XClutch 04-11 Mazda RX-8 1.3L Standard Replacement Organic ClutchPro Clutch Kit

If your Mazda RX-8 manual is slipping when the revs climb, chatters as you pull away, or the pedal engagement has crept to the top of its travel, the friction disc and pressure plate are worn out. The XClutch KMZ24005 is a ClutchPro standard replacement kit for the 2004 through 2011 RX-8 with the 1.3L RENESIS rotary. It is built to factory-style specs for cars that are driven on the street without power modifications, so pedal feel and engagement stay close to what Mazda designed.

What the clutch kit does in a Mazda RX-8

The RENESIS makes its power high in the rev range, and the manual RX-8 sold in North America is the six-speed car. The clutch has to hold that engine at high rpm and still release cleanly every time you shift, because rotary owners tend to drive the car hard up toward redline. KMZ24005 replaces the two parts that wear: the organic friction disc and the pressure plate that clamps it against the flywheel. When the disc lining thins, clamp load drops and the clutch slips first in the higher gears under load.

Symptoms of a worn RX-8 clutch

• Engine revs rise without the car speeding up, most often in fourth through sixth gear under throttle
• Shudder or chatter when pulling away from a stop
• Engagement point high on the pedal, or a burning smell after a hill start
• Grinding going into gear or difficulty selecting first and reverse, which can point to a clutch that is not fully releasing
• Noise that changes when the pedal is pressed, usually a release bearing that is past its life

How to confirm the clutch before you buy

Rule out the hydraulics first. A leaking slave cylinder or air in the line can cause poor release that feels like a bad clutch. For slipping, do a high-gear test: in fifth or sixth at low road speed, apply full throttle and watch whether rpm jumps ahead of road speed. Our transmission slipping diagnosis guide walks through how to separate true slip from other problems, and the flare vs. slip explainer helps if you are unsure what you are feeling.

Fitment

This kit is listed for the Mazda RX-8 from 2004 to 2011 with the 1.3L rotary and a manual transmission. Mazda revised the car for 2009 with the Renesis II update and a shorter final drive, and some brands split their RX-8 clutch kits by year for that reason; for example, we also carry the Exedy OE kit for 2004-2005 and the Exedy OE kit for 2009-2011. Before ordering, match your old disc and cover against the kit or send us your year and VIN and we will check it. More options are in our clutch and rebuild kit collection.

Install notes

• The kit includes the pressure plate and friction disc. Inspect the release bearing and pilot bearing while the transmission is out and replace them if they are rough or noisy.
• The flywheel on a rotary mounts to the eccentric shaft and is part of the engine's balance, so do not swap in a random lightweight wheel. Have the factory flywheel machined, or choose one made for this engine such as the 13.2 lb steel RX-8 flywheel and confirm it covers your year.
• Center the disc with an alignment tool; a metric and SAE alignment tool kit covers this spline.
• Torque the pressure plate bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern, then bleed the clutch hydraulics with fresh brake fluid. XClutch recommends DOT 3 or better for a street car and says never to use DOT 5.
• Break the clutch in gently with easy, low-rpm engagements for the first several hundred miles before any hard launches.

Does this kit fit both the early and late RX-8?

It is listed for 2004 through 2011 manual RX-8s with the 1.3L rotary. Because Mazda updated the car for 2009, compare your old parts with the kit or send us your year and VIN before it ships.

What comes in the box?

A replacement pressure plate and organic friction disc. Budget for a release bearing and pilot bearing if yours are worn, and resurface or replace the flywheel.

Is this a performance clutch?

No. ClutchPro standard replacement kits are designed as factory-style parts for unmodified street cars. If the engine has been built for more power, look at a higher stage kit.

Can I reuse my flywheel?

Usually, if it is not cracked or blued. Have it machined flat so the new disc beds in properly. XClutch requires the flywheel to be machined or replaced for warranty coverage.

Which fluid goes in the RX-8 clutch system?

Brake fluid. XClutch recommends DOT 3 or better for street use and warns never to mix in DOT 5 silicone fluid.

• How to Diagnose Transmission Slipping
• Shift Flare vs. Slip: How to Tell Them Apart
• Automatic vs. Manual Transmission Repair Cost