The clutch pedal does have I little bit of free play when pressing down on it before it starts to have some resistance and I also noticed some grease leaking from the clutch master cylinder viewed from underneath the dashboard.

 

99% of s2000s have little to very little leakage from the clutch master cylinder under the dashboard. It sounds like your clutch disk is slipping. Listen to billman, hes an expert mechanic and provides incredible input and help on our cars. Sometimes mixing and matching different clutch components and or flywheel can cause problems with performance. Ive read threads in the past with complaints about spec clutch kits.

 

Your friction disc is toast. $125 for an OEM replacement, minus your or someone elses labor.

 

Agreed. If the play is there then the clutch is at fault.

Go all oem if you want a bulletproof setup, good for 150k plus.

Not sure why there is so much experimentation with clutches. As mentioned, you could have a slight compatibility issue with the parts, resulting in reduced disc clamping force.

As far as aftermarket, ACT PP has been a proven 100k plus winner.

You can also choose any light weight chromoly flywheel, ACT makes some real nice ones.

 

+1 for clutch issue. I had this happen to me on my 01. I noticed that when I dropped the clutch at RPM, to I could not get the wheels to spin and there would be a very nasty burnt clutch smell.

 

The play comes from the clutch master cylinder and its leaking underneath the dash could replacing this maybe increase clutch activation and clamping force? The car has 166k miles could be its time to replace the clutch master cylinder? I'm trying to avoid having to replace the clutch since it's fairly new and I dont have the money to add in a new one.

 

Trust all of us its something to do with your clutch. I have 100% stock setup and had clutch delay valve removed and clutch master cylinder replaced by ballade due to supposed leak but the new one now has oil on it too. I know now that my disk slips due to it being worn out but the only reason your clutch slips is because the clutch slips. Transmission problems would cause issues like popping out of gear, grinding, not going into gear, etc.

 

Trust all of us its something to do with your clutch. I have 100% stock setup and had clutch delay valve removed and clutch master cylinder replaced by ballade due to supposed leak but the new one now has oil on it too. I know now that my disk slips due to it being worn out but the only reason your clutch slips is because the clutch slips. Transmission problems would cause issues like popping out of gear, grinding, not going into gear, etc.
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If I switch to OEM disk could clutch still slip due to my mix and match clutch setup? But I figure that if I'm going to be removing the clutch in the near future maybe it's best to simply replace it with a better one and not mix and match one brand and another like I did. If so what brand would be recommended where operation is smooth and its not an on or off feel where it's seems difficult to drive in terms of stop and go.

 

You can't go wrong with OEM.

 

Honda OEM friction disc from a Honda dealer. Unless you want to do a third clutch job a few months down the line