Hard Shift Issue - Replaced Slave & Master Cylinders, No Luck
 

I've done some searching on the topic and have a couple suggestions...of which I'm hoping I just need a fluid flush. My references are these two threads: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...-shift-246695/
and
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...ailure-239608/

I have 137K miles, it's an 04 with an Exedy Stage 1 clutch and lightweight flywheel. My bracket has broken and been reinforced with the Race Roots solution. The entire clutch kit was installed at the same time, it's got maybe 5000 miles on it, so I'm really hoping I don't have RIWWP's issue with the wadding tearing up in the flywheel and such.

Recently, my clutch pedal has become firmer than normal, and I can really feel the engine through it (or so it feels) - it almost feels "crunchy" disengaging, like stepping on a cookie or something would feel. I have difficulty shifting into gear when hot and cold, sometimes pumping the pedal, or disengaging the clutch and letting the spring return the clutch (by letting my foot slip off it, trick my dad taught me) will alleviate the issue, sometimes it won't. I can still rev-match shift up and down, some gears are easier than others. First and second give me the most issue, especially at a standstill. The car wants to creep most of the time if I shut it off to get it into gear at a light. Very rarely does it not.

The bracket is fine, the pedal is firm and the nuts are all fully tightened. My clutch rod has no adjustment left in it to go any further in. Engagement is close to the floor currently. There's no fluid in the footwell.

Any suggestions? I think I've narrowed it down, but I'd like to be sure.

Replaced the master and slave cylinder today. Hard shift issue is better, but not alleviated. Nobody has any ideas?

Sounds to me like the throwout bearing or the clutch fork pivot.....crunchy and difficult to push in suggests the bearing isn't sliding properly on the nose of the transmission..or the pivot isn't allowing the fork to move properly

Car goes in tomorrow morning. I'll add this to the list of items to check out. Thanks for your input.