Rx8 6-spd question
05-23-07, 09:25 AM
#27
yes these are difficult to assemble! did you watch or help em? the way the book has you do it you end up assembling both shafts, lifting them up in alignment, and while you're installing em in the case, you need to sneak in the reverse idler.
next time it would be easier with a jig, holding 60lbs of shafts/gears isnt any fun, and it cant be how they do it at the factory....
also we've just been replacing the whole assembly, by the time you add up the internal parts ($$$ and they dont have em!) and the labor, its cheaper and quicker to to the whole thing. i know thats not what tech line says, but they are incorrect on this one.
next time it would be easier with a jig, holding 60lbs of shafts/gears isnt any fun, and it cant be how they do it at the factory....
also we've just been replacing the whole assembly, by the time you add up the internal parts ($$$ and they dont have em!) and the labor, its cheaper and quicker to to the whole thing. i know thats not what tech line says, but they are incorrect on this one.
05-23-07, 11:03 AM
#28
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I watched and helped. He would hold the gears while I installed the reverse. It is very tricky and requires tons of patience. In our situation warranty thought it be cheaper to just replace the damaged parts due to the kids abuse since they refused to replace the whole unit. So yea in most cases it is cheaper and faster to just install another tranny, however we broke down this one so much we've actually gotten really good at it. Once the 8 is on the lift, we can have it pulled from the car and disassemble in about an hour. All that trial and error really paid off.
lol, an hour? thats good, the rx8 is so easy.
05-24-07, 04:05 PM
#29
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Those are some very powerful words you got there. I'm sorry to tell you that your individual experience doesn't really speak negatively for the Rx8 tranny. The fact of the matter is that the mechanic that did your repair just did a poor job. Period! The tranny is very well engineered. I actually work for mazda and have never heard of any reoccurring problems with the tranny's however, any transmission is extremely difficult to work on when untrained. Background!
......
Xantium my advise to you is to find a mazda shop that is truely capable of fixing your problem.
......
Xantium my advise to you is to find a mazda shop that is truely capable of fixing your problem.
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=48737
363 posts proving you wrong
and considering I took it to a mazda dealership with a certified mazda mechanic I guess I just sort of assumed that they would know how to rebuild a mazda transmission.. too much to ask?
05-25-07, 07:13 PM
#30
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=48737
363 posts proving you wrong
and considering I took it to a mazda dealership with a certified mazda mechanic I guess I just sort of assumed that they would know how to rebuild a mazda transmission.. too much to ask?
363 posts proving you wrong
and considering I took it to a mazda dealership with a certified mazda mechanic I guess I just sort of assumed that they would know how to rebuild a mazda transmission.. too much to ask?
I'm aware of the problems in the eariler 2004 models. No one expects a completely brand new 1st production car to be perfect right out of the box. Realistically look at the number of Rx8's sold and compare them to the number of cases of tranny problems since the internal update on the newer models. That percentage is very low. Now I do agree with you about expecting a certified mechanic to be able to handle your problem, however as I said in my eariler post "Training classes only educate you, but doesn't guarentee your going to retain all that knowledge in the future". Nobodys perfect, not even certified mechanics.
05-25-07, 09:37 PM
#31
Do you happen to know any comparison facts between rx-8 auto and manual? Such as driveshaft yoke diameter, trans total length (bellhousing to tailshaft), etc? I am trying to gather information about a possible manual swap into an auto rx8, but I can find no one who has compared the 2 drivetrains.
05-26-07, 10:23 AM
#32
Do you happen to know any comparison facts between rx-8 auto and manual? Such as driveshaft yoke diameter, trans total length (bellhousing to tailshaft), etc? I am trying to gather information about a possible manual swap into an auto rx8, but I can find no one who has compared the 2 drivetrains.
Kevin I will try to get that info for you the next time we have one in on the lift.
06-04-07, 06:15 PM
#33
Do you happen to know any comparison facts between rx-8 auto and manual? Such as driveshaft yoke diameter, trans total length (bellhousing to tailshaft), etc? I am trying to gather information about a possible manual swap into an auto rx8, but I can find no one who has compared the 2 drivetrains.
Here's some info I just got on the manual tranny Rx8.
Transmission total length (bellhousing to rear driveshaft seal) 32 1/2" inches
Bellhousing to center of shifter input 29" inches
Driveshaft yoke diameter 38mm
Driveshaft full length 50"
Were doing a clutch on this car so this info was easy. Still waiting for an auto to come in.
06-06-07, 07:12 PM
#34
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I'm aware of the problems in the eariler 2004 models. No one expects a completely brand new 1st production car to be perfect right out of the box. Realistically look at the number of Rx8's sold and compare them to the number of cases of tranny problems since the internal update on the newer models. That percentage is very low. Now I do agree with you about expecting a certified mechanic to be able to handle your problem, however as I said in my eariler post "Training classes only educate you, but doesn't guarentee your going to retain all that knowledge in the future". Nobodys perfect, not even certified mechanics.
btw im selling my rx8
06-11-07, 04:07 PM
#35
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Not quite the same, but I have a 13B-RE in my RX8 bolted to the stock 6-speed trans. I've driven about 1000 miles making 468rwhp without any sign of problems. Apparently synchros are known to fail at high rpm shifts, but this is a street driven car so unlikely that I will encounter those problems.
My understanding is that this is the same Aisin transmission as found in the S2000.
My understanding is that this is the same Aisin transmission as found in the S2000.
06-12-07, 10:46 AM
#36
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The transmission has been identical from 03(actual first year)-2007. The only changes have been a recall on the slave cylinder. Also realize the amount of people who have rx8s and who actually post on rx8club would probably account for the fact that there aren't 2000 posts about it. When my rx8 was getting a trans swap there were two other rx8s in there for the exact same thing. (and pop is only about 120k here). When I had a probably with my short shifter I also told axial flow's customer service that i had a tranny problem as well and they assured me that it could not be related and there is supposedly a warehouse full of defective rx8 trannies (i called bullshit on that part). What I'm getting at is this is not an unknown issue to those with rx8's... the trannies suck and would not be worth putting into a car like the rx7 which stock has way more torque than the rx8's horrible 159 ft lbs.
btw im selling my rx8
btw im selling my rx8
06-15-07, 03:01 AM
#37
Thank you for the measurements tvon. I will compare them with my auto car and hopefully help determine what will have to be changed. For now it looks like tranny, driveshaft, starter, clutch stuff, clutch hydraulics, and the bitch of it all (to find and buy) the clutch pedal and brake pedal assemblies. It is still not clear if the powerplant frames are different or not. On the FD, they used the same one for auto and manual, and I am betting this is the case with the 8 as well.
IF you get the opportunity (I will do this as well) please compare an FD trans to the rx-8 6sp trans. I am curious if the FD trans will cross over. I know the shifter location is the main issue...the FD trans has an access plate in a similar area to where the rx8 shifter sits...I am curious if this would allow for suitable shifter relocation. If not, then those with failed rx8 6sps could probably slide their 6sp tailshaft/shift rod onto an FD trans case and have it work out that way.
IF you get the opportunity (I will do this as well) please compare an FD trans to the rx-8 6sp trans. I am curious if the FD trans will cross over. I know the shifter location is the main issue...the FD trans has an access plate in a similar area to where the rx8 shifter sits...I am curious if this would allow for suitable shifter relocation. If not, then those with failed rx8 6sps could probably slide their 6sp tailshaft/shift rod onto an FD trans case and have it work out that way.
06-16-07, 11:57 AM
#38
Thank you for the measurements tvon. I will compare them with my auto car and hopefully help determine what will have to be changed. For now it looks like tranny, driveshaft, starter, clutch stuff, clutch hydraulics, and the bitch of it all (to find and buy) the clutch pedal and brake pedal assemblies. It is still not clear if the powerplant frames are different or not. On the FD, they used the same one for auto and manual, and I am betting this is the case with the 8 as well.
IF you get the opportunity (I will do this as well) please compare an FD trans to the rx-8 6sp trans. I am curious if the FD trans will cross over. I know the shifter location is the main issue...the FD trans has an access plate in a similar area to where the rx8 shifter sits...I am curious if this would allow for suitable shifter relocation. If not, then those with failed rx8 6sps could probably slide their 6sp tailshaft/shift rod onto an FD trans case and have it work out that way.
IF you get the opportunity (I will do this as well) please compare an FD trans to the rx-8 6sp trans. I am curious if the FD trans will cross over. I know the shifter location is the main issue...the FD trans has an access plate in a similar area to where the rx8 shifter sits...I am curious if this would allow for suitable shifter relocation. If not, then those with failed rx8 6sps could probably slide their 6sp tailshaft/shift rod onto an FD trans case and have it work out that way.
When I get back to work, I will compare the part numbers for the ppf. Also I'm currently doing my own 20b fd conversion. I've moved the engine back a little over 5" so it sits behind the rack and relocated the shifter to that front access plate you just mentioned. Took me only 30min. My shifter now has zero play and shifts perfect. I don't believe the shifter mechanisms are the same and can be changed. Internally the reverse gear on the 8 tranny is in a completely different location than the Fd's.
06-30-07, 08:31 PM
#39
Here's some info I just got on the manual tranny Rx8.
Transmission total length (bellhousing to rear driveshaft seal) 32 1/2" inches
Bellhousing to center of shifter input 29" inches
Driveshaft yoke diameter 38mm
Driveshaft full length 50"
Were doing a clutch on this car so this info was easy. Still waiting for an auto to come in.
Transmission total length (bellhousing to rear driveshaft seal) 32 1/2" inches
Bellhousing to center of shifter input 29" inches
Driveshaft yoke diameter 38mm
Driveshaft full length 50"
Were doing a clutch on this car so this info was easy. Still waiting for an auto to come in.
trans length, bellhousing to rear seal ~32.5"
driveshaft front yoke diameter ~1.5"
trans rear seal to rearend flange ~46" (if mazda holds true to their past practice, there is about 3.5" more of yoke inside the tranny)
powerplant frame length at bottom flanges ~62"
Great news...it looks like the auto to manual swap will be straightforward as far as mounting goes...the driveshafts appear to be the same, and the PPF's are probably the same too. Looks like a man can get the manual transmission and it will line right up with everything else in the car.
The real bitch of it will be figuring out the electronic side of the swap...keeping the renesis engine/PCM happy without the AT electrical inputs/switches.
07-02-07, 11:01 AM
#40
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i just looked a bunch of stuff up in the EPC, and by part number everything is different AT and MT....
07-02-07, 10:02 PM
#42
knowing mazda, there is a bolt hole or a small curve somewhere that was changed for an additional heat shield for the AT or some such, and there is no real difference. Given the measurements discussed here, I can't see that there would be much difference at all, if any.
07-03-07, 12:14 PM
#43
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knowing mazda, there is a bolt hole or a small curve somewhere that was changed for an additional heat shield for the AT or some such, and there is no real difference. Given the measurements discussed here, I can't see that there would be much difference at all, if any.
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