i posted here since there's not a general rotary section. I'm curious if any attempt has ever been made to make them out of aluminum? i know you'd have to have iron 'sleeves' for the rotor contacts. would the weight savings be considerable?

 

Racing beat made them in alum. but they don't make them anymore I think.

 

It is much easier to produce iron ones than aluminum ones. I believe the Racing Beat ones weigh around 20-30% less than the Mazda ones, but they are lots of $$$$.

 

aluminum attracts more heat than iron, too. and if you scrap one of em, youre just plain out $1200 or so (each!).

 

i meant as something mazda could have done from the factory. something similar to an iron to aluminum block switch