>> 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
>
> Paul, you might try to release the hydraulic pressure (if present) by
> opening the slave bleeder valve.
>
>
> Joel
>
> OK Joel Thanks.
>
> Paul Lamar


Yeah, come to think of it, I bought a Miata with a "failed clutch". I
bled the clutch hydraulic system and it's been going strong for 10k
miles now. =D

-Chris

I bled it Joel. Did not help. The guys at Seven Stock said Mazda had a lot of trouble with the pedal assembly but that does not appear to be the problem
with my RX8.

I got under the dash and I could find no cracks. The pedal was stable from side to side. The return spring appears to be working. If this assembly breaks don't put a new one in unless you weld it up first. They are breaking around the spot welds.


The next step is jack up the car and creep under it to get access to the slave cylinder. The clutch (except for wear) warranty expired a year ago. The engine warranty is good to 100,000 miles or 9/27/2011 which ever occurs first.

Paul Lamar

By some strange coincidence, I finished installing the clutch hydraulic
lines in my 13B/Alpine and if failed in exactly the same way.  I pushed
the pedal down, then the clutch stayed released.  In this case though
it was the RX-7 slave cylinder that had been sitting around in
Mississippi for 10 years without use.  The piston and cylinder were
corroded.  I installed a new slave cylinder this morning and it's seems
to be working just fine.

Bob W.