SEANMAC777

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys. Alright I've got a problem and I dont know what to try next.

I've got an 04 RX8 turbo with act 6 puck clutch and prolite flywheel.

The other day I was driving the car for the first time in like a month. I sat and talked to someone at idle for about twenty minutes and when I left, to show off, I got on it a little bit.

I went to shift into second ad nothing but grinding gears.
I let off and got all the way slowed down trying to put it into gear. Nothing.

So I managed to make it home by shifting without using the clutch. When I got home, I let it cool down and went out the next day to mess with it.

It will shift through gears while car is off, but wont go I at all when started. If I put it in first and try to start, the car just lunges forward.

This sounds exactly like 20 other posts I've found today...but,

I checked the clutch pedal bracket. It seems to be in good shape.

I bled the slave cylinder, no change.

I installed a stainless steel clutch line. No help.

I replaced the master cylinder and slave cylinder. Nothing.

The only things I've noticed, when I release the fluid when bleeding, the pedal sticks to the floor til I pull it up.

Also, while having someone press the clutch pedal and looking underneath, the slave cylinder does move the linkage on the bellhousing. About 2 inches maybe.


So bow I'm really confused. Only other thing I can think to mention is that I installed the "race" clutc a year ago and ever since then the pedal has engaged/disengaged right next to the floor.

And the pedal now is really soft still.


Anybody have an idea on what to try next? I hate to replace that damn clutch twice within a year.

überschnell

My first guess would've been the slave cylinder, but since you said you've already replaced it and the master...I would try bleeding the system yet again, perhaps with a pressure bleeder. It will take a long time to get all the air out, since you basically completely drained it to replace everything.

SEANMAC777

iTrader: (1)

Ok I will try adjusting it when I get home. I'll Aldo try bleeding it some more.

Any other things that could have messed up? Like a part of the clutch itself? Just throwing ideas out now...hopefully the pedal just needs adjusted

SEANMAC777

iTrader: (1)

Alright. Bit of an update.

I got home and bled the clutch some more.

I also adjusted the pedal.

It pedal is back to the way it was before I changed out the clutch. However, the clutch still isn't disengaging. So does this mean its gotta be internal?

And if it is, what is it most likely, just the pilot bearing?

I'm not exactly comfortable dropping the trans myself so Id like to have my stuff in line when it comes out so the car isn't sitting I shop for two weeks getting damaged.

Thanks again, Sean.

Wingznut

iTrader: (1)

If you are pushing on the clutch pedal, and the slave cylinder is moving enough, then all the hydraulics are doing their job... And it has to be something inside the bellhousing.

Generally, a failed pilot bearing would just cause noise (well, until it caused much larger issues because of the misalignment of the transmission input shaft.) So yeah, it could be something along the lines of a release bearing or bent clutch fork (the part the slave cylinder pushes on)...

But my money is on a fubar'ed pressure plate.

SEANMAC777

iTrader: (1)

Update:
I got the trans out tonight. The release fork doesn't look bent or anything.

When I moved the arm the throwing bearing moved back and forth fine, but a few times it would get caught up on the shAft while it was forward. Also, when I pulled outward on the bearing, part of it came off in my hand, just like what would be the surface are that contacts the pressure plate. Is this normal?

I haven't unbolted the pressure plate yet, but looking at it, all the "arms" look fine. Also, liking through the hole, the springs in the clutch appear to be fine as well.

Any way to tell if the pilot bearing is bad? I don't really wanna pull the pressure plate if I don't need to replace anything in there because I dong have the alignment tool still.

I'm not experienced in transmissions but the only thing that seemed odd to me was the throwing bearing. Anybody have suggestions on what my next m

SEANMAC777

iTrader: (1)

Another update: I pulled the pressure plate and found my problem. The ACT 6 puck was destroyed. It has pieces of pad stuck to both the pressure plate and to my prelate flywheel.

So now I gotta decide what brand to go with. Also, can I take the flywheel off and have it resurfaced?

And does anyone have a suggestion on a new clutch kit? I'm running upgraded Greddy turbo kit and autocross a couple times a month. Also plan on hitting a track next month so I want something that can hold up...but I also daily drive in the summer:

I dont wanna go with this 6 puck clutch again as it barely made it a year, and actually only about 6 months of driving total.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.