There’s no guarantees… You’re not spending on that on my experience are you?
Interesting…it’s a real pity, hope that resolves the issue. 
Yes and no, a few far cleverer people than me have agreed with you that the ONLY thing I’ve changed is the clutch so that has to be where I start when trying to resolve the issue…
minutes of a job to take of the propshaft at the same time 
Okay so one thing I can definitely confirm is the aftermarket Excedy is NOT anywhere near the same level of quality as the OE Exedy…
Ill keep you posted
Allow me to input my situation as I also have the same lashing problem as Robbie and IanC will already know (yes I’m still struggling to get to the bottom of it).
I’ve done some asking around on various groups. UJs were mentioned, which has been talked about here so I won’t repeat myself. However, the term ‘shift fork’ apparently being out of alignment and even some bearings that can get ‘stuck’ can sometimes be a cause.
Does anybody have any further info on that?
I have heard that ‘genuine Mazda parts’ (not Exedy) are slightly different and can also be a factor, as Robbie did say earlier.
My car had a new Exedy clutch via MX5 City in 2015, however it’s unlikely any gearbox/diff oil was changed. Now reading various different posts I’m confident that the oil isn’t the cause, but it’s something I’m exploring for the sake of not knowing when it was last changed.
Now the car has done more mileage in the 3 months I’ve owned it compared to the previous 5 years with the last owner, so I’m not worried about the mileage of the clutch. But not sure, based on the above if it’s something I should think about looking into again (I was previously talked out of it in place of a brand new gearbox entirely as it would be cheaper overall to do - I don’t have the facility to do these things myself).
Now, my dad reckons it’s a layshaft bearing. Though he hasn’t sat in the car and experienced the lash first hand, he has only had the issue described to him. Before we write him off for that, he has built 4 E-Types, 2 Spitfires, an XJS and an Escort van (the latter being repairs). Not MX-5s I know, but a level of mechanical knowledge is there.
Now, to put into perspective, i will explain when the lash appears just to see if it matches with the OP:
1st Gear
no issues
2nd Gear
no issues on acceleration, lash off throttle at 3K revs, a little bit of diff whine (not really relevant)
3rd Gear
Lash on acceleration (2K revs) at about 20mph, disappears at about 3.5K revs going 30-35mph, lash off throttle as high as 4K+ revs.
4th gear
Lash on acceleration (2.5K revs) at about 35mph, only disappears if I feather the throttle in order to cruise at 30 and 40mph, lash off throttle as high as 4K+ revs.
5th gear
Lash on acceleration (2.5K revs) at about 40mph, doesn’t really disappear until 60mph+ where it is vaguely detectable, lash off throttle basically anywhere.
I’ll point out that while there is a faint noise, the loud lashing sounds I am so scared off only seem to materialise when the car is up to temperature, which could take anywhere from 5mins to 20mins depending on which roads I drive (motorway vs town etc.). It’s this factor that led me to think it could be gearbox/diff oil, in regards to oil viscosity at higher temperatures.
Once the lash starts, it’s there until I stop driving. And the car is allowed to cool fully. As with the OP, the lash disappears when the clutch is depressed - it actually disappears if I slightly slip the clutch rather than fully open it.
TLDR; the possible fix could mean the difference of spending £15 and £850, which is kind of a big deal for me.
Any advice is appreciated, and I hope the OP will keep us posted. There’s two others as well as me with this issue on one of the Facebook groups I’m in.
For context, my car is a 1990 NA. Very early UK model.
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THANK YOU…. I took a gamble and paid to have an OE Mazda clutch kit fitted…
Noise GONE……
I’m back in love with my car and i cannot thank you enough for you brave suggestion….
Once out the box it’s clear to see the aftermarket exedy is not built to the same
Standards as the OE Mazda one…. Not even close….
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Also went to see Vincent on Friday. My old clutch cover (less than a year old) looked almost identical to the genuine one, however the clutch plate is different. The clutch plate spine hub is thicker and has less play when located on the drive shaft. Also anti vibration components.
The noise is still there but substantially quieter.
On a slightly different note the 4 wheel alignment has improved the feel of the car and gained sharper steering. I now have more confidence on driving round bends.
Thank you to the OP for sharing details and experiences.
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