Not sure where to put this, but I searched and couldn't find anything similar (I hate the RX8club search engine).

I've got an RP short shifter installed (and an ACT prolite flywheel, if that might be causing any issues), and I'm having grinding issues with it.

Anyway, I'm having major issues launching my RX-8 because I get hellish grinding shifting from 1-2 under load (above 5k RPM). Even with the clutch fully depressed, letting off the throttle for a moment, grinding ensues if the placement isn't SUPER precise. So far, it seems the ideal placement is way way way left, trying to get as far into the corner gate as possible. But even then, it's no science. Seems way too hard to be normal.

If anything, the shifter feels loose, in the sense that I can wiggle the **** without creating any movement in the linkage. Seems like the plastic in the shifter might be worn? I forgot what a stock RX-8 shifter feels like, but I'm considering going back...

Anyone else have an RP shifter with similar issues? Fixes? Ideas?

 

I don't think it is the shifter.
It's syncro.

 

If so, great.

Only 14k on the car, and it's an '07, so I can't blame any potential "early" bugs... I should probably reinstall the stock shifter and take it to the dealer if it doesn't improve.

 

the shifter won't cause grinding. if you're lucky, your transmission will need to be rebuilt. if you are unlucky, mazda techs will claim your transmission issue cannot be replicated, and force you to drive around with a grinding transmission for another year or two till it is bad enough for them to replicate. hopefully still within your warranty period.

 

Well, it wasn't the shifter.

After installing my stock shifter, I was able to shift without grinding a few times, but it reappeared.
I took car to the dealer today, and just received a call notifying me that "the technician drove it and was able to replicate the problem" - somebody else redlining and grinding my car - which means that they'll be pulling my transmission to find the issue. Beauty of a 5 yr powertrain warranty is that this won't be coming out of pocket, thankfully. Plus it gives me an excuse to have my ACT clutch installed to match the prolite flywheel already in there, and save my stock parts in case I ever need them.

Will post updates as the dealer notifies me.

RX-8 -less for "a few" days in dealer time, and with the weekend coming up, and the thought of parts needing to be ordered, who knows how long I'll be sans rotary... No loaner either since I'm not 25.

Air cooled flat four, here I come!

 

what the hell no loaner? they gave me a loaner and i was only 21

 

not surprised to hear it's the transmission although I have been seeing less of this with the '07's. maybe you just got a dud.

as far as replicating it, when I dropped my '05 off with bad synchros (2 years ago), I asked the Service Manager to go for a quick spin with me. 9,000 rpm shfit...GRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNNNDDDDDDDD

He looked over and said, "yup, sounds broken to me. We'll get this fixed right away"
A week later I had a new transmission.

 

I didn't ask, they didn't offer; I'm just guessing it's based on age. I did kinda want to zip around in a Mazda3 for a few days, but in the end it doesn't really matter since I have another car. I'm moving down to San Diego on Monday, and the loaner would just be another thing to worry about.