Has anyone on here tried a lightened flywheel ?
25 April 2008, 12:59 PM
#1
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Has anyone on here tried a lightened flywheel ?
Hello folks,
As above, just looking for views as to how worthwhile you found it (in terms of making the car more perky).
ta
AndytJ
As above, just looking for views as to how worthwhile you found it (in terms of making the car more perky).
ta
AndytJ
25 April 2008, 01:35 PM
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I was going to get light flywheel when I had my new Exedy clutch fitted but Robin at 'Perfourmance motors', Brisbane (see PerFOURmance Motorsports) talked me out of it. He advised me to have mine skimmed, about 15 - 20% mass removed and no more. He regularly gets Subis in with light flywheels with the owners wanting them off because, whilst OK on the drag strips, they're not very user friendly on the street.
I'm happy with my skimmed flywheel, the pick-up is slightly quicker but I'm not forever stalling in traffic or having to rev the **** off it to pull away due to the reduced inertia.
I hope this helps.
I'm happy with my skimmed flywheel, the pick-up is slightly quicker but I'm not forever stalling in traffic or having to rev the **** off it to pull away due to the reduced inertia.
I hope this helps.
25 April 2008, 02:55 PM
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Cheers folks.
Will a 7kg flywheel be "fussy" to drive ? ie poor idle, the need to be much more precise with it compared to standard etc ?
Will a 7kg flywheel be "fussy" to drive ? ie poor idle, the need to be much more precise with it compared to standard etc ?
Last edited by andythejock01wrx; 25 April 2008 at 08:00 PM.
25 April 2008, 04:10 PM
#6
I've got a circa 6kg roger clark flywheel on my bugeye, idles and drives fine 
I'm not sure it makes any difference to how the car drives but I think it's great to "blip" the trottle when I'm bored as the revs rise VERY quickly LOL.
Just get your OEM one lightened
shaun
I'm not sure it makes any difference to how the car drives but I think it's great to "blip" the trottle when I'm bored as the revs rise VERY quickly LOL.
Just get your OEM one lightened
shaun
25 April 2008, 04:34 PM
#7
6.0-6.5kg is as about as light as you can go without incurring problems with erratic idle speeds & stalling when pulling away. This is approx 1/2 the weight of a std unit.
You will find that acceleration is noticeably quicker; while engine braking is reduced so you have to back off earlier (especially if you’re on the motorway) otherwise you will be wearing pads & discs at an increased rate.
As for weather to go for a purpose made one piece billet flywheel or having your own unit lightened is all down to how much dosh you have.
If you lighten your own (can be done for well under £100) then you would not get the max benefit from this mod, you would be hard pressed to get near the ideal weight and if you got close, this would compromise the strength and durability of the unit.
A billet one would cost £300+ but is durable and purpose built for the job, it is also built to an exact weight and has strength designed into all the right places.
If your gearbox is out anyway then this mod is well worthwhile doing when you consider the benefits it brings for the money.
Phil
You will find that acceleration is noticeably quicker; while engine braking is reduced so you have to back off earlier (especially if you’re on the motorway) otherwise you will be wearing pads & discs at an increased rate.
As for weather to go for a purpose made one piece billet flywheel or having your own unit lightened is all down to how much dosh you have.
If you lighten your own (can be done for well under £100) then you would not get the max benefit from this mod, you would be hard pressed to get near the ideal weight and if you got close, this would compromise the strength and durability of the unit.
A billet one would cost £300+ but is durable and purpose built for the job, it is also built to an exact weight and has strength designed into all the right places.
If your gearbox is out anyway then this mod is well worthwhile doing when you consider the benefits it brings for the money.
Phil
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25 April 2008, 05:42 PM
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I've got the API one on mine Andy and theres no difference to standard item with regards to drivability, it does occasionally hunt for the idle, but very rarely and certainly not to the point it would cut out. Its kind of a trade off really the more you sacrifice on idling the more you gain on pick up. Quite happy with the API item myself.
25 April 2008, 05:58 PM
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I've got the API one on mine Andy and theres no difference to standard item with regards to drivability, it does occasionally hunt for the idle, but very rarely and certainly not to the point it would cut out. Its kind of a trade off really the more you sacrifice on idling the more you gain on pick up. Quite happy with the API item myself.
Are there any significant advantages with the 7kg flywheel ? ie is it noticeably more free revving/perky ?
25 April 2008, 09:02 PM
#14
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I had an API lightened flywheel (and their Exedy clutch as well at the same time) and I'm very pleased. I was dubious at first of whether it would be worth bothering with, but I'm glad I did, it just drives a lot nicer.
25 April 2008, 09:35 PM
#15
Usually the reason some places recommend 7kgs is because that is about as light as you can machine a OE flywheel down to before it becomes too weak and brittle.
The flywheels we sell are not OE flywheels that has been 'lightened' but are purpose designed and very strong, whilst being incredibly light.
I run the 4.2kg one on my own daily driver with no idle issues or stalling (you might stall first couple of times until you get used to it). The car has also seen a fair bit of the drag strip and I don't think anyone could say its a slouch off the line (11.7secs @119mph, 0-60mph in 3.7secs with just 340bhp) With this flywheel fitted you will notice the difference.
We don't sell 'lightened' OE flywheels but proper forged lightweight units.
6kg Forged Flywheels are £195 and 4.2kg ones are £265
Worthwhile mod if you have the box off anyway
Bob
The flywheels we sell are not OE flywheels that has been 'lightened' but are purpose designed and very strong, whilst being incredibly light.
I run the 4.2kg one on my own daily driver with no idle issues or stalling (you might stall first couple of times until you get used to it). The car has also seen a fair bit of the drag strip and I don't think anyone could say its a slouch off the line (11.7secs @119mph, 0-60mph in 3.7secs with just 340bhp) With this flywheel fitted you will notice the difference.
We don't sell 'lightened' OE flywheels but proper forged lightweight units.
6kg Forged Flywheels are £195 and 4.2kg ones are £265
Worthwhile mod if you have the box off anyway
Bob
25 April 2008, 09:41 PM
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I bought a lightened flywheel from BOB'5 and I have no problems at all.
It does take a little getting used to but it is a worthwhile mod.
I got a lightweight flywheel for under £200.
It does take a little getting used to but it is a worthwhile mod.
I got a lightweight flywheel for under £200.
25 April 2008, 10:04 PM
#17
I have a 4.7kilo RCM super lightweight flywheel (5.8kg lighter than standard), a RCM WRC Billet crankshaft (2Kg lighter than standard) and RCM lightweight pulleys (1.95 kgs lighter than standard, so 9+ kg less than the standard reciprocating mass) never mind the lighter RCM pistons rods, etc, and it's a LOT more revvy obviously. It can be a bit "shunty" in traffic if you're just rolling slowly in gear as it doesn't have the inertia of the standard drivetrain and it takes a bit of care to avoid stalling until it's fully warm, but it's easy to adjust to. I wouldn't goback now if that helps
Last edited by Fat Boy; 30 April 2008 at 05:36 PM.
25 April 2008, 10:20 PM
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I have a Kaiten lightweight flywheel, and i find it too light. So, go lightENED, and NOT lightweight, but of course that is only imho.
I do not like the way my car does not drive well at low revs now, as in 4th at 30mph. In my newage this is only 1500 rpm and it has poor momentum and as such has no reel 'go' at all at those revs. Not like a classic i drove with 30 mph at 2000 rpm, that 500 makes all the difference. I feel the flywheel is too light and there is not enough momentum so it is actually too slow for the setup.
I would like to compare my car now to a normal flywheel at 30mph and try to remember the difference.
Tendency to stall? Oh yes absolutely until you get used to it. Especially when slowing down to a stop! LOL, now i am used to that.
Freer revving? Oh yes, absolutely.
Better? Dunno now, i need to compare as i have forgot what it was like!
But during fast driving or spirited driving then i find it superb, keeps the revs up with no nigh on instant engine speed loss when you change gear or owt.
But i hate it when doing 30, i have to use 3rd gear only if i want to move without serious labouring issues.
I do not like the way my car does not drive well at low revs now, as in 4th at 30mph. In my newage this is only 1500 rpm and it has poor momentum and as such has no reel 'go' at all at those revs. Not like a classic i drove with 30 mph at 2000 rpm, that 500 makes all the difference. I feel the flywheel is too light and there is not enough momentum so it is actually too slow for the setup.
I would like to compare my car now to a normal flywheel at 30mph and try to remember the difference.
Tendency to stall? Oh yes absolutely until you get used to it. Especially when slowing down to a stop! LOL, now i am used to that.
Freer revving? Oh yes, absolutely.
Better? Dunno now, i need to compare as i have forgot what it was like!
But during fast driving or spirited driving then i find it superb, keeps the revs up with no nigh on instant engine speed loss when you change gear or owt.
But i hate it when doing 30, i have to use 3rd gear only if i want to move without serious labouring issues.
25 April 2008, 10:44 PM
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Weight Bob yes. The Kaiten is chromemoly but too light i think.
No one who drives the car has said that to be fair, but as i live in the land of the average speed camera, 30mph is bloody annoying with it.
No one who drives the car has said that to be fair, but as i live in the land of the average speed camera, 30mph is bloody annoying with it.
25 April 2008, 11:34 PM
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ive just purchesed an exedy twin plane plate carbon clutch with lightend fly wheel any one usein one at the mo.who can plz share some info?ive had it fitted but wats the benfit and down side.
27 April 2008, 03:59 PM
#25
We can supply 'lightened' flywheels, but when you take into account the real cost and what you are getting, you would be far better off with a Forged Lightweight Flywheel for £195 (no exchange needed)...some places charge £175 just to lighten your OE one!
There is more money/profit for vendors to make in lightening your OE flywheel, but not very good value for money from a customers perspective imho.
I've run a 4.2kg one in my daily driver for years now and would never go back to an OE one again.
Cheers,
Bob
There is more money/profit for vendors to make in lightening your OE flywheel, but not very good value for money from a customers perspective imho.
I've run a 4.2kg one in my daily driver for years now and would never go back to an OE one again.
Cheers,
Bob
Last edited by Aztec Performance Ltd; 27 April 2008 at 04:12 PM.
27 April 2008, 07:00 PM
#26
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To be fair about it, i am not sure if i would go back to an OE one but i would need to drive one again to compare 'real time' as it were.
£195 is bloody cheap compared to what i got charged. I seem to recall mine was more like in the 200's plus vat iirc.
But in that case i agree, pointless paying for lightened when you can get a purpose made lightweight flywheel made of far better material as well.
£195 is bloody cheap compared to what i got charged. I seem to recall mine was more like in the 200's plus vat iirc.
But in that case i agree, pointless paying for lightened when you can get a purpose made lightweight flywheel made of far better material as well.
27 April 2008, 09:58 PM
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I have a firdanza(SP) flywheel fitted, iirc its around the 5 kg mark and had it fitted when i had a clutch change,
I haven`t found any real problems and it is ok in traffic once ur used to it, Ive fitted lightened flywheels on previous cars and had idle problems,
The engine braking is the only downside but the plus is the pick up so u cant have it both ways.
I haven`t found any real problems and it is ok in traffic once ur used to it, Ive fitted lightened flywheels on previous cars and had idle problems,
The engine braking is the only downside but the plus is the pick up so u cant have it both ways.