I searched briefly, but nothing of direct interest was available. Why exactly should I replace the fly wheel when I replace the clutch and PP? will my stock fly wheel work? What are the benefits and drawbacks? for light race use and constant (sometimes abusive) road driving, which weight would be most effective for me? Mods in sig below. thanks in advance,

-BN

 

it's good to change cuz you're taking out the tranny anyway, so you save the labor cost. problem is flywheels are $$$. I changed my clutch to ACT streetdisc but didn't have money to buy lighter flywheel so i just cut my stock one so that it's smooth again and it's been working perfectly thus far. Benefit of lighter flywheel is that the engine becomes more rev happy, and just as the rpms climb faster, it drops rpm faster too which is the drawback...so basically if you don't shift fast you slip out of the power band easier...i think...someone correct me if i'm wrong please

 

I've heard some derivation of what you said. As far as the car working well mechanically, will it work with the stock flywheel? It won't mess anything up will it? -BN

 

My reason was because when I took my tranny out to replace my clutch my flywheel was toast. I took it in to get it resurfaced and they said it was way beyone spec. I had a friend try and lathe it down anywyas and what started out as a 2 step flywheel ended up being a no step and a little less. It was so far gone. So my car had to wait even longer while I orderd a new flywheel. I went with a Racing Beat Lightweight Steel flywheel instead of aluminum. For drag racing the stock one is best, for light drag and street get a lightweight steel, for auto-x and road racing go with an aluminum flywheel. The advantages of aluminum are they are lighter so the rev faster but the disadvantage of that same fact is that the decelerate fast as well.

So if you drag race then you would have to shift mad quick, yo!! Just replace it, never do **** twice. Like our brakes..... hint..hint.. **** all that noise. Do it right the first time.

 

scott--did you get the email?

 

I love my 9.5 pound aluminum flwheel. Makes for better throttle response, better boost response, much quicker revs in first and second gear, and easier deceleration. It basically makes the 7 more fun to drive---all of my FD buds who have driven mine have converted to a lightweight flywheel....5 so far.

I don't think it's an issue. The lightweight one is the way to go .

 

light weight is best for autocrossing as where stock or heavier ones are better for drag racing.

 

you always want to at least machine your fly wheel. i've seen clutches not sit right and **** up because of bad flywheels. i've also seen a flywheel bend because of the heat. i'm not too familar with rotary engines but i know i've seen a few lightened fly wheels **** up the rear crank seal due to heat. i also know that in a supra lightened flywheels tend to bend the crank. i know the rotary doesn't have a crank but i just thought i would drop my .02

 

I have not seen the whole story on lighten AL flywheels. A friend of mine who as see more FD's than Ron Jeromy has seen booty said do not use an AL flywheel. Of course someone else changes the subject befor he explained why. I trust his opinion

Now there is one other answer to the question. It's more emotive than technical. Yeah, thats right. Because it's cool, what do you think. I'll admit I like having a tricked out 7.

I totally agree with Lane Change. The FD does not tolerate budget solutions very well. Since the tranny is out, might was well replace the flywheel too. It's only money. Everyone here seems to have an endless supply (except me).

 

Since you didn't list drag racing as one of the target uses for your car, get a light aluminum flywheel. As others have mentioned, the stock flywheel seems to be best for drag racing (easier launches, perhaps some other benefit). But for track work, the lighter the better. The car will be easier to heel and toe, and it matters much less if you match revs exactly. For the street, the light flywheel wakes the car up in low gears, but it does drop the revs faster between shifts so you have to shift faster (oh darn! ). It is also a little more touchy from a standing start and it doesn't troll around the parking lot as smoothly. I haven't found either of these issues to be a big deal -- the light flywheel is perfectly streetable in my opinion. Like Rich said, I had one friend who just had his clutch done but stayed with the stock flywheel drive my car, and he took it back immediately and had them put in a light flywheel. A light flywheel feels great.

That said, there is no problem using a new clutch with the stock flywheel (assuming the flywheel is still good). It is really just the easiest time to put in a light flywheel if you want one. Using the stock flywheel will not cause any problems, but you might miss a good opportunity to change the flywheel if you don't do it with the clutch.

-Max

 

Darn that Max Cooper. Everything he said is right, he just beat me to it. Replace the flywheel when you do the clutch. If you don't, later, you will think you were an idiot for not doing it.

I am getting one as soon as the clutch needs replacing, maybe sooner. I had one on my 82 GSL.

Adam

 

You at least need to resurface the stock flywheel when replacing the clutch, otherwise it is a hassle to take it all apart later to get this done.

 

Got to love a resurfaced flywheel!

 

I've installed about 10 clutches in rotaries without getting the flywheel resurfaced. Worked just fine, no chatter or slip.

It depends on the condition of the flywheel, mainly it depends on how long the clutch was slipping and if the driver abused the clutch. Slipping the clutch alot heats up the flywheel, this heat really damages and wears the flywheel.

Don't resurface the flywheel if it isn't heat checked or badly worn.

Ditto on all the aluminum flywheel info Max said. I've still got the stock flywheel because I want smooth off/on throttle in 1st and I go to the dragstrip occasionally.

Oh and the stock is cheap and really not that heavy. 87-88 TII flywheel is 28lbs, FD flywheel is 21lbs, lightweight steel is 17lbs, aluminum (steel wear surface) is 11lbs. The 87-88 TII flywheel is really way to heavy and sucks to drive on the street IMHO.

Jeff