I've got a 91 Integra with the stock B18A1 and cable transmission. I noticed yesterday that the cable is cutting into the release arm. Looking around further it seems like the arm may be slightly cracked and is bending, causing the cable to hit the side of the release arm instead of thread through it. Check out the pics below, the red circle shows the point that looks broken/cracked and the blue circle shows the cable cutting into the side of the release arm. It is hard to see in the pic but it has worn a good sized notch in the arm.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I'm running a pretty stiff clutch and replaced the clutch cable about 6 months ago. When I replaced it I didn't notice that the old cable had been cutting into the arm or anything.
Before that I had been running the stock clutch cable for at least 50,000 miles on this same clutch so it seems to be a new problem.

 

Okay I've been researching this more and figure I have two options. Once is to replace the release arm. It is only like $26 from Acura but I'd have to drop the transmission to replace it.

My other option, at least as I see it, is to see if I could straighten and then weld the arm with it on the car to repair the crack. Thoughts?