Munchy

iTrader: (2)

What are my options?

1. Fluid Motorsports bracket
2. Reinforcement welds

Anything else, any DIY?

hotbwayjoel

reinforcement welds is all you need bud...

Munchy

iTrader: (2)

Sorry, I didn't mean should I do both. I was just making a list of options.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The bracket is a PIA. Just get it welded unless you are a track junkie then get both.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

race roots clutch bracket

http://raceroots.com/index.php/produ...cessories.html
$135.

all you will ever need. you can then forget about any issues with the clutch assembly.

CarAndDriver

I saw the price of that clutch bracket and about choked. It sure doesn't look like it cost $135 to produce. At $135, you're already 1/3 to 1/4 of the way to a new clutch kit at BHR that comes with a BHR welded clutch.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

yeah. $135 is getting kind of steep.

i picked mine up for $100 from a forum member who bought 10 or 12 for his local rx8 community and had one left over.

race roots increased the price a bit. it used to be right around $110. even then, its still kind of a crazy price. because its literally a few pieces of twisted metal and some bolts. you're right, it doesnt cost much to produce. the reason its such a great product is that some serious thought and design went into it. thats where the money goes.

now should it be priced at $100? yeah, i think so. but i mean... supply/demand. if he is selling them at $135, why would he not?

CarAndDriver

True. It certainly helps that he's the only game in town in terms of a quality clutch bracket. The choice is bracket or welding.

I think most RX-8 owners with a manual drive their car without realizing there is an important piece of equipment that is prone to failure right under their foot.

paulmasoner

iTrader: (1)

was already in his original list

simply a change of name. just want to make sure no one misakes this for another seperate option

swoope

iTrader: (5)

you might explain what clutch snapping is.. and even better try it in the tech section..

beers

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i was pointing out that it was his only real option.

CarAndDriver

A thread with pics on another site. http://rotary4life.com/forum/showthr...p?t=250&page=2

bse50

Besides that...
Go with a welded pedal. Brackets are a band-aid.

Munchy

iTrader: (2)

ill prolly get it welded, will look through some DIY to remove the pedal and take it to a buddy of mine to get reinforced

longpath

iTrader: (1)

If we're hoping to get the hoped-fore Mazda solution, assuming a recall comes to pass, wouldn't the bracket be better, because it's removable? If we weld it, don't we essentially say don't want the solution that Mazda comes up with?

Also, do either of the currently available options allow the break-away safety feature of the bracket to work in the event of an accident? I only hear of this issue occurring on cars with clutch brackets that are designed to break away in an accident. I'd like to know the safety implications of reinforcing the bracket, both pro and con. Obviously, reinforcing the bracket means it shouldn't fail in normal driving, so it won't cause an accident. If, on the other hand, if I'm (heaven forbid) unfortunate enough to be in a sever accident, will my foot get broken because the pedal doesn't yield?

bse50

This is an interesting point, anyway waiting for months for something that may happen (resolution)while you can resolve the problem for ever doesn't seem like a wise choice
The point of waiting the recall would saving money, something you actually don't do if you buy a bracket. In that case wouldn't welding be the best solution?

As for the break-away feature i don't think that it is a concern. The brake pedal is pretty stiff so i understand the cutting edges but in the case of a clutch all that would happen would be that you end up with your clutch pressed imho.
Moreover, what are the chances that you are with your foot on the clutch pedal in the event of a frontal crash? i dunno about you, i would be breaking!

04RX8man

grab a welder and lay some beads down...then you'll b fine

Flashwing

What makes you think Mazda's solution won't simply be a better welded clutch assembly? Wouldn't it make more sense to simply weld it and be done with it instead of having a bracket you pay for and then take off? You'd be stuck with a bracket that does nothing and you paid good money for it.

As for safety implications you'd have to have the car crash tested with the welded bracket for any information like that. There is no way to determine whether or not any modifications will impact your safety. To be honest, any modification you make could impact the safety devices on your vehicle from brakes, tires, seats, suspension, etc.

You'll just have to decide what the bigger risk is. Having your pedal snap while driving and being unable to change gears or even get out of gear or the possibility you might wreck your car.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

imo, welding it is the bandaid option.

the assembly is made from stamped steel. you can bend it with your fingers with very little effort. i cant imagine what it looks like when i slam down on the clutch when im shifting at full WOT.

the bracket is made of 1/4" steel. its not moving no matter what you do. that entire assembly becomes rock solid. its like a roll cage for your clutch.

bse50

wonder why roll cages are welded and not bolted then

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i wonder why roll cages are not made from stamped steel.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Exactly my pre-procurement analysis kersh. Better welding of the [thin] stock stamped steel plate is better than nothing, but the bracket takes the stess far better. Even if Mazda ultimately provides a new design with a thicker plate I know I'm aok for the life of the vehicle.

Pricey? Perhaps. But as cited the vendor is entitled to some return on the R&D investment involved. As with any development the price should come down over time with increased unit sales.

Of course we should never have been forced into this position by Mazda in the first place, but I for one am not going to wait for a malady I can pre-emptively address for relatively small money. How much is your time and aggrevation-aversion worth?

bse50

The fact is that brackets only help in one direction. We don't live in a 2d world though so we must put lateral forces into account as well.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

I you look at the bracket installed (plenty of photo's elsewhere) you'll see that the angled-iron firmly addresses the firewall-slave cylinder mating and the bridged long sides the lateral stresses. The enclosed picture is with the assembly "folded" as shipped and therefore may be what you're not considering. It's 3D in my world.

bse50

It's a matter of leverages, ever seen a welded pedal with the angled reinforcement wedge?