I have a 2005 RX-8 that I had in the shop for about a week getting the transmission rebuilt. I also got a new flywheel, and Exedy stage 2 cerametallic complete clutch kit, wich I purchased from racing beat, put in at the same time. When I was driving my car home I noticed it making a wierd grinding/rattling like noise when I would be letting off the clutch to take off at a stop light. It also does this when I reverse or downshift. It sounds like something is rattling when I accelerate as well. Now I have never had a new clutch, let alone a higher performance one, so I didnt think anything of it when I left the dealership. I thought maybe it had to be worn in or whatever. Now this still could be the case but I dont know. I just wanted to get thoughts on it because I dont like the sound of it.

Here is a video clip of the noise I hope you can hear it well enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke6Y1dMe7F4

 

Take it back immediately............they missed something. There are threads on here about new cltch installs making noise, but I can't remember what was wrong.
Do an advanced search using "clutch install" or "new clutch noise" or something like that.

Could it be the heat shield on the exhaust that is loose and moving around?

 

Something isn't right......take it back

 

I dont think it is the heat shield I had tightend one just a couple of weeks ago when my exhaust was vibrating against one of the shields. I can feel it like in the clutch pedal as well so I dont think it is that. Well I guess its safe to say that is fucked up then right?

 

i actually have a question, i bottomed out on a rock yesterday and now my car it making a dragging/grinding noise, cant really be heard from outside the car but on the inside it sounds loud. i got under the car and can see that the heat shield was scraped pretty badly, but i looked at the transmission and it looks like it was unaffected (meaning it was not touched no marks on it) the exhaust is not loose and i cant see anything broken at all. im wondering if by pushing the heat shield into the cat could cause this noise? i have no cel on but it sounds terrible in the car mainly at lower rpms and only when driving while giving it gas, once the clutch is depressed or in neutral I can rev it and it sounds normal. Any ideas?