Flywheel life span

[fubar andy]

Dropping my gearbox out next week, but something that has been in the back of my mind is my flywheel.

The thing has been in there for longer then I’ve had the car (+4 years), it’s been thrashed on track and had the odd launch now and again. One thing I have noticed is that it judders at low revs when setting off or reversing.

It’s not a massive judder, but I’m thinking that it might be worth changing it over when the box it out?

What I’m wondering is should flywheels be changed religiously on our cars?
Maybe it should have been done the last time I changed the clutch, but to be honest there was nothing wrong with it and I left it in there.

Is there any chance of catastrophic failure or it shattering apart if I leave it in there as it is?

Any relevant comments or experience would be appreciated, I think the answer will be quite simple, but I would like to know feedback and knowledge from peoples pass encounters

 

[gtirjoey]

no mate it would never shatter apart (unless you skimmed it down to much)
juddering is just from distortion but could possible be the clutch anyway

 

[nathan]

not a clue about a life span but just check it if it has any pits or really bad scorch marks i would throw a new one in

 

[Tim]

Could you have the flywheel skimmed and balanced?

 

[steve963]

mine judders sometimes. Im worried it might f**k the crank bearings?

 

[Trondelond]

Could you have the flywheel skimmed and balanced?

Yep. I've had mine balanced along with the crank and rods.

 

[red reading]

Dropping my gearbox out next week, but something that has been in the back of my mind is my flywheel.

The thing has been in there for longer then I’ve had the car (+4 years), it’s been thrashed on track and had the odd launch now and again. One thing I have noticed is that it judders at low revs when setting off or reversing.

This could be a glazed or warped clutch plate and flywheel surface


It’s not a massive judder, but I’m thinking that it might be worth changing it over when the box it out?

What I’m wondering is should flywheels be changed religiously on our cars?
Maybe it should have been done the last time I changed the clutch, but to be honest there was nothing wrong with it and I left it in there.

Is there any chance of catastrophic failure or it shattering apart if I leave it in there as it is?

Any relevant comments or experience would be appreciated, I think the answer will be quite simple, but I would like to know feedback and knowledge from peoples pass encounters

what flywheel is this standard or aftermarket?

 

[stumo]

For the standard flywheel there is no lifespan.

If you've got a juddering clutch then that could be down to a warped flywheel or oil/grease on the clutch(possibly due to a very small oil leak from the g/box?) or knackered cush springs or even a bent input shaft etc etc

You can get them skimmed flat and balanced...

It won't damage your crank bearings....

 

[fubar andy]

My flywheel is just a standard OE unit that has been lightened and balanced to match the engine/crank.

Overall from the posts above, I think its going to be a skimming job and see how that gets on. I'll inspect the unit to make sure there is no contamination on the wheel itself as it has got a crack in the casing atm, but I doubt thats the reason as before it cracked I was having this issue

Cheers for the info :thumb:

 

[nitrosgti-r]

skim it or get a lightweight one, either of these 2 options you will need to rip the whole engine out to get it all ballanced up to the bottom end.....

I thought the juddering would be hotspots on the flywheel??

 

[pulsarboby]

if you want andy ive got a fidanza allie flywheel just come in that il flog for £120, thats assuming yours aint no good!

 

[fubar andy]

if you want andy ive got a fidanza allie flywheel just come in that il flog for £120, thats assuming yours aint no good!

If I fit the Fidanza then the engine will not be balanced anymore

I'll see what condition it’s in and what I decide

Cheers for the offer :thumb:

 

[stumo]

just get the fidanza balanced then it'll be all hunky-dory.

 

[fubar andy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Fidanza is lighter than the existing unit, then it won't balance up?

 

[stumo]

you are wrong.

 

[red reading]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Fidanza is lighter than the existing unit, then it won't balance up?

you'r wrong,just balance the flywheel up and bolt it on.

 

[nitrosgti-r]

I thought the bottom end has to all be balanced up TOGETHER??

 

[red reading]

It does'nt have to be that perfect,as your not reving the car much higher than stock.
if you had a 10000rpm revver then it would be different.

What do you think happens to the engine balance when you change the clutch cover?

 

[stumo]

yes and no.

the crank should be done first , then the pulley is added and balanced, then the flywheel and then the clutch cover.

You should be able to substitute any of the parts IF the replacement part is also balanced (if the company is good enough)

vibration free is a company that specialises in balancing anything and everything and they're used by F1 teams etc and they're very reasonable.