Please Help, Transmission Crapped Out
 

Driving my 86 n/a home from work today, I could not shift into any gear. A bit of history, Adding fluid to slave cylinder for two months (could not find any leaks), transmission rattles when clutch is engaged whether in neutral or gear but no rattle when clutch is out, intermittenly locked out of gear before, no trouble shifting out of gear, just in.

I dropped the tranny when I got it towed home. Nothing out of the ordinary. By the way I did check to verify the hydraulics were pushing the clutch lever. I am assuming the clutch is worn. The car has 100k and the clutch appears to be original (marked with a "DK"). I can shift through the gears with the car off.

Any recommendations for new clutch? It is a daily driver, rather reliable until now. Any help or if anybody experienced similar problems, please let me know. I don't really trust any local shops to touch the car. I'm sure you guys feel the same way about your 7. Thanks.

Well, if you aren't planning to do any mods to it, you might as well stick with the stock OEM's from www.mazdatrix.com

Seems like your pilot bearing will be in bad shape. I am saying this because of a similar experience.

New throw-out, clutch, pressure plate, and pilot bearing should set you back on your way

The needle bearings from the pilot bearing fell out. Does this sound like the problem, or is it hydraulic? The rotary performance sell stock clutch or Summit racing. I need parts fast. Thanks for the reply.

Some aftermarket clutches are cheap and have better performance than OEM. When I get my 7, I would definetly get those! WHY CANT I FIND THE DAMN CAR?

Mazdatrix usually gets me stuff overnight without a problem, haven't ever ordered from rotary performace, rx7store was good for all my orderes except one, ordered overnight and it got here 3 weeks later, go figure!

Oh, what about the flywheel, some grooves are worn in it, not bad. I don't know if they can be resurfaced or left alone. I was thinking about replacing it as the ring gear is a little work as well. I am still trying to figure out why you have to push the clutch to replace the eccentric shaft relief valve so that bearing does not get misplaced. If I do replace the flywheel are there any precautions or extra steps the take?

For some parts Mazdatrix seems pricey.

Yeah, mazdatrix is indeed pricey! If you run your nail accross the flywheel does it get 'stuck' or catch in any of the grooves? You can check out the rotaryperformance or rx7store.net and see what they charge.

Anybody use the clutch kit from rotary performance for $200. It seems to be a complete kit. Just wondering if the clutch is any good. Would you just recommend Mazdatrix. My car has some mods, but nothing extreme.

Yes, if I run my nail across the flywheel in does catch in the grooves. I don't want to kill a new clutch. The flywheels are a little more than I thought ($400.00 for Bonez).

Ouch, sad news then, either send it off to be resurfaced and have the gear ring replaced, or get a new one. If your finger catches on it, that's not a good sign at all.

Sorry for the spelling errors. It has been an long day. Thanks for the help, I will check back in the morning before I do any ordering. I am leaning to rotary performance with their stock kit. I just hope the clutch is the problem. Of course, all bearings will be replaced as well. Thanks again, I really appreciate the help. With these cars its seems you can't bring them to the mechanic down the road, I'm afraid. As the tow truck driver was hauling ass with my precious cargo swinging around the corners from his rearend, he commented that my car was one of those "rotary ones" and will be expensive to fix a problem especially with all those miles, scary.

Yeah, just look at the tread of the people saying the guy had no oil cooler, and it was right infront of them! Have to be VERY careful if you take it anywhere, mainly why I opted to learn it myself. Good luck with everything, hope it all works well, be sure to get that flywheel smooth before you put a new clutch on, or else that's going to hurt it's life quick!