Sorry to keep beating a dead horse, but I have been involved in this question and searched for it, yet never found a definite answer. What is the color of the Clutch Disc? Does it have the pink/blue color to it. I (as a lot of you know) am still fighting with Mazda over several clutch/tranny issues. They are saying mine was "Blue" from over heating and that caused it to Explode in about 200 miles. Also, I am being accused of "Side-stepping" the clutch. What exactly is side-stepping? The service Manager says the only way for a clutch to be explode like mine is from Modified cars, Extreme Abuse/racing, or Side-stepping. My car is bone stock, don't even know what Side-Stepping is, and haven't been racing... just driving through the big city of Carrollton Tx to work every day.

What color is a new clutch? What is Side-Stepping? Any other comments?

 

I'm not certain, but I think side-stepping is when you don't completely depress the clutch during shifts.

 

hmmm, I hope I'm not doing that

 

I suppose "side-stepping" would be sudden, total engagement of the clutch. I.e., you have the clutch fully depressed, and instead of engaging it normally, you just move your foot to the side and let the clutch engage as fast as the springs will take it in. In other words, "Dumping/dropping the clutch".

 

Ok, I guess I understand. I knew of dropping the clutch, just didnt' know it was the same thing as side-stepping. Any one seen a new RX-8 clutch and know what color it was in the center?

 

Never viewed a "8" disc, and never really memorized the color of all the discs I've replaced, but I would suggest to check with the parts dept to view a new disc. I've never seen a stock disc come apart within 200 miles. What actually "came apart" and /or expolded on the disc? If the disc was that hot, to turn blue, I woulld think the flywheel would have been affected also.

 

Actually the center of the disk came apart from the rest. The 4 brads or rivits broke. 5 days, 200 miles on the new clutch. There has just been a lot of talk about the color. A few people have been blamed of abuse (like myself) for the blueing of the clutch caused by high temps. I thought I remembered someone saying they had a new one in the box that was blue, but just wanted to get some other feedback.