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.

 

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...

 

(stupid question warning)

With the RX8 the clutch and brakes share the same reservior/fluid/etc? Interesting if so...

 

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.

 

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.

 

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).

 

+1 on RBF600

I can hammer the brakes all weekend long without fading.

 

^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.

 

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.