My 2004 RX8 clutch failed tonight with only 29,000 miles.
   Dang!! The pedal went right to the floor and stayed there.
   Apparently the large diaphragm spring went over center.
   The clutch became permanently dis-engaged. I could not move
   the car.

   I'll have it towed to the dealer on Monday or Tuesday.

   I was disappointed to see the Mazda engineers did not use my
   annular hydraulic throw out cylinder invention :)

   Its still got the old fashion out side slave cylinder
   and lever arrangement.

   Paul Lamar

It could happen, but the tips of the fingers just run into the clutch
center, and the pedal gets rock hard although at the bottom of its stroke.
It is also possible that the slave cylinder has a piece of hose liner
loose in it and has blocked the return of the fluid from the fully
charged cylinder. If the pedal comes back after a few hours, that is
probably it. Another failure I have suffered is the failure of the
bearing, followed almost instantly by the spring fingers overheating and
allowing the bearing through the spring center, and ruining the spring.
Same outcome as you have. There must be a positive stop somewhere in the
system, lest folks push the pedal too far and again ruin the clutch. If
the fingers are against the clutch center it will not release. Sounds
like the stop failed first.

I use the Tilton bearing on the Saenz and a Coleman on the Richmond
Gear. I added spring clips to hold them tight against the transmission
face.

You should shine up that patent with an internal self adjusting return
spring and sell it to the Mazda folks. I like 1920s technology as much
as the next guy, I just don't like using it.

Thank you for a great idea.

Lynn E. Hanover

Thanks Lynn I'll check the pedal this morning.


Paul Lamar