Transmission/Clutch Issues
 

Hey guys,

I tried searching and posting in a couple of threads I found but they seemed to be looked over, so I'm making a new one.

There are two symptoms Im having:

First-

A few days ago the clutch started having a weird feeling when I pushed it in after it goes about three 5/8ths of the way in this feeling starts.

The best way to describe it is the pedal feels like its scraping agaisnt something as it goes in, like it has a bunch of little catches as it goes in sorry not a very good explanation but its something I've never felt until last friday. My father thinks it feels fine, but he hasnt been driving the car for the past year.

The second (maybe the throw out bearing) is a high pitched repetitive squeak that I cant always hear but I only notice when I'm in idle and it goes away when I push the clutch in.

History on the car:

2005 MT
55,xxx miles
last time the transmission,differential,brake fluid was changed is probably never but otherwise unknown.

If anyone has any input/ information I'd really appreciate it. Or if any clarification is needed please let me know

Thanks!

Also the clutch pedal has been squeaking for about a month I know thats just lubing the spring but perhaps I let that go on for too long and its causing othber problems? Just a thought...

If it's squeaking a lot that's a good chance the clutch bracket is ready to go. There is a lot of threads on this and the pedals are known to break. Get it welded up solidly before it does; the bracket is only held on by 2 spot welds.

Ok I'll look into getting that done tonight but what about the other issues I doubt a failing clutch pedal would contribute to the externale high pitched repetitive squeak or am I mistaken?

Probably not, it could possibly be the throw out bearing which people have had issues with and had to replace it. I'd suggest searching/reading on various transmission issues here. I've came across it multiple times reading into transmission issues people have had with this car.

The release bearing (aka throw-out bearing) is used when you press the clutch pedal in to compress the pressure plate fingers.
If the pedal has a gritty feedback feeling when you're pressing the pedal in, that can very likely be a bad bearing.
Could also be causing you high-pitched squealing sounds.

Thanks for the input Jon.

that gritty feedback is exactly what I'm getting.

Is there anyway to tell for sure that it is a bad bearing/ is this something I can buy and change out myself, with the proper tools of course.

Yeah... remove the bearing and spin it.
Can you change this out yourself... that depends on your mechanical knowledge.
If you are able to drop the transmission, you can easily inspect/change the bearing.
Its attached to the release fork and rides on the input shaft.

alright thanks jon, one more question this isn't something that will catastrophically fail is it? I don't have time to inspect it until this weekend, I work long days

If it were me, I wouldn't worry about waiting until the weekend.
It doesn't appear to be THAT bad yet.

Squeak sounds very similar and is in the same point of clutch travel as one I have from time to time. Though mine sounds like it's coming from up at the hinge at the top of the clutch. I just get some WD40 up there, either with my hand or with the nozzle at the top of the can, and it disappears for a few months. When it comes back I repeat. May not be the same squeak as yours though, but might be something to try if you haven't already as obviously it's a very cheap, simple fix.

awesome thanks again Ill update with pics and such when I get a chance to drop the transmission

time: I have that squeak and I've fixed it a few times thats not what has me worried its the gritty clutch pedal and the high pitched repetitive squeak/tick coming from outside of the car

a couple new observations.

I get the gritty feeling on the pedal even while the car is off, but not as noticeable (maybe because I didn't play with it long enough)

I forgot to mention earlier it is getting slightly harder to get into third and fifth gear and sometimes reverse is a nightmare to get into i.e. grinding and just harder to shift into

with the reverse. first try to shift into 1st gear and then into revers.
i have the same filling like you with the clutch. I bleed the slave cylinder few times but it didn't help. its a little better but not like it should be. im going to change the transmission oil from redline to eneos in the next week because the feeling and grinding from 1 to 2 and ocasionaly on the rest of the gears start after changing the oil from stock to redline. i'll let you know if the oil help.

Well I just inspected my clutch assembly its in need of greasing up other than that there are no problems (I'm still going to reinforce it with welds).

Second there is no slipping in any gear of my clutch, so I don't think I need a new clutch kit.

Wich leads me to believe that it is my throw out bearing that is either going bad or needs to be greased up I'll let you guys know on saturday if that is indeed the case if not I'm honestly stumped

I've had a high pitched squeal for about two weeks. Only on start and only in neutral. Goes away when I push the clutch in. This weekend figured out it was probably the throwout bearing, and was going to take it into my mechanic on Wednesday. Long story short, this morning, a mile from work, bearing goes out. Clutch pedal goes most of the way to floor with minimal pressure until the last inch / inch and a half, then very hard to push the rest of the way. Gears shift clean with pedal all the way down, except no reverse. When I pulled into my space at work had cloud of grey smoke pour out from under the hood.

Called around to transmission places in Richardson. Labor looking like $300-$400 and parts $550, if they can get them (one said Monday at soonest). Dealership says parts&labor for $1100, and they have them in stock.

It's being towed to the place with the lowest labor quote and they'll check it out and let me know details in a couple hours.

So you got no grinding, until you tried Redline? Which weight, MT-90? I got no grinding either, until I switched from stock to the heavily preferred MT-90, and I got grinding from 3rd-4th in excess of 6-7k rpm. 75w-140 made it even worst, Then I went to MTL (70w-80) and problem solved. I think MT-90 even if slightly, is heavier than whatever the dealer is using, regardless if the manual recommends 75w-90. Heavier oil can lead to mismatching gear speeds and creating a grind. My only theory for those who found heavier to be their savior is they're possible shifting harder and potentially abusing their gears way more than I am is why it may have not worked for me. Just a theory.

i just switched to MT-90 and the changing is much smoother but I wouldnt say I switch gears hard unlesss Im driving spiritedly... anyways, the throwout bearingis not the problem for the high pitch squeak as I originally though it would seem that sound is normal on the 8's if there is noise when u press the clutch in than your bearing is bad or so I have gathered...

In other news Im getting my pedal welded as we speak so hopefully that fixes the odd gritty feeling I was occasionally getting from the pedal... we will see Ill keep you all updated

the sound when the clutch is out and gone when its pressed in is normal.

get it changed ASAP as the wierd feeling ur getting is most likely the pressure plate i just had this issue do u feel a weird vibration when u have ur foot sitting on the clutch pedal? if so then its the throw out bearing which can cause ur clutch pedal to fall and not come back up at all so be very careful as that prolonged usage will break the teeth of the pressure plate thus destroying ur clutch so be prepared to replace the clutch


ok so ya some noise is normal a high pitched horrible noise is when the bearing goes out you will continue to hear the noise while the pedal is depressed aswell as hardly any noise when the pedal is up

My clutch pedal squeaked and I took it to the dealer wanting them to inspect it for breaks in the welds and lube it up. Apprently it was the Master Cylinder and they replaced mine... no more squeak... hmmm

Hi, I got a similar problem; it’s been a few days now since I got that sound... Went to get some petrol on Thursday and that’s when it happened,

It was warmed up as normal, I was driving a bit fast, then sound started but when I push the clutch down, it stops. When I release the clutch gradually, the sound comes back gradually…

when fully off the clutch (in neutral or in gear) the whistling sound is back.

My clutch is normal, I can reverse.. and no smoke.

When I put my AC on it does help a little to calm the sound down, so I 've been driving with AC on for the past few days, a bit of the time with and some without =(

What do you think?

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/weird-sound-clutch-200840/

Here's mine, the Clutch Pedal Bracket broke last week. I couldn't get a clear view at first because my driver side door was locked from the inside and out due to a broken spring in the mechanism. I'm going to remove mine and have it welded tomorrow... By the way, I've always noticed the squeaking and thought it's only the spring re-tractor since I bought my 2004 RX-8 last year and it had 104,000 miles; hence, the rust build up on the upper section of the break. The bracket's one of my major few issues with the car.

Clutch pedals in this condition are not able to be repaired. Buy a brand-new one and have it reinforcement welded before you install it.

The RX-8 release bearing, made by Koyo, is notoriously weak and they chirp as they bounce off the pressure plate while idling in neutral. I have a bunch of them I would be happy to give away if you pay for shipping. Otherwise, well, you guys know what BHR does..........

I thought about it...
 

I considered buying a new one and just have it reinforced with a better weld...