Why is the clutch so stiff?

[mr_mazda329]

Clutch is quite soft for me. Engagement point is a little vague and was weird getting used to but everthing is ok now. Whoever thinks this clutch is stiff, try driving an unsprung spec 6 puck clutch. Macho buff left leg my friends.

 

[bani]

Compared to my old Protege5, the MS3 clutch is a little bit stiffer with a shorter throw- neither of which make a huge difference in day to day driving.

However- the friction point in the MS3 is definitely "weird" and took me a week to get used to (I've been driving stick for 16 years). The clutch feels like it engages very abruptly and that the friction point is very short. Does this get better with time? I'm learned that for a super smooth shift or launch I need to really VERY slowly and carefully slide over the friction point.

daily driving my ms3 for 2+ years now, the friction point hasn't changed at all. it's still very vague and abrupt.

 

[overthruster]

It seems to me that the light-switch engagement and stronger springs both contribute to quicker shifts and therefore better acceleration. Yes, they took some getting used to but after about 4000 miles of driving this car I'm finding the shifts are very smooth and very fast.

While we are on the subject of shifting, let me say that installing the TWM shifter bushings vastly improved the feel of shifting in this car. Hard to believe that 4 metal washers can make such a difference!

 

[SubieKiller3]

I've put 10k miles on my ms3 now, and I sometimes wonder why Mazda decided to put so much heft to the clutch pedal effort. Usually the clutch effort doesn't bother me too much but, when I'm stuck in prolonged stop and go traffic, I do get tired of the effort involved.

I have compared the effort to other stick shift cars, and I find that the ideal effort is on a BMW 328, which is significantly lighter than the ms3's. Even the 335, which is a higher performance car than the ms3, has a lighter effort than the ms3. The only car that I've driven that has a higher effort is the Porsche 911 S.

So what is the benefit of a stiff clutch pedal? Why did Mazda do it?

by any chance are you a 65 year old woman? this clutch is perfect. its a turbocharge car with a whole lotta power what do you expect man?

 

[bani]

by any chance are you a 65 year old woman? this clutch is perfect. its a turbocharge car with a whole lotta power what do you expect man?

i take it you've never driven any other turbo'd car before. 260hp isnt a whole lotta power really. a 500hp sti is much easier to drive smoothly.

 

[Wastegate13]

i take it you've never driven any other turbo'd car before. 260hp isnt a whole lotta power really. a 500hp sti is much easier to drive smoothly.

But that really has nothing to do with the stiffness of the clutch, more the lack of feedback and the narrow engagement point.

 

[bani]

But that really has nothing to do with the stiffness of the clutch, more the lack of feedback and the narrow engagement point.

there's also tons of drivetrain lash in the ms3. i attribute it to the bad stock mounts.

 

[Design]

alright, i have another question for those who answered that the clutch is light.
have you guys been stuck in heavy freeway traffic, crawling, stop and go, for over an hour? Last time i did that, i must have pressed the clutch in a thousand times. that's when i wished for the feather light action of a honda civic clutch.

I do So Cal fwys and don't feel it's a problem at all. I previously owned a 2000 Civic Si and felt that clutch was actually too light. MS3's is perfectly weighted.

 

[FMOS Racing]

Abrupt engagement (grabbiness) is actually a good thing. Faster engagement, less wear, less heat.

I also don't find the engagement vague, especially for a hydraulic clutch. I've never had a problem driving the car smoothly in terms of clutch engagement, at least. I wonder if there's a lot of feel difference between cars and I wonder what would cause the difference?

 

[SubieKiller3]

i take it you've never driven any other turbo'd car before. 260hp isnt a whole lotta power really. a 500hp sti is much easier to drive smoothly.

ooh, exuse me mr. big baller, i wasnt aware of that. and that 500 hp sti im sure would need some kinda stiffer racing clutch to handle that much power. unless you want want to **** up a stock one every time you go to the track.

 

[bani]

Abrupt engagement (grabbiness) is actually a good thing. Faster engagement, less wear, less heat.

I also don't find the engagement vague, especially for a hydraulic clutch. I've never had a problem driving the car smoothly in terms of clutch engagement, at least. I wonder if there's a lot of feel difference between cars and I wonder what would cause the difference?

you'd love an MT audi a3 then. the clutch is 10x grabbier than an ms3. it's an on/off clutch. and for only 200hp lolz.

 

[duckduck]

ehhh, the clutch is a tad bit stiff for me. i wouldn't mind being a tad softer.

then again, i'm 115lbs 5'7, so I don't have much weight/muscle to stomp on the clutch

 

[LASERBLUE135]

i'm sure each car is different. My MSP has a BAD ASS clutch. Everyone who gets in it thinks its aftermarket. Every other MSP I've driven requires at least 1/2 the effort. Each car is going to have its own feel. I highly prefer the stiff clutch. Whenever I drive any other clutch car it feels feather light and uncomfortable for me. However, my clutch is a bear in a traffic jam.

 

[SallySpeed3]

When I first testdrove the speed3 I could barely get the clutch down, but thats because I was coming off driving a 95 subaru impreza with a clutch that was like a peice of paper. I love the speed3 clutch now. I equate a firm clutch to quality, but I could be wrong.

Laserblue - everyone that gets in my car says the same exact thing, and yes it does suck in bumper to bumper traffic, but oh well.

 

[verbalink]

I didn't find the clutch to be stiff at all. My first impression was that the initial push was just normal with a springy return. I didn't find the clutch to be overly vague or difficult to predict, but as with any "new to me" manual, it would take some getting used to. It usually doesn't take me much more than reversing the car and a few minutes of driving to feel relatively comfortable in a manual.

Then again I have driven some strange manuals... [ 4 speed daihatsu hijet, a manual 4runner... ]

 

[bjjer]

I never thought the clutch was stiff, a little stiffer than my old RSX Type S. IDK maybe you do need to get to the gym. Ever see the 13th Warrior when Antonio Bandares claimed he couldnt lift the sword and the viking told him to grow stronger. Maybe thats what you need.

 

[Pockets]

Try driving a VR-4 with a vacuum-assist clutch delete, and then tell me what's difficult to drive. Every time you push the clutch in it's like trying to push a stack of bricks with your feet. The speed3 is easy to drive in comparison.

 

[nextcar]

thanks for all the replies so far. i guess most people think the clutch heft is ok. i find it tolerable. i do have pretty muscular legs from all the running and stair exercise machines.

but there are times when i think most people would prefer a lighter clutch:
1. stuck in bad traffic
2. sore legs from too much running or having the flu
3. foot problems like plantar fasciitis which are painful
4. wearing shoes like sandals

so that's why i think cars that have lighter clutches are advantageous, such as the BMW 3 series, miata, honda accord.

 

[bani]

thanks for all the replies so far. i guess most people think the clutch heft is ok. i find it tolerable. i do have pretty muscular legs from all the running and stair exercise machines.

but there are times when i think most people would prefer a lighter clutch:
1. stuck in bad traffic
2. sore legs from too much running or having the flu
3. foot problems like plantar fasciitis which are painful
4. wearing shoes like sandals

so that's why i think cars that have lighter clutches are advantageous, such as the BMW 3 series, miata, honda accord.

you can't expect much refinement from a car in this price range. road noise, rattles, creaks, sloppy transmission, etc... all comes with the territory.

 

[zzoomp09]

Mine was so stiff when I got it. After 10K, it's as soft as my regular 3.