cas2themoe

I've searched for discussion about the clutch but didn't find what I needed. My concern is that I'm new to the manual transmission and really don't know too much about them and that's why I'm turning to you guys. I only have 7,000 miles on the car but when I got in the car tonight it felt like the clutch was grabbing higher up then it was doing in the past. I drive the car hard maybe 5 percent of the time and maybe have grinded the gears twice when I first got the car and not once after that. I don't know if its just me or maybe it was the shoes I was wearing tonight. But it really felt like the clutch was catching higher up than it did yesterday.

I don't know but my main question is how do you know when your clutch is gone or going to go soon?

And how much would it cost to replace the clutch?

Thanks everyone for your comments towards the newbie(ME) and this cars clutch!

Grabitquick

The real tech guys here may have a better answer, but I think that modern manual transmissions can handle quite a lot--not real abuse-- but grinding the gears now and then is perfectly normal and expected, even with someone like me who has never driven anything but manual in 30+ years, and that includes growing up in S.F. and nearby with plenty of hills. Never burned out a clutch yet in all of that time.

As for your experience, don't worry too much just yet. Be careful and respectful of the transmisson, but don't grieve on long winter nights over it, either. As for replacing it? Generally, a whole lot less than an automatic.

StewC625

There's generally three things that can fail on a clutch:

1) The friction material - if this goes, then the clutch will feel like it's slipping - upon engagement under full throttle, with your foot off the clutch, the car will sound and feel like you are riding the clutch under partial engagement. Often after a bit of slip, it will "hook up" and be normal. Eventually, if you let it go long enough, the car won't move with the clutch "out".

2) The throwout bearing - this is the bearing that the clutch pressure plate rides on - less common failure, and if it goes, you'll know it - a loud vibration or rumbling noise when you have the clutch depressed and it goes away when the clutch is engaged.

3) The spring plate - least common failure, although known to happen. "Dumping" the clutch can cause this to break, especially if the clutch is hot from a number of other "dumps".

I'm not sure, but I think the clutch in the RX-8 relies on a hydraulic actuator, similar to your brakes, to operate the clutch. As the friction material wears, the hydraulics compensate for it. Although, I could be wrong on this as I can't find a hydraulic reservoir for the clutch. Anyone got better info here on this one?

I'm guessing the problem is your perception of the height of the release. Try several pairs of shoes. Another alternative is to go drive another RX-8 and see.

Good luck. I'm sure your clutch is fine.

cas2themoe

My car's throwout bearing does make noise when I let the clutch out, but there were so many people on this site that said they had the same noise from the throwout bearing and said it would be fine. It may have been my shoes and hopefully my shoes were the only problem because I'm sure Mazda is not going to cover the clutch under warranty. I'm sure they will say its a wear and tear part. How much does it cost to replace the clutch? But I'll try again today with normal shoes that I wear more often. It seems to switch gears and catch fine, just higher up when engaging the clutch.

StewC625

If this clutch is like others - probably in the range of $1000 to $1500.

cas2themoe

DAMN! I hope the clutch is ok then!

carpediem

Maybe your seat isn't where it normally is. It has happened to me on my mustang and I thought there was something wrong until I noticed my knees were on top of the dash. Power seats are very easy to move and not notice.

guy321

It uses the same hydraulics system as the brakes.

guy321

I find shoes to make a big difference for me and my clutch foot . I have to adjust the seat constantly.. Also dependent on my posture that day :D

StewC625

No kidding on the shoes! Last week, in a rush to get to my softball game just in time for game time, I decided to lace up the cleats at home and drive there with them on ... oh whatta mistake that was - trying to keep hard rubber cleats on those metal/rubber pedals ... and any feel I had for the clutch just didn't exist!

carpediem

i usually wear my thinnest soled shoes when i drive for any reasonable amount of time. 2 reasons: 1. comfort, 2. clutch response... i'd drive in socks if it were legal (plus it may hurt my foot. anyone here ever feel the 5 ton clutch on the mustang? what a work out!) ...

Yes, i believe it is illegal here in mass

zevans

I noticed the 8 is really different to drive when you have different shoes on - I think it's because it's a proper coupe driving position and pedal layout. If I'm driving over 10 miles or so now I make sure I have my driving shoes on because it's just not comfortable otherwise.

I consider this a feature, not a bug!

If you still think the biting point wanders, the clutch may need bleeding - if there is air in the system it will expand when hot, which means the system requires less pedal movement to engage/disengage.

If there is a problem, no way will it be $1500 - you can buy twin-plate carbon fibre competition clutches for that!

khtm

Woahhh....I had the clutch in my '86 accord replaced for $500 Canadian!

cas2themoe

I tried it this morning and its seems to be grapping a little higher than before but still graps fine. Everyone tells me that it not very common that clutches go out early and I only have 6,000 miles on my car. Oh by the way I tested it bare footed this time just to get the exact feel. Seems to be fine for now, but I'm waiting for a response from Mazda about the clutch and throwout bearing, to see if its under warranty. We'll just have to wait and see on that. Seems that everyone has a problem with the throw out bearing but says it does harm anything. Lets just wait and see.....................

G8rboy

It shouldn't be any where near that high... the Miata is around $500 with parts (new clutch disc and bearings).

StewC625

Sorry ... perhaps I'm wrong then. Last clutch I replaced was on a 1990 Acura Legend Coupe LS and that was $1200 - but that's a front-driver car with a bigass V6 stuffed into a tiny engine compartment. They had to drop the front subframe to do it.

Bad info ... GR8 Boy knows better since he's a Mazda guy and I'm a displaced Acura guy who got kidnapped by the cult after a misguided visit to a Mazda dealership.



SC

mitchfried

The clutch on my Mazda6s went bad at about 12,500 miles and was replaced under warranty. Under acceleration the revs would go up and down, due to slippage. Many 6's had the same problem, although it WAS my first manual transmission car (see my avatar). Replacing the clutch required taking apart almost the entire front end assembly. I was told the labor costs alone would have been about $800, more money than the clutch itself.

AQA101

I heavily recommend Asics Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi (aka Kill Bill shoes) for driving.

cas2themoe

I'm most def not having any up and downs under acceleration. Acceleration is just like the first day I bought it.

beachdog

There have been reports of the pressure plate bolts backing out. This would cause a high engagement point or eventually no engagement at all.

cas2themoe, you're probably just experiencing a change in perception coupled with your increased clutch experience. You might have put some extra wear on the clutch plate while you were learning and that might have raised the engagement point a tiny bit.

I wouldn't worry about it. Unless you are riding the clutch and regularly smell it burning, no problems.

Brian1f

if you dont push the gear shift far enough it grinds like a *****.

cas2themoe

I never ride the clutch, well never say never. I have but I dont do it often. Mazda wrote me back today and said the clutch is covered under warranty for 12 months/12,000 Miles and I only have 6,000 and its my 4 month with the car. So I'll just wait until the 12 month or 11,000 miles and take her in, just to make sure. But I think everything is ok, I was just wearing different shoes yesterday!

Ike

Why would your clutch only be covered for 12/12?

cas2themoe

I don't know that what they told me, I guess its a wear and tear part.

Grabitquick

Doesn't sound right at all. Should be covered by the regular manufacturer's warranty, namely 50,000 miles/48 months. I'd check further on this, although you should not have any real problems anyway from what you've described.