Im not normally a fan of reposting but I think people who dont venture into the rest of this forum need to be aware of this.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/clutch-pedal-snap-off-8-year-warranty-recall-%7E%7E%7E-132912/

There is a line item in the service schedule for the dealers to inspect for this problem on EVERY service but wouldnt doubt many dont. I suggest as a minimum, ask the dealer to ensure it is checked.

EDIT: Here is a good picture showing what to look for. The green circled section is where the bracket snapped and has been rewelded.

Cheers

Andrew

 

Freak accident. Have you ask how big the owner is?

 

Pretty big I'm sure!

 

no,

it is a problem in the usa.. i wonder if the whole assembly is different for you guys? i would bet it is..

beers

 

Aren't your cars assembled at the Auto Alliance plant?

 

It dosen't hurt to re-post Andrew. Particularly when its not discussed very often, it serves as a good reminder....

 

Taka, I hope yours was an attempt at humour, if you read the thread I linked to you would see its not isolated and most certainly isnt isolated to "heavy" people.

swoope, I am seriously doubting they are using different assemblies for left/right hand drive cars. The only difference I can believe is where its mounted, which in the end MAY be the only difference needed.

But as I mentioned in the first place, the reason for this thread was purely to let people know that they should make sure they remind the dealers (or whoever is servicing their car) that there is a step in the service guidelines to inspect the cluth pedal assembly...Make sure its done.

Cheers

Andrew

 

dont know the answer to that .. depends on how the pushrods get past the firewall..

i would think it would be different.. have you guys down under had any failures yet????

do you have a part # for the rh drive?

and funny mounting could be it..!!!

beers

 

Good idea Andrew - I read the original post a few weeks ago and it is a bit of a concern - my clutch has a squeak so I'll definitely ask to have it checked out next service. I wonder if any AU cars have suffered this type of failure?

Cheers,

Pappy

 

swoope, I dont get why the pushrod would affect it? I think its more to do with the lateral movement the pedal has causing the frame mounted to the firewall to tear away.

pappy, having an 03 and a squeaky clutch pedal I would say definately get them to check it.

Cheers

Andrew

 

I'm glad it was a repost. Just went out in the garage and checked mine for cracks. Pushed clutch all the way in by hand several times while holding a light on the welds....no movement at all. Glad mine looks ok but I will do a check about every 6 mos. Most of my driving is on the highway so hopefully I will never have a problem...don't use the clutch often cause the cruise is on most of the time.

 

A good friend of mine had his snap a few weeks ago. (US spec) Hope you guys don't have the same problem as we do here.

 

I'd presume it'd be the same parts, just that they're mounted on the other side of the car.

I haven't heard of any failures down here ... has anyone else?

 

Aaah yes, I can see in the first picture the clutch pedal is impeding the brake pedal somewhat ... it does not look good at all!

The second image looks much better!

 

I'm 6'1 195lbs.....I don't consider myself big. Are the ppl who have this problem constantly quick shifting or standing on the pedal? I know there are ppl on here who drift, auto-x and drag alot......I can see those ppl having issues.

 

Yes that is big

 

just a hunch. as i have never looked at the firewall or under the dash of a rhd...

beers

 

I dunno if you are big abbid.

haha.

I have to see someone drives to see what do they do to the pedals.

Swoope, you bring out a good point that US is LHD. I wonder the position of the pedal is differenent between RHD and LHD... u know the well between L and R aren't perfectly symmetrical....

For start we have plenty of space left to clutch pedal and we have a foot stand to rest our left foot on....

 

Some pics

 

Some more

 

The size of someone shouldn't have anything to do with it. Its how one changes gears which will be the key if the clutch pedal breaks or not.....

 

I'd find it hard to believe anyone would be stamping the clutch pedal that hard as to induce breakage (assuming the assembly is sound).

Generally speaking, pedal placement and assemblies can differ between LHD and RHD, especially in sports cars where the footwells can be assymmetric. Not sure if that's the case with the RX8 but I wouldn't be surprised.

I'd be curious to know if any RHD cars have suffered clutch pedal failures of this kind...

 

If you look at the percentages fropm the LHD drive market and compare that to us, then I doubt we would hear from anyone on here.

My belief on the problem from looking at the assembly yesterday is that the large amount of side travel is the cause, peoples seating position and leg "angle" is going to be a contributor.

 

It helps if your leg is a little bit bend to start with....

One person here of stiff ankle luckily have sold his car haha.

 

It is possible that seating position might have something to do with the problem. I've always thought that the RX-8 was designed for right-hand drive (I guess not surprising as it is a Japanese car) with the narrower footwell and foot rest. Taka's comment about having your left leg still slightly bent at full clutch throw is valid. If you sit so that your leg is fully extended, there's a tendency for your left butt cheek to lift from the seat. Not only does that tend to strain lower back muscles, there is also a tendency to skew leg pressure towards the right. This could be a contributing factor in the observed failures.

I must admit to sitting fairly close to the wheel. My butt is wedged firmly into the seat, my arms are relaxed on the wheel, and my left leg is slightly bent at full clutch throw. With the RX-8 throw so close to the floor, you should be able to fully floor the clutch without trouble. With this seating position, I can drive 100's of km without a twinge. It pisses me off after a service to find my carefully optimized seating position altered, and I usually spend a few minutes ensuring I have everything just right again. I love that feeling of the car fitting me like a glove.