes share the same reservior/fluid/etc? Interesting if so...
Old 11-08-2012, 11:21 AM
  #4  
Autocrosser
 
Orthonormal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Azusa, CA
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, same reservoir.

I'm not clear on what caused a piece of the clutch to break off just because you couldn't disengage it. Did you go ahead and force it into the next gear? It doesn't seem like that would break a piece off the clutch, either.

Flushing the brake fluid for each track day does seem to be standard procedure.
Old 11-08-2012, 03:38 PM
  #5  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
If you track the car hard then decent brake and clutch hoses are as important as bleeding the system every now and then.

Oh, and use a decent fluid as well. Motul rbf600 is a good choice. Flush it every 3\4 events and you're golden.
Old 11-08-2012, 05:57 PM
  #6  
Registered
 
40w8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 523
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by LakeStreet
So my clutch went out on track. Thunderhill, wanted to downshift from 3 to to, in turn 15 and it wouldn't disengage. It was 95 degrees that day and I was pushing pretty hard. No one seemed to be able to figure it out cause the car would still pull in gear.

What happened was the fluids boiled over (funny cause I'm using ATE blue) creating an air bubble which didn't disengage the clutch, putting so much heat a chunk literally shattered off.

The only visable evidence was there was brake fluid boiled over out the master cylendar.

Anyhow I thought I would pass along to you all to bleed your brakes. I had about 10 events on this fluid I think but guess that's too much.

So your clutch disengaging stopped. It's only needed to start rolling or shift fast.

I drove a fuel truck for two years with that situation, and I'm crippled.

Just ease off the gas in third, push shifter to neutral, blip the gas, hold against second gear, and it'll pop right in.

You could lose disengagement at Le Mans after last pit, finish and win race.

Or even drive it home ( start in first and keep going).
Old 11-08-2012, 08:11 PM
  #7  
Registered
 
etzilon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by bse50
If you track the car hard then decent brake and clutch hoses are as important as bleeding the system every now and then.

Oh, and use a decent fluid as well. Motul rbf600 is a good choice. Flush it every 3\4 events and you're golden.
+1 on RBF600

I can hammer the brakes all weekend long without fading.
Old 11-09-2012, 06:08 AM
  #8  
Registered
 
40w8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 523
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
^I had a new 73 RX3 with good stock brakes. I saw a few heat spots and put after market pads on, and then, I was always having to put new pads on.

I've got 30k miles in 5.5 years, and I have no trouble with brakes at the track after about 15 track days, and still the same stock brakes. Yes, I do watch the pad wear, and I like them so well that if I need another set, I'll look for the same pads.
Old 11-19-2012, 12:43 AM
  #9  
Mr. Örange
 
TANKERG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by 40w8

Just ease off the gas in third, push shifter to neutral, blip the gas, hold against second gear, and it'll pop right in.
Yes you can float gears in a car, but it's reallg bad for the synchros. Trucks don't have them
Old 11-19-2012, 07:12 AM
  #10  
Registered
 
40w8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 523
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by TANKERG
Yes you can float gears in a car, but it's reallg bad for the synchros. Trucks don't have them
Well, my trucks were only 2 ton GMC 350 gas, and they have synchros like in a pickup.

You have to drive gently to drive that way, and it's way better on the tranny than when an employee liked to speed shift on it.

Anyway, you should be able to get your car home, and save a big tow.

Last edited by 40w8; 11-19-2012 at 07:15 AM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
05rx8mazda
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
18
11-28-2015 09:42 AM
D13
Series I Trouble Shooting
0
10-01-2015 07:55 AM
NotAPreppie
Series I Tech Garage
12
09-24-2015 03:22 PM
p8ntman442
Series I Tech Garage
3
09-23-2015 09:18 PM
TheRedRotor
New Member Forum
1
09-12-2015 07:42 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: remember to bleed you brakes.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:02 PM.