iShift@9k

I have a 2004 rx8 with about 80k miles. Recently the clutch started slipping badly so I had it swapped for an exedy stage 1. I just got the car back today and had some questions:

1. The clutch now engages literally right off the floor. Is this normal? Can this be adjusted?

2. The gear spacing has changed. The spacing between 1st, 3rd, and 5th are now closer together. The throw from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th are the same distance, but the distance left to right between 1st, 3rd, and 5th is drastically closer. Also, to get into reverse I used to have to push the shift **** down towards the ground, right and back to lock into reverse. Now its just far right and back. Why did this happen?

3rd. When in neutral the shift **** used to have a lot of free play. Now even in neutral all movements are pretty deliberate. Again, is this normal? or will this loosen up?

The car shifts fine and it grips hard. I've never had anything but a stock clutch in the car and want to make sure everything I'm experiencing is normal or part of the break in process. The shop that performed the work is closed until monday. Any advice/insights you guys could provide would be awesome. Thank you!

roflcopter

iTrader: (2)

From what it sounds like, more work than just the clutch swap was done, the engagement point will be different with a new clutch(physically there is a different amount of material there) and this can be adjusted to a point be using the threaded section of the pushrod on the clutch pedal.

The rest of that sounds to me like they swapped shifter bushings or something as well, but I would have to see it to tell you if it's 'normal' or not. I'm sure someone else will chime in with more experience with that.

VOODOO8

Agree with roflcopter. Have you questioned the mechanic as to what was done with your tranny? I have had my tranny rebuilt a couple of times now. Along with a new clutch on the second go-round I replaced stock with a lightened flywheel and new pilot bearing, throwout bearing and seals. The mechanic who did the work did a crap job of getting the alignment right. First tell-tale was the shifting was a bit "notchy" over what it was before the work was done. Second telltale was that the clutch would stutter on engagement at very low speeds under high load (like takeoff going uphill from a standstill). Within 2K miles after the work was done the new pilot bearing blew up in a protracted session of bumper-to-bumper stop & go traffic.

iShift@9k

Just called the mechanic. He said what I was talking about sounded more like transmission. He said they don't even touch that. He said the only thing that he could think of would be the linkage and to make sure that was all correct. He's completly booked today so I'm going to drop the car off and hope for some luck. I agree with voodoo my shifting is a bit notchy, and the shift pattern definitely changed. I'll keep you guys updated. If anyone else has an idea please let me know!

Rorschach

iTrader: (3)

Sometimes where a clutch catches is adjustable. If yours is then that could be the answer to the floor engaging lol, they might have just set it up that way when they installed it

04Green

iTrader: (1)

IMO, sounds like the shifter did not go back in right. There is really no linkage. The shifter drops in from the top. If it is in right, the reverse lock out will engage. Not sure what happens if it gets in wrong, but I do believe the reverse lockout will not work.

paimon.soror

iTrader: (15)

well if the shifter is put in wrong it just wont go in so you wont be able to bolt it down. There are little notches on the sides of the shifter pivot ball and they are made to only go in one way.

iShift@9k

Got a call from the shop today, roflcopter had the right idea. They said there was a bushing that got stuck and that was causing issues. I'm going to go get the car in a couple hours and I'll report back! Hopefully the shift patterns got changed back too! Thanks for all the input.

Rorschach

iTrader: (3)

Good! Glad it was just a bushing and not something a whole lot worse. I'm not sure how different the shift patterns would be though. Good luck