after you weld it, really consider the clutch bracket. you are just bandaiding the problem if you only weld it.

see, the bracket goes past just fixing the problem, it really is a performance mod in its own right. it eliminates any movement in the clutch allowing for much better pedal feel. the stamped steel used to make the assembly is very thin and weak. you can easily bend it by hand. you could step on it sideways and crush it. but the bracket is made out of 1/4" thick steel. its not going anywhere. you can kick the clutch all you want, and all you get is perfectly smooth shifts.

 

You're only bandaiding it if you simply buy another clutch pedal and do nothing at all.

 

i agree with that too. from my perspective, the welds are most of the issue, but a significant chunk has to do with the the fact that the stamped steel assembly will bend under pressure. indeed, that is what causes the welds to fail, the constant bending pressure each time the clutch is depressed. stronger welds might last longer, but who wants an assembly that bends?

thats why if you reinforce the assembly with a fluid motorsports bracket, you really fixing the problem entirely. and in fact, it makes the cars shift feel better than new.

 

Is there any warning that the bracket may be going? Is the car driveable once it breaks?
I'm wondering with only 10K miles here, if it's worth it to do some preventive maintenance and weld it before it happens.

 

do the preventative maintanence, i have 50k miles and it started squeaking 4 months ago so you figure at around 40-45k is when it start squeaking for me, other members have had worse luck and it started earlier.

 

Should be your first mod... even before clear corners.

 

I will inspect mine for the last several months I've had squeaking when engaging clutch... didn't think much of it really. Thought I would just hit it with some WD40 before I read this thread. I'll definately be taking a closer look now.

 

My clutch pedal had been squeaking off and on for a while, and finally after reading this thread I took it into the dealership, fearing the worst.

The tech crawled into the driver's footwell, looked around with a flash light, got up and walked away, came back with a can of some 'heavy' spray oil, spent more time in the footwell with a flashlight and the oil, then got up and told me 'all done'.

I asked what was wrong, and they told me something about a piece of the clutch pedal assembly was cracked (not the bracket, I don't think), causing a spring to be exposed, which in turn was rubbing away the grease that was supposed to be there (It's been a month or so since I had it looked at, so this is the best I could remember). Oh, and I may need a new assembly at some point ($200ish), but there was no reason to get it now. And the dealership didn't charge me a dime (way out of warranty, too).

I don't know how accurate this is, and I hate being a naysayer in a thread of experts and people obviously pissed off about their clutch pedals... but maybe a squeaky clutch pedal isn't a definite sign of a faulty bracket.

 

I had a squeaky clutch for about 6 months or so before mine snapped. I don't recall the squeak being associated with the snap.

 

The squeaking and the cracking of the bracket could be related:
If it starts to squeak, it means there is increased friction and binding of the pin / hinge mechanism. This puts more stress on the bracket, making it flex more at the weak points. Because of the increased flexing, a few months goes by and the bracket fatigues and cracks.

So, lubricating the bracket hinge / pin and spring might be good preventive maintenance... before it starts squeaking.

 

my clutch assembly started squeaking occasionally. i installed my bracket.

it doesnt squeak anymore.

the squeak is related for the reasons speedy said.

if yours is squeaking, its time to do something immediately.

and this really should be your first mod.

 

my pedal just snapped and the guy at the exhaust shop didn't line it up correctly when he welded it, I didn't tell him to either so guess ill own that mistake.

however the bracket is at funny angle now.. I drilled a little of the bracket out so all the bolts would line up but it wont engage the pressure sensor... I can most likely torque down the bolt on the heavily welded side but I don't want to strip anything!!!

so the question is taping the pressure sensor (the grey and black box) so that it is always engaged or attempt some more fabrication on it?

 

mine was squeeking like crazy and when i took it to mazda they noticed it there putting a new clutch pedal assembly. but that was least of problems lol i also geta new engine and new motor mounts

 

You can bend the metal piece that presses against the switch. One of the our guys just had to do that and it's working fine. Just take some vice grips to it. It needs to engage so the little notch on the gray neck of the button just disappears into the switch. Does that make sense?

 

Yes it does brilliant thanks man.

 

shady... that is, the notch dissapears when the clutch pedal is depressed.

 

Wait wait wait....so the squeeking is from what??? Someone pm me a picture or whatever...shiot I figured I just had to do some oiling....

 

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-clutch-pedal-bracket-removal-fix-170387/

More then likely it is around the spot welds, and where the springs are. I noticed on my assembly that where the spring goes through the bracket that it broke the clips and is starting to dig back through the bracket. This metal is not anywhere near what it should be and that is why the fluid bracket is needed.

 

Interesting thanks for the link....Looks like I need a second job haha.

 

Yea i figured it out that wasn't sarcasm I was genuinely saying brilliant lol... P.S. worked like a charm everything is all good and well again.

its a $20 weld job simpleeee

 

Cool! Glad it worked for ya!

 

My clutch pedal squeaks and has been for about a month and half now. Recently i noticed that when im above 6.5k rpm and shift into 4th my gear scratches, and i have the clutch all the way down. Could this be a cause of the bad clutch asseembly?

 

You can try the bracket and if that doesn't work then your only out of a few bucks. Next would be the clutch assembly and if that doesn't work, well, it's going to be the one you don't want to do. Doing the bracket helped a little, but I believe I need a new clutch since I witness some things with my car, to much to tell right now.

 

when you say scratches you do you mean terrible grinding sensation you hear and feel in your shifter? or is it just a noise you hear?

 

the terrible grinding sensation you hear and feel in the shifter.