Clutch replacement tips tricks and Q's
 

So i just finished my clutch replacement basically following samnavys instructions found here:
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthrea...ch+replacement
It did take a long time, but was my first time touching the transmission of the drivetrain. Along the way i found a few little tricks that might help out some other people.

1. Make sure you have a quality Universal joint for your sockets. I broke one, it sees a lot of torque.

2. If you are using a rope pulley through the shift hole, which you should be because its awesome, you can close the driver side door on the rope to hold it for you.

3. Duh, remember where all the bolts came from, it took me like 20 minutes to figure out where the one longer transmission bolt went.

4. Change your transmission gear oil! i put in redline mt-90 and its like butter now.

5. When you spill oil out the rear of the transmission when you're putting it back on, which you will, you can just use a hose through where the shifter goes to fill it with a funnel, no stupid pump necessary.

Now for my question.
I put the new clutch on and the pedal was super soft, and wouldnt shift through the gears when running, so i adjusted the screw and got it so where it shifts now fine. But theres still a huge soft spot before it engages.
1. Keep adjusting the screw till its good?
2. I need a new clucth slave?
3. Bleed the system theres air in there.

Thanks.

3

if your car is 15 years old, your clutch fluid is too - unless you remember flushing it. That, combined with a heavier clutch, is going to move the pedal down a good bit.

I have to say that every clutch replacement guide I've read scares the shit out of me, and the occasional "It's not really that difficult" comments aren't doing much to comfort me.

For future reference, this only applies to the 6 speeds. On the 5 speed, the shifter turret oil is separate and sealed off from the transmission oil. On the 6 speed, the shifter turret is splash lubricated by the transmission gears.

Doing the tranny isn't really that hard. Just 11 bolts, a few on the ppf, and remove the exhaust.

I ended up filling my 5 speed with a long aquarium hose I stole from my wife, ran it basically against the downpipe and up the driver's side of the car. The cone on the end of the trans fluid bottles fit the end of the hose, other end in the trans. Not bad.

Incidentally, all fish are now dead.

I will be happy to take your money to replace the clutch for you. I have done many of them. Most on a lift but the last one was done on my back on my SM. If you have done any work on your car then this is not that bad. It is just scary since you have to remove a big part from the car. I just used my floor jack under the trans to lower and raise it. Not that hard just do it and remember to torque the bolts to the right spec.

Have a great day,
Jared

Not that I don't believe you, but can anybody else confirm this? Does that mean I need to fill my 6-speed up to the shifter turret, or fill it up to level with the fill hole on the side of the transmission?

Cody you do not need to fill it throught the turrent. Just that you can.

The previous owner of my car tried to do the fill through the turent and ended up overfilling the trans by half of a quart. it is still best to fill it through the fill hole on the drivers side of the trans. You can use the turent but be carefull not to over fill.

Have a great day,
Jared

Now that I have a 6 speed, I would remove the fill plug, then add fluid through the shifter turret, till it starts spilling out the fill plug. So much easier than through the fill plug, you know with gravity helping and all. I never really thought of that until I saw the OP's post.

Actually, my 5 speed spilled oil out the back of the actual transmission, becasue the driveshaft is part of the seal, when it's gone, there is no seal, so when the back is tipped down(by accident) oil can just go right in the fill hole and out the back.

To mgerrofieau I am an 18 year old kid and although i completely fabricated my own turbo setup, this was the first time ever doing something this big to a car. It is scary at first, but its not that hard truthfully and theres not many ways to mess up.

I have a feeling we're talking about different holes here. ;)

You're talking about the driveshaft hole. I'm talking about the hole that the shifter goes into.

You can leave the driveshaft in when you drop the tranny to keep the oil from leaking out there. I had decent luck with a latex glove and a bunch of rubber bands.

I will confirm his information.

5 Speed, fill through tranny fill port until fluid comes out, close fill port, then fill fluid in the shifter turret seperately.

6 speed, remove fill plug in tranny. fill tranny through fill port -OR- through shift turret until fluid comes out fill port. then close fill port.

What, you doubt my awesomeness? :giggle:

On the 5 speed, the turret oil is kept separate from the transmission oil by a rubber seal. That seal could fail and cause all of the shifter turret oil to go into the transmission.

It's super easy if you have access to a hoist, a little more difficult if you're on the ground. It's really just: pull shifter, drain tranny fluid, unbolt ppf, unbolt transmission, remove. Unbolt clutch, resurface flywheel, re-install.

Almost everyone forgets to fill that turret up, and yes, you NEED to fill it. I think people online have recommended putting ATF in it, but I put proper gear oil in it. I used to use ATF, then when I did my last motorswap and drained the tranny oil, I realized the ATF seaped from the turret into my main transmission fluid. It was nice and red, and not healthy at all.

This is full of WIN since I haven't filled my 6 speed yet, or put in the shifter. It hurts your feelings when the motorcraft synthetic stuff spills. No competition in this area. Two qts from FORD was $50.

Clutch replacement is very easy. Just make sure you don't cheap out and not get the alignment tool.

Can you even buy a clutch without it coming with an alignment tool?

My clutch came on an engine that I bought and had rebuilt. I had to buy the tool. I've never actually bought a new clutch, so I don't know what they come with. I would hope that it is at least recommended.

Makes sense then. Every clutch I have seen bought has came with the correct tool. So I think I have 2 or 3 of them just chilling in my garage now.