Clutch failure tracking thread

[CWP_MS3]

The factory clutch. I had this issue once, and had it replaced under warranty. They did a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. They reused the original flywheel. I've been bitching about it since day one.

[blackms3_71]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 The factory clutch. I had this issue once, and had it replaced under warranty. They did a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. They reused the original flywheel. I've been bitching about it since day one.

Wow that sucks. Atleast they fixed it the one time. I think you will be happy with the act. 6 puc? If so i want to hear ur reaction when u drive it for the first time lol i thought my slave went bad lmao

[CWP_MS3]

Originally Posted by blackms3_71 Wow that sucks. Atleast they fixed it the one time. I think you will be happy with the act. 6 puc? If so i want to hear ur reaction when u drive it for the first time lol i thought my slave went bad lmao

I've driven a 6 puck plenty of times. It takes me a minute to make the adjustment but I don't mind it.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 I've driven a 6 puck plenty of times. It takes me a minute to make the adjustment but I don't mind it.

6 Puck is what is in my Speed3; it's the old school version with the super heavy pedal load. About 45k miles on it.

Just so you guys know, the 6 puck has a similar warm up characteristic....it's a little funky until it has been driven for a few minutes.

[CWP_MS3]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff Just so you guys know, the 6 puck has a similar warm up characteristic....it's a little funky until it has been driven for a few minutes.

I hope not. Mine feels like my clutch is fucked when its cold as fuck out. Then... Then.... It actually fucks my clutch up because it does slip more. LOL.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 I hope not. Mine feels like my clutch is fucked when its cold as fuck out. Then... Then.... It actually fucks my clutch up because it does slip more. LOL.

Well for me I also have to deal with a JMF mani, it also makes the car act weird on warm ups...I assume it's the clutch but I don't know tbh.

[blackms3_71]

I have 6 puck and it feels fine on cold starts. Maybe the first 2-3 take offs are a tad rough.

[voodoo2crue]

Ah well, I didn't want to end up on this thread but I'm at 57000 and slipping when wot at peak torque areas 4000ish rpm's in 4/5/and 6th gear. It only slips for a half second or so then catches and is okay.I can also ease into the throttle and it doesn't slip at all.
I'm probably wishful thinking here, but I've never changed the fluid yet, has anyone had a similar experience and changed the fluid and this slipping was fixed?

[CWP_MS3]

ACT sitting next to the couch. Going in next Friday. Fuck the stock clutch.

[someguy]

Originally Posted by voodoo2crue Ah well, I didn't want to end up on this thread but I'm at 57000 and slipping when wot at peak torque areas 4000ish rpm's in 4/5/and 6th gear. It only slips for a half second or so then catches and is okay.I can also ease into the throttle and it doesn't slip at all. I'm probably wishful thinking here, but I've never changed the fluid yet, has anyone had a similar experience and changed the fluid and this slipping was fixed?

If you're referring to trans fluid, it has nothing to do with the clutch (unless it's leaking out of it's housing, but changing the fluid won't change that).

I found mine would slip more when cold when it was starting to go...once it's started to slip, prepare for a clutch change.

[voodoo2crue]

Since getting home from work and being able to look at logs and run it in vdyno, it appears to me that what I thought I was feeling as clutch slipping may have just been @rfinkle2; tune protecting my car from me in cold weather this morning. It looks like I was over shooting the load targets and the throttle was closing to bring the car back to targets. I'll attach a log from this morning and this evening if anybody wants to take a look. I also compared logs from past and 60-100 was almost identical times so hopefully I was worried about nothing.

Edit; just thought I would also add factoring into the high cal load numbers was my decision to try a few more degrees of timing which only made the throttle close more to keep the car on target. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope I was being a dumbass thinking the clutch slipped.

[rfinkle2]

2 things to watch out for when running e85.. MBT, 350 -360 wtq

I have to try to balance power and reliability or I failed you as a tuner.

[CWP_MS3]

Originally Posted by rfinkle2 2 things to watch out for when running e85.. MBT, 350 -360 wtq I have to try to balance power and reliability or I failed you as a tuner.

Where do most of your E85 tunes end up hp/tq, in general? I know that's a very subjective question because of customers asking for different levels of aggression.

[rfinkle2]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 Where do most of your E85 tunes end up hp/tq, in general? I know that's a very subjective question because of customers asking for different levels of aggression.

If I had to average things out, hitting 350-360 wtq in the 3500-4500 region is easily doable, most times need to limit torque there some..

and when tq starts to drop off after that, assuming we are talking stock turbo cars, in the cold weather anywhere from 300-330 whp..

[voodoo2crue]

Originally Posted by rfinkle2 2 things to watch out for when running e85.. MBT, 350 -360 wtq I have to try to balance power and reliability or I failed you as a tuner.

I'm proud to call this guy my tuner(while hugging Rob)

Just noticed i'm a brownie!

[someguy]

Originally Posted by voodoo2crue Since getting home from work and being able to look at logs and run it in vdyno, it appears to me that what I thought I was feeling as clutch slipping may have just been @rfinkle2; tune protecting my car from me in cold weather this morning. It looks like I was over shooting the load targets and the throttle was closing to bring the car back to targets. I'll attach a log from this morning and this evening if anybody wants to take a look. I also compared logs from past and 60-100 was almost identical times so hopefully I was worried about nothing. Edit; just thought I would also add factoring into the high cal load numbers was my decision to try a few more degrees of timing which only made the throttle close more to keep the car on target. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope I was being a dumbass thinking the clutch slipped.

I haven't opened your logs but the easy way to see if you're slipping is in a constant gear divide RPM by speed, the number you get across all readings should stay fairly constant (within +/- 1 or so).

[voodoo2crue]

Originally Posted by someguy I haven't opened your logs but the easy way to see if you're slipping is in a constant gear divide RPM by speed, the number you get across all readings should stay fairly constant (within +/- 1 or so).

Thanks, that works pretty good, I also found plotting speed/rpm in excel will give you a good indication.

[voodoo2crue]

Okay, this is my final answer, the clutch is slipping. I took it for a drive this evening and it slipped on a wot so for science sake I ran one more and logged.It will now be parked until I can work on it, will probably be shooting for an install next weekend.

[CWP_MS3]

Better chill out on it. lol It can start to go VERY fast. My first one slipped for a while. This current one went from 0 to 100 real quick. I've left it parked for the last month plus.

My techs and I are firmly believing my issue was the flywheel from the beginning, and when they installed the new clutch that's the one thing they didn't replace. Once I got my car back I immediately got chatter and should have taken it back, but it took me 2 months to get my car, so I said fuck it.

[voodoo2crue]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 Better chill out on it. lol It can start to go VERY fast. My first one slipped for a while. This current one went from 0 to 100 real quick. I've left it parked for the last month plus. My techs and I are firmly believing my issue was the flywheel from the beginning, and when they installed the new clutch that's the one thing they didn't replace. Once I got my car back I immediately got chatter and should have taken it back, but it took me 2 months to get my car, so I said fuck it.

That sucks that it took 2 months,damn.I'll definitely be changing both the clutch and fw, I haven't decided which combo i'll go with yet.I'll be doing this work myself next weekend providing the weather is good in my shop aka "the carport" Anyway, as far as chilling out goes my car is in bay#2 right now and hopefully the next time it moves I'll be breaking the new clutch in.

[CWP_MS3]

Originally Posted by voodoo2crue That sucks that it took 2 months,damn.I'll definitely be changing both the clutch and fw, I haven't decided which combo i'll go with yet.I'll be doing this work myself next weekend providing the weather is good in my shop aka "the carport" Anyway, as far as chilling out goes my car is in bay#2 right now and hopefully the next time it moves I'll be breaking the new clutch in.

I called in a favor to get it fixed under warranty, so yeah I wasn't in the position to be upset with timing. Car went in with all mods on and a tank full of E85. lol Plus it was winter and they gave me a brand new Subaru Outback as a loaner. I wasn't salty at all.

And yes, my new clutch is being done by me and a local next Friday at my house.

[5doorsoffury]

Fuck this stock clutch. It slipped on me like a bitch then once it became garaged it stopped slipping. Then it was hit and miss after that. In the summer when I make my lowest power it slips and now in winter it is rock solid...

I cant wait to do a clutch just to see if my RMS is leaking. I am putting my money on this when it comes to random slipping.

[someguy]

Originally Posted by 5doorsoffury Fuck this stock clutch. It slipped on me like a bitch then once it became garaged it stopped slipping. Then it was hit and miss after that. In the summer when I make my lowest power it slips and now in winter it is rock solid... I cant wait to do a clutch just to see if my RMS is leaking. I am putting my money on this when it comes to random slipping.

It's probably not the RMS...it's probably the clutch. Mine slipped one winter, was fine all summer, and then started slipping again worse and worse the next winter. The clutch was just finished when I pulled it, no leaks at all.

[CWP_MS3]

I haven't seen or heard of too many rear main seal failures. The one I saw was on a built block where the RMS wasn't installed correctly (not sealed to the pan). However, I intend to have one on hand for when I pull my trans, for the off chance I see any signs of a leak. I'd rather have one ready to go in, then come unprepared and have to wait while Mazda gets me a new RMS.

[voodoo2crue]

I started a new thread on the my clutch replacement if anybody is interested. It'll be a slow process, not in any hurry, waiting on parts at the moment.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...me-lol-198739/

[CWP_MS3]

Disc looked brand new again. Throw-out bearing came out in 2 pieces though.

[voodoo2crue]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 Disc looked brand new again. Throw-out bearing came out in 2 pieces though.

My findings we're similar to yours.
Throw out bearing was close to being in two pieces
Clutch disc had plenty of life left
pressure plate and the flywheel we're both hot spotted
So, I'm guessing the guy who had the car before me broke it in hard and rode the hell out of the clutch.

[CWP_MS3]

I didn't really have any hot spots on this PP but the flywheel did from the last clutch. Then again, that one slipped for much longer before it told me to go get fucked. lol

[Aro]

2013 speed3 non tech package.
had engine replaced under warranty at 48000 km, the clutch was contaminated so they put in a new one. failed instantly (0km on engine 0km on clutch), clutch slipped in 4th 5th and 6th at 3k rpm. my mazda tech made m drive it for 5000km before they had mazda replace it again.

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 The factory clutch. I had this issue once, and had it replaced under warranty. They did a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. They reused the original flywheel. I've been bitching about it since day one.

hey bud that happened to me. I had a dead cylinder and there was oil on the clutch. they replaced clutch, pressure plate and tob. it failed INSTANTLY. they replaced it with a new flywheel, clutch, pressure plate and tob.

[5doorsoffury]

I said it once ill say it again the rms leaks oil on the clutch and it slips. I would reccomend a perm plate and 2 cans.

My clutch slipped like a drunk bitch in the rain then i got 2 cans and a modded pcv plate. After a bunch of babying it im fine. No slipping on e85. IMO the clutch gets oil and after a while it dries and the clutch wears allowing the pp to ratchet down. The oil causes hot spots thou. Oil cant get on a clutch unless it is from the motor. The only entrance point is the rms.

The rubber tires on my car (new off the lot) came dry rotted after a year wich makes me think my seals are shareing a similar fate.

[Jonb82]

What's going on fam! 2012 non tech. Clutch decided to slip this morning while driving to a spot to so some dataloging. Just installed TBE. Other power mods are SRI, TIP, TMIC, tune targeting 21 psi. Turned off traction for ten seconds. Shifted to fourth during a pull getting on the on ramp and saw my rpms rise slightly unproportionate to speed. Shifted to fifth and did the same thing. They jumped for a second then the tach caught up. Nothing drastic. No smell. Im 95% certain its slipping but for a shot in the dark, anyone have any other suggestions?

[PearlySpeed]

How many miles are on the car? The roads were pretty damp, I was doing some logging this morning in fort myers as well and I had encountered some wheelspin that threw me off. Check your logs or better yet post them up for the pros to look at.

[Jonb82]

66,000. But they're highway miles. Bought it last year stock with 45,000 of that makes a difference. No rain as I did it in the am. Roads were dry. Temp was 86*. I didn't make it to do the logs. Noticed this and turned around like a bitch. I'll def head out tomorrow and get some though. I'm currently looking into the RMS. So far doubt it's that. No oil leakage on ground. But still looking into it. Thank you for the reply


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[Jonb82]

So after reading I don't think it's the RMS. I do know my new tune is targeting 20-21 psi. So my question is do you think if I remap my old tune that was targeting 18, will it prolong the clutch until I can replace it? I've read a couple threads that when people have up'ed their boost their clutch would slip, but after taking it out it looked almost perfect. I know I'm going to replace it. I just have to pay off the exhaust on my card first. Don't like having anything over $200 on more than one.

[MD1032]

When my clutch started slipping, I think I detuned it from ~360 to ~320 wtq or so and it never slipped once after that except for once when I had a wastegate line blow and hit 26 psi of course.

[voodoo2crue]

Unfortunately it looks like I'm slipping again. The Luk/Fidanza combo is not holding up to the S4 at around 380ish torque. I'm going to back torque way down and see if I can baby the car around for a while until I can get another clutch. The luk has only lasted for 12000 miles so it's disappointing, hopefully others have better luck with it.

[MD1032]

Originally Posted by voodoo2crue Unfortunately it looks like I'm slipping again. The Luk/Fidanza combo is not holding up to the S4 at around 380ish torque. I'm going to back torque way down and see if I can baby the car around for a while until I can get another clutch. The luk has only lasted for 12000 miles so it's disappointing, hopefully others have better luck with it.

Honestly, my suspicion is that manufacturing variance with the stock clutch combined with variation in measurement of wheel torque gives the appearance of a broad spectrum of clutch failures. At any rate there is more than enough historical data on this forum IMO to tell you that expecting the stock clutch to handle 380 wtq is tossing the dice.

The ACT 6 pad is a popular replacement for a reason.

[voodoo2crue]

Originally Posted by MD1032 The ACT 6 pad is a popular replacement for a reason.

^^^Probably my next clutch^^^

[Jonb82]

I thought everybody says fuck ACT. I'm leaning more towards a Southbend stage 2 daily. Seems it keeps almost stock drivability and holds the torque well.


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[PearlySpeed]

Never had a platform that had so many varying clutch problems both oem and aftermarket