Hey all, long time reader, first time post.

My clutch recently failed(at 43000 miles mind you!), so I needed to replace it obviously. I bought the car used and had no idea what could have caused the plate to fail at such low miles. Anyway, after some research, I realized it was the close to the same price or slightly more to order an Exedy stage 1 and have it installed by an independent mechanic than have an OEM reinstalled in the car by Mazda, so the organic route I went. Now, with the clutch installed, I occasionally find it extremely difficult to shift gears, and there are times where the clutch is still engaged to the flywheel after I fully depress the pedal. I took it back to the mechanic who installed it, thinking it simply needed a linkage adjustment, to be told that the clutch is having trouble depressing because the firewall is too weak to support the pressure the harder clutch applies to shift gears. He also showed me what he menat, and he does have a valid point. I can literally watch the firewall bend and the master cylinder push out whenever the clutch is pressed. Also, my clutch pedal is not fixed in place as it should be, and constantly releases at different angles as I shift. There have literally been times where I lift up off the clutch and it it sits with less than 1 cm space between it and the brake. I was wondering if anyone has gone through these problems before, if they think the mechanic is wrong/at fault on any of it, and if so, so tips/input as to how they fixed it. Thanks

Elements

 

It sounds like your clutch pedal broke.

Cawl down with a flash light, check and see if the welds on the side are ok.

Your firewall should not *push* back when clutch pedal depressed.

 

This is a common problem and is well-documented on the forum. I am building a clutch pedal support bracket to alleviate this problem but I am sorry I was not done in time to spare you of your trouble.

 

hmmm...really? i did see people use the mazdaspeed front strut bar and either it was a rigged piston to hold down the master cylinder from the strut bar or maybe just a feature of the ms bar...

something i should look into then as i know the ms bar is expensive. maybe you should try it... or hope charles comes up with a cure fast.

 

The Brake Master Cylinder support has nothing to do with this issue (none that Im aware of!)

The stock clutch bracket was kinda weak. It breaks even with stock clutch.

Mazda released a new version of the bracket, I think it was what, revision C or something ? most people have B.

I have a feeling my bracket is on its last leg, getting some hard shift lately. Dont have time to check it yet.

if it breaks, it gives me a reason to do my FW one more time. (is due for the Thanks giving holiday)

 

Yes, I'm having to depress the clutch twice to just get into 1st.

Charles, I thought you had a working prototype and were just waiting to go mass production?

 

I have a prototype that needs to be finished and I have been nudging the shop doing the work for me to try and finish it up. Once I know the proto works, it will be very quickly thereafter that finished products will be offered.

 

I don't believe you can buy a new bracket just the pedal assembly. I looked in the Mazda Motorsports catalog and there is only a B, no C. Can be ordered starting with either FE05 or FE15. One comes with the Al pedal pad the other does not - a $30 savings.

 

im not sure about the mazda motorsports catalog. but if you search online, you can find the C part.

 

Not on Online Mazda Parts, mzparts or Trussville. Let me know where you found it.

fe05-41-300c and fe15-41-300c do not work (also removing dashes).

BTW, the motorsports catalog is Mazda's.

 

I found it on onlinemazdaparts b4.

it should be fe0541300c. but cant see it now for some reason.

let me see what Im missing.

but still, I dont think the revision going to help much.

I am going to replace my bracket when I do my FW, due in Nov around thanksgiving (or earlier, depends), I hope CRH's bracket support can make it in time. if not I have to place an order for the Autoexe part ... (its fuxking expensive for few piece of metal!)

 

AutoExe's part is for the brake not the clutch...

 

very nice. i def. want to consider this now, along with the list of other AutoExe parts I want.

 

I think you are still confused. They are talking about the CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET.

NOT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

Elements you should still be within your bumper to bumper warranty if you are under 50K miles. Bring it to the dealer and have it replaced under warranty. There is a TSB here for that item.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/bulletins.html

 

Who's confused - Cody I assume? I was pointing out to nyc that the part he referenced is not for the clutch.

If he's an 04 he might be SOL on warranty due to time not mileage.

 

Sorry about that I guess I was confused about your message. Carry on.

On the warranty it's a 4 year bumper to bumper 50K miles so it depends on when it was purchased new but the earliest models showed up in Sept 03. so if he gets in quick he should be fine.

 

hmm ...

I keep on thinking is for the clutch.

200 something bux is a bit steep for it ... dont u think ?

 

My original date in service was 7/29/03. One of the first guess.

 

Yep that's the earliest I've heard about. Was that your manufacture date or your purchase date?

 

Purchase.

EDIT: Mfr 06/03