clutch assembly reinforcement, mazsport clutch bracket NOW MADE BY RACE ROOTS
 

i installed the mazsport clutch bracket over the weekend, thanks to the warm weather. i've been wanting to install it since i got a few months ago because i've noticed the odd squeak and shifting tends to be rough at high rpms and high speeds. this has changed. all changed. 75mph want to go to 3rd? bam! the gear is in and the car is off faster than a dress on prom night. rev matched, of course, but it used to still feel a little hesitation.

now its rock solid.

car has 48k miles, its shifting better than when i got at 19k. very solid feel to it now. the metal the clutch assembly uses is simply stamped steel. very thin and easy to bend. the mazsport clutch bracket is very heavy duty steel. it wont bend. installing it took me ~1.5 hours. had a slight issue at the end with the clutch cut out position sensor not engaging, but that was taken care of. the metal offset it slightly so the car wouldnt start.

its nuts how much it has changed. shifting is very very enjoyable now.

i highly recommend the mazsport clutch bracket if you can find one.

BHR's clutch bracket had the same effect on my car. My clutch engagement over time started feeling vague and hard to catch smoothly until I put in Charles' reinforced bracket. The difference was night and day. Looking at my old bracket I don't see any bending/broken welds or anything out of the ordinary (it was creaking though), so I have no idea what was wrong with it, but forget it I'm happy!

^^^What lshu said.
I wouldn't want to wait for an out of production item when i can order a full pedal from a vendor that will still apply a warranty to its product after the sale :)
Moreover if a pedal is badly cracked or ruined adding brackets will only prolong the unavoidable, welds are way safer if you're doing the work on your own pedal (i think that now BHR only sells new reinforced pedals though).

1.5 hour install.....what was your previous experience doing these sort of installations? I'd like to buy it but I'm sort of concerned about my ability to not mess something, I'm pretty cautious about this type of stuff....

It's a relatively easy install.....the nuts are a bit of a PIA to get at...but :)

its a very easy install. im sure i could have cut it down to 45 minutes if i hurried. the nuts are a bit of a pain as dan said, but its pretty straight forward.

remove clutch, its only 4 bolts. lol.
drill hole in clutch assembly, very easy
attach bracket
reinstall clutch

i cant comment on the BHR bracket, except im not too worried about a warranty. i mean its really thick metal. its not going anywhere. also the bhr bracket costs $250. the mazsport cost $125 (thanks dan) so that really influenced my decision.

as far as experience goes, this one is really pretty simple, but i have worked a bit on cars, dropped trannys, replaced cylinder heads, replaced radiators, replaced the convertible top on my previous car, installed cold air intakes, installed exhausts.. etc.

^Where did you source the Mazsport bracket from?

I really do need to get off my @ss and install mine already. Think it's been in the garage on the shelf for close to a year now. If I remember.............they updated the instructions correct? I think I have a copy of them on my other computer.

Alz0rz, thanks!

Guess I'll have to do it now. :)

you wont regret it. the difference is quite astonishing.

im very interested in their overshift eliminator thing. i recall eric meyer discussing how you can easily overshift in the rx8 and cause additional wear. unfortunately my computer took a crap on me and i had to replace most of the components. $$$ :/

Where else are you going to buy a clutch pedal bracket? :dunno:

Who peed in your corn flakes ;)

I think what he was trying to point out is that you bumped an old thread and it seemed like you didn't read it

the link to fluidmotorsports doesn't work. i may just weld mine.

FluidMotorSports is now Race Roots.

That's what I did.

Try this............. http://raceroots.com/index.php/produ...cessories.html

I link this page because it has both the clutch and the bracket.....which ever you choose.

FYI, Fluid became RR as Jon just said(damn it all, I typed to much and he beat me to the punch!).

This is also essentially the same bracket as the old Mazsport one. I could be wrong on that, but they are nearly identical.

I think Kersh has a hangover today! :SHOCKED:

It's the cheaper and most effective route because it addresses the issue of weak welds.

the metal ripped right around one of the bolts holding it on. welded it anyway and is better than new.

The bracket works well....

They can be welded even if they are torn.....especially if you use a TIG....just put the pieces back to where they are supposed to fit and weld away :)

Ouch................guess I would buy the whole re-enforced clutch from RR or BHR then.
You could still weld it, but I'd have to take it somewhere and find someone to do it right.

So my clutch bracket just broke and now the car doesnt want to go into gear! U can feel the clutch engage but i still cant get it into gear! Is this because of the bracket breaking?

More than likely,how far from the floor does the clutch feel like it's engaging.

If the clutch pedal feels softer than usual,what happens is the sheet metal bracket spreads apart slightly as you put pressure on the pedal and doesn't allow enough movement in the master cylinder which in turn prevents the slave cylinder from pushing the clutch fork the required distance to engage the clutch properly.Has your clutch pedal moved toward your brake pedal ?

mine did the same thing. if your car is stuck in neutral somewhere, there's a quick fix so you can get it in gear. you can adjust the pushrod to the master cylinder so it gets pushed in further when you push the clutch pedal down all the way. this may let it go into gear. loosen the nut on it and unscrew the rod until there's not extra threads sticking through. tighten the nut back up and drive the car to your garage. the only tool you need is something like a 10-12mm crescent wrench. can't remember.

Awesome, we just took off the pedal today and got a good look at it, just trying to decide whether to spend the money on the new bracket and reinforcement or to get it welded! And it was the problem, the clutch does move towards the break and it doesnt engage far enough! Thanks!!