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Broken clutch release forks

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Old 02-18-04, 12:01 PM
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Broken clutch release forks

Is the original clutch release fork cast aluminum? I just got my new clutch release fork and it is most definitely cast iron. If the original one is in fact aluminum then this replacement will be much stronger. I have not pulled the tranny yet so I am not sure what the original was made from.

N315-16-520B clutch release fork
Old 02-18-04, 12:12 PM
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When I pulled my tranny last year, I don't remember the fork being "light". I would be very surprised if it were aluminum. It seems to me that an aluminum fork would be too easy to bend/break, and would be a very poor choice of materials.
Old 02-18-04, 12:15 PM
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This ought to be forged or machined-from-billet steel. It's a poor choice of materials if it is not.
Old 02-18-04, 12:20 PM
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Well there goes my hope that the new one is stronger
Old 02-18-04, 12:27 PM
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Originally posted by DaveW
This ought to be forged or machined-from-billet steel. It's a poor choice of materials if it is not.
Actually it's a poor choice in design. There is a hole drilled through the center of one of the forks in order to insert a roll pin to locate the fork's pivot pin. All the forks crack right through this hole.

I don't understand why you wouldn't have just left the roll pin out and located the pivot pin with a c-clip at each end It sure as hell wouldn't break as easily.


Last edited by DamonB; 09-17-04 at 11:02 AM.
Old 02-18-04, 02:12 PM
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<--- Looks forward to when his clutch fork breaks.
Old 02-18-04, 02:34 PM
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Pretty sure the orginal is cast iron. The brokens release forks are usually from upgraded pressure plates. Sucks huh?
Old 02-18-04, 03:08 PM
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Damon when i talked to ray at malloy mazda he said that the fork had been replaced with an upgraded stock part. my old one was busted in the same spot as mine and it had some markings like 44 something on it while the new one has 77 something on it. of course this proves nothing since my friend just got one with totally different numbers from both of mine and his original. he got his newer one from pettit.
later
john
Old 02-18-04, 04:15 PM
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Maybe somewhere there's a guy who builds ships inside of bottles and he could replace our clutch release forks merely by using the inspection cover
Old 02-18-04, 05:14 PM
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Originally posted by DamonB
Maybe somewhere there's a guy who builds ships inside of bottles and he could replace our clutch release forks merely by using the inspection cover
That guy is the same guy who invented the clutch on a friends car. I think it was an older Toyota. My friend was able to replace the clutch without removing the engine or tranny from its original position. It was years ago, so I don't remember how it worked.
Old 02-20-04, 03:46 PM
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Just got back from Gotham Racing where my friends saved me a bunch of work by replacing the fork for me. They had the work done in under 3 hours; that's quick

My broken fork looks EXACTLY like the one in the pic above. Visually the new fork looks just the same to me; I don't see a difference. Mazda did give it a new part number though so something had to change.
Old 02-20-04, 04:14 PM
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3 hours. That is quick. I wish I had a lift, and air tools.

Glad you got it fixed. Did they do anything else while they had the tranny out?
Old 02-20-04, 04:37 PM
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Originally posted by DaveW
This ought to be forged or machined-from-billet steel. It's a poor choice of materials if it is not.
Just changed mine as a precaution with a new ACT S/S PP. I'm pretty sure the old one was OEM and it was a cast piece that had been hardened at the tips of the fork and at the socket. There were different casting numbers on the new one, which I understood was suppose to be upgraded, but other than numbers, I couldn't see any difference. BTW, I heard they also like to break where the dowl pins go through.

Last edited by Sgtblue; 02-20-04 at 04:42 PM.
Old 02-20-04, 06:24 PM
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Originally posted by adam c
Did they do anything else while they had the tranny out?
Nope. I had put a new disc in it recently when I replaced the motor last year. Just added a new fork along with a new release bearing, wedge collar and wire ring as a precaution.
Old 02-20-04, 06:41 PM
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i just replaced mine last week. broke in the same spot. the new one is indeed a different part number and appears to be slightly beefier in certain spots. i have the act extreme pressure plate, so i'm sure that and the cold weather had something to do with it
Old 02-20-04, 09:14 PM
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You know, after 6+ years when I think nothing else can break.....something new to worry about.

How much does a new fork cost?
Old 02-20-04, 09:22 PM
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Originally posted by Devilish
How much does a new fork cost?

$65-$70 from Malloy as I recall.
Old 02-21-04, 11:27 AM
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yeah mine broke like a week after I upgraded the clutch/pressureplate. the new one is holding up though!
Old 02-21-04, 11:34 AM
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out of all the stuff i broke i never broke one of these thru three trannies.... odd
Old 02-21-04, 02:45 PM
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Mine broke in the exact same spot.

Took my mechanic only 3 hrs to change as well. (thankfully).

I have the ACT s/s clutch and I think that the heavier pressure place helped contribute to the failure.

The replacement fork was a bit heavier, and did have a different part number as well.
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