VashGS

Downgraded.... It's not even as good as the 1979 SA 4 speed clutch bracket..

Mazda need to step up there game...

zenmoused

If anyone has this happen to them, just go to your local welding shop and pay them to weld it correctly. Mine developed "the squeak" and I had a guy weld the crap out of it. He also reinforced the other spot welds with some solid seams. Feels better than new now with very solid clutch response. Total cost: $25 and 30 minutes of taking it out and reassembling.

breezy_rx8

My clutch pedal bracket recently broke as well. It must have happened within the last week or so because I noticed my the clutch pedal sticking more and more and it being harder to get the stick shift into gears. After reading the threads on broken brackets, I took a look yesterday and sure enough the bracket was broken near the Picture #12 bolt. (78,000 miles on my 04).

Yesterday, I purchased a new clutch assembly for $120 OTD from my local dealer. I also spent another $5 for a 12mm deep socket. The removal and install was REALLY EASY. There are just 3 bolts and 2 connectors. The only frustration occurred when I accidentally dropped a nut behind the foot rest. After removing the foot rest, I found it much easier to get to Picture #12 bolt. So I highly recommend removing the foot rest to the left of the clutch pedal (just two nuts you can remove by hand) prior to doing this repair.

Hopefully the new assembly will last me another 78k.

syntheticdarkness

iTrader: (7)

It is a pain when you drop anything behind that damn foot rest lol. Glad everyone is getting back on track without having to sell a finger, or an arm. I've just sent my third email to the NHTSA from filling the report out last year . How many times are they gonna contact us asking the same damn questions they already know.

FastFreddy61

Did you add a brace or extra welds to the new bracket before installing ?

syntheticdarkness

iTrader: (7)

I put new welds, but I had to get a new pedal since my springs dug so far into it, so I got one with the bracket installed.

Rudolph

Hi,

I mounted my Clutch Pedal Bracket Kit today; it took me 5,5 hours working with an immaculate clutchpedalassembly of 9.000 miles lifetime.
The difficult nut from Picture 12 in this thread (and nut from Picture 10) could be loosened (after several failing attempts with different tools), finally relatively easily with the tools as showed in attached picture. (1/4 inch ratchet etc. / picture is from the Netherlands, dimensions in centimeter)
With the 2 extra extensions coupled to the existing combination the nut of Picture 11 can be removed.

wkr, Ruud

TeeFar

Great DIY... I'm gonna install a new bracket assembly this week since my is broken.
Thanks

DHPrx8

I just want to thank everyone for their input here on this DIY. After 181,367 miles i experienced a broken bracket. left side snapped. Read up on all your comments, went to the dealer and purchased a new bracket. 15 minutes off/on time. Thats the type of job I love!! I didnt put the bracket support on. I figured if the first one lasted this long I will take the risk. lol Thanks again.

xgambetx

could you elaborate a bit more? I did this but my car isn't starting right now

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

^ You probably overly compressed the clutch pedal position switch plunger when you were installing the brace or a new bracket. Gently pull it back out (well, actually it takes a good bit of force). This has already been discussed earlier in this thread.

alming1132

iTrader: (2)

so just installed a new clutch pedal today, but during installation, made a really boneheaded mistake: I was trying to fit the pedal onto the "studs" on the firewall, and I guess one was misaligned, so when I pushed, the two "studs" and the hole where the plunger goes (don't laugh.....) just went further into the firewall? it made a pretty bad noise too....I managed to pull the studs further out of the firewall and install the new assembly. Does anyone know what/if I damaged anything? I'm kinda baffled on how that entire thing moved further into the firewall, isn't that where the clutch is?.....Clutch works fine btw, i've been driving on it....

Max Feng

Actually, it is my second time the clutch pedal bracket cracked. The first was happened in 2009 and I got a recall for that. I thought Mazda has changed the material of clutch pedal bracket, but when it happened again in 2013 (couple days ago). I just found that it is the same spot and with the same material. The Mazda CSR said I out of warranty and some BS. They will charge me around $400 to replace it. Hell No... with the same material and broken again in next 4 year. I dont wanna get kill while I am driving... The point is, Mazda has not even do anything about this and also give me a damn about the warranty... this is not about the warranty, it is about this quality of your parts. Which means they are going to have at least $400 income for 8 owner every 4 year. There is the thing, after I spoken with CSR, I decide fix it by myself (I have been done it when the first happened, but I got recall. So try to give them a chance, now I proved that I was wrong ), I only spent $60 to fix it. You just need a L shape metal (2~3 mm thick) to support the spot which will crack and you done. Mazda service.... nothing can say about it...

royalfitz

Omg what a paint to try and put the new clutch pedal on, it seems like wires are in the way of it aligning all the bolts so it will actually get into place. or am i just doing it at a funky angle and cant figure it out lol

Karack

can't comment, it took about 2 minutes to remove and another 2 minutes to reinstall on the few i have done. no wires got in the way, just that funky rod holding arm can be a little of a pain at times.

royalfitz

Ya it was because the bolts snuck into the firewall a little bit but i got it figured out, now my car wont start though, it sounds really wierd when i try to start it ive pulled the grey plunger out as well and no luck...help?

edit: It doesnt even sound like when i push my clutch in anything is happening, really confused at this point

Karack

so your starter isn't spinning at all? it is common for the plunger to need to be reset when the pedal housing cracks, i suppose you may not have pulled it out far enough if the starter isn't engaging.

royalfitz

YAY!! i figured it out. ok SO car wouldnt start blah blah went and had the battery tested it was a good battery but had practically no juice in it. Autozone charged it put it back in my car and it was flooded. after about an hour of deflooding it started and boy did it smoke and i actualy had to keep it revved for a little bit or else it would cut out again, thanks for the help!

SWMPTHG

mine broke today. i had it fixed in about 2 hours with a mig welder and some bits of steel

EuroTech

Mine wasnt broken yet but the spring bushings were. Only took 15mins if that to swap out a new one with a little bit of welding added

JIN13

Just installed my bracket in today, took just a couple hours super easy and the difference is amazing ten times better then before. It hadn't broke yet but you could defiantly tell the difference. Great right up made it that much more simple, thanks

EuroTech

A couple of hours? How many breaks did you take? lol

My5A

Great write up! I'm looking to buy an 8 so it seems this will come in very handy.

JIN13

It was more like drinking breaks LoL, the actual removal and installing only took maybe 15-20 min although putting it back on was kinda hard cause the clutch master cylinder keeped popping out had to have the wife hold it on while it put the pedal back on.

Bluerenesis

Thanks for the step by step. Saved me money doing it by myself. Was driving down the road and heard a pop coming from down where my foot was. Was most certain it was the clutch pedal since I knew RX8s' are notorious for crappy spot welds on the clutch pedal. after being parked I looked at the assembly and sure enough the most difficult screw was where the weld failed. So I went onto BHR and ordered an assembly for $175 and a few days later I recieved it. Waited till this weekend since I wasnt wanting to rush the install and was able to install it in about an hour thanks to the hard to see and reach ratcheting. Didnt have to tweak anything. It worked first try. THANKS AGAIN!!!