ChristInBen

Hey guys,

This might be an obvious question, but I was curious....it was a nice day on Saturday, and I was sorta driving my 8 hard. When I say hard, I mean quick shifts, and in the process, I accidentally pressed the clutch slightly before releasing my gas pedal (while shifting from 3rd to 4th), so the tach sorta "blipped" and then fell into place. I've only ever done that twice, but is that bad on your clutch? Also, I quick shifted from first to second from around 6,000 - 7,000 rpm (I never launch my car, just started off normal, but shifted really quick from first to second around 6,000 - 7,000 rpm), and the shift felt hard. Again, I don't usually do this, but I would think our tranny's and clutches are designed for this if it's supposed to be able to be taken to the track in stock form? I don't notice anything wrong after driving it hard; infact, thanks to God, my car drives well, but I was just curious on this topic! Anyway, what do you guys think?

Thanks and hope you guys had an awesome Easter weekend!

God Bless you guys!

Ben.

TurboEight

iTrader: (1)

The is of course more more stress/strain on the transmission while "driving hard" verus just driving "normal"

but nothing to the point that it will "break" something..

and 6k-7k shifts are not really that hard at all..

our tranny's were "design" to take shifts even upto 9000rpm

the shift feeling hard are all perfectly normal aswell, it's the syncros doing their job...

Our cars should be driven that way sometimes...

If you don't, might as well get a corolla....

ChristInBen

Haha, no thanks dude! I'm very happy with my 8! Thanks for the answer tho, I do like to drive it hard sometimes, so just a concern I had.

LiTTleRX-8

A few screw ups won't really do too much damage on the tranny. The 8 being my first manual, I've had my share of bad shifts, shifting with throttle not fully off. The 8 is also my brother's first manual as well. So basically, two noobs driving the 8, and with 42k km in 2.5yrs the tranny still feels quite strong.

spd frk

Just wait until you guys get up over 100,000km. I have many years of manual experience so I am not hard on the tranny, but even with redline fluids mine is getting notchy. It is not as smooth as it was when new. Just synchro wear I guess. Especially when it is cold 2nd gear sucks. I get a big crunch first thing in the morning

Neo

Gotta give the gearbox time before you slip it into 2nd when it's cold.
You basically have to take it out of first, pause in neutral very quickly, and then ease it into 2nd. You'll never crunch the gear this way.
Gotta have some TLC when the equipment is getting old.

mysql

You mean, designed for 7,500 rpm, and able to withstand a few 9,000 rpm runs before it falls into little pieces.

The damn thing falls apart when driven hard. Even when on a lightly modified NA setup.

Neo

Every part has tolerances. If you're going to be running more power through a gearbox only designed for a certain amount, what do you expect? Of course it'll break fast if you're rough with it.

The RX-8 gearbox can withstand the ham fisted driver in stock form, but once you start applying more power, the gearbox will give if you're not gentle with it.

What is with people holding onto the shifter like it was life or death?!?! You only need to touch it when you're ready to shift. No need to hold onto it all the time. Or use it as a hand rest. That really irritates me.
Along with people driving with 1 hand on the top of the steering wheel and their seats reclined all the way back! All that's left is for the person to be leaning towards the middle of the car and having a baseball cap slightly tilted to the right or left.

You can tell who the real drivers are and who the "posers" are.

RX8 dood

iTrader: (1)

Why are you so random?

TurboEight

iTrader: (1)

^^^ LOL!!

mysql

Just regular driving can result with transmission damage. Even just autocrossing with the rx8 has had many transmissions break apart for drivers who have autocrossed with numerous other cars prior without issue. We're not talking about one random event, but repeated failures.

I have zero faith in the rx-8 transmission. I'm on my second now, and it's brand spanking new. Hopefully it lasts longer than the previous one. It at least has all the updated shift forks.

Gecko69

hahah...I would be a little hesitant on trusting the tranny with the power you are making as well. But overall, the trasmission is a known weak point for the rx8.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

YEAH WHAT HE SAID!!! +1

Neo

RX-8 dood,

It just happens. I think of the transmission and I start to think of all the things associated with it.
First image that comes to mind is someone holding onto the shifter as if it were life or death.
Sorry, that's just the way things pop into my mind.

Mysql,

I was unaware of the tranny being a weak point. Of all the people I know who have an RX-8, they have never gone through a tranny. Then again they don't have the power upgrades you currently have. That could be a major factor.

As I said before, anything will let go if you're abusing it all the time. If you're going to drive the car like you stole it, then be prepared to pay for it. Don't expect things to be indestructible.

A normally driven RX-8, with the occasional run around a track or doing auto cross, wouldn't go through trannies. Not unless you're a rookie at manual shifting.

The next thing you really have to be careful with is the rear diff. I've seen alot of RX-7's blow their diff because they wanted to get off the line really quick. These cars were never designed for drag racing. A Mustang with a live rear axle will get the jump on you. So don't bother stressing the drivetrain.
(A random thought just for you RX8_dood)

mysql

It is not a factor. My transmission started having issues BEFORE I went turbo.

I never even launch / drop the clutch. And as I said before, I change transmission fluid every year.


Never abused it. The transmission is just horrible.


You should tell TeamRX8 how badly he sucks then. I use him as an example since he hasn't had issues with his previous cars and has gone through 2-3 trannys on the 8.


Our diff appear to be pretty good.

delhi

I never had any transmission issues in all the cars I've owned. And that includes those so-called glass trannys in WRX running at stage II boosts. Dare I say the issue lies between the steering wheel and the driver's seat.

Smokin_LaLa

When you blipped it, sounds like you may have done the heel to toe technique that racers use basically they use their right foot horizontally across the brake and gas and tapping the clutch. This helps them to keep their revs up while taking a really tight turn. I have seen many vids with this car doing that and no one that i kno have reported any problems with this. Although I don't recomment trying it unless you know what you are doing

spd frk

NEO

I agree with you that when cold especially a car needs a little extra mechanical sympathy. But even taking these steps I still get crunching in the gearbox. Now whether this is an idication of a weakening synchro as other people have, I can't say. But when the temps get below -10C, even with the pause I get a big crunch. The car will also pop out of 1st at random when the temps are like this. That woud lead me to believe it is just a temperature related issue. Like the fluid is too thick and not letter the forks push the gears entirely together.

Juergen

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Mine was hosed b4 I went on the juice.