flywheel, dual mass flywheel, clutch noise what is a flywheel

Serving the Gainesville and Hawthorne Florida Area

Flywheels, Dual Mass Flywheels

Clutch Replacement: $400-$1000
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The flywheel is bolted to the end of the crankshaft. On a manual transmission car, it serves two purposes: It "evens out" the forces from the firing of the pistons, and keeps the engine turning at a steady RPM. It also has the pressure plate mounted to it, and the clutch disc rubs against the flywheel surface when the clutch is engaged and disengaged. It often must be resurfaced (turning your flywheel) when the clutch is replaced.
DUAL MASS FLYWHEELS
To decrease engine vibration and get a slight efficiency increase some vehicles have a DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. When a piston fires, the crank speeds up a tiny bit, on the compression stroke it slows down. A Dual Mass Flywheel, (AKA DMF or DMFW) has 3 parts: a lighter part that bolts directly to the crankshaft, and a heavier part which the clutch pressure plate bolts to, and the clutch disc rubs on. These 2 parts are able to rotate a bit, and the rotation is dampened by springs. The crankshaft side can "rock back and forth a bit" relative to the outer, heavier part of the flywheel, which then can spin at a more constant RPM.
HOW DUAL MASS FLYWHEELS FAIL
Pretty obvious! They come apart! This can lead to "interesting" clutch symptoms: like the flywheel "gets thicker" and the pressure plate starts hitting the transmission bell housing! (Makes a ching/tap noise that sometimes will disappear when you press the clutch pedal down!)
Aftermarket clutch kits are available with a one piece flywheel.If your vehicle is so equipped, I'd recommend replacing the dual mass with a one piece, OR put in a brand new dual mass with every clutch job. (Hey, a clutch SHOULD last 75,000 or more unless you're delivering pizzas! What's a few hundred more?)
NOTE: I have a recording of a bad DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL in my NOISE LIBRARY
Here's a good article: Dual Mass Flywheel: What does it do?

Auto, Car, and Truck Article List
A
ABS: Anti-Lock Brake Systems
ADVANCE: Car ignition timing
ALTERNATORS and Car Battery
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
B
BAD CAR DESIGNS
Bad Drivers: How NOT to drive
BATTERIES: Auto, Car or Truck
BELTS AND HOSES
BEARINGS
BODY AND BUMPER REPAIRS
BRAKE REPAIRS: Car or Truck
C
Car Washing and Care
CARBURETORS:Car & Truck
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
CLEANING: Engine Cleaning
CLUTCH REPAIRS: Car & Truck
COIL (IGNITION)
COMPRESSION: Car Engine
COMPUTER CAR CONTROLS
CRUISE CONTROL / LANE GUARD
CV JOINT OR CV AXLES
D
DISTRIBUTORS (IGNITION)
E
ELECTRIC WIRING REPAIR
ENGINES: Car & Truck
ENGINE CLEANING
EXPANSION PLUGS
F
FILTERS: OIL, AIR, ETC.
Flywheels, dual mass flywheels
FREEZE PLUGS
FUEL AIR MIXTURE
FUEL INJECTION: Car & Truck
FUEL PUMPS: Car & Truck
G
GAGES AND "IDIOT LIGHTS"
GASKETS AND SEALS
GLASS: WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELDS
H
HEADS & HEAD GASKET
HOSES AND BELTS
I
"IDIOT LIGHTS" AND GAGES
IGNITION COIL
IGNITION TIMING: Car & Truck
J
AUTO JACKS: lifting cars safely
K
L
LEAN "Car runs lean"
LIGHTS: WARNING OR "IDIOT LIGHTS"
Limp Home Mode
M
MIL Light
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS
N
NO START: Car Won't Start
O
OIL CHANGES
OIL: What's right for your car?
OIL LIGHT ON OR GAGE LOW
P
PCV Valve
Q
R
RADIATORS: Car and Truck
RICH: Car runs rich
S
SEALS AND GASKETS
SELF DRIVING CARS / CRUISE
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT
SPARK PLUGS
STARTERS: Auto, Truck
T
THERMOSTATS
TIMING: IGNITION TIMING
TIMING BELT & TIMING CHAIN
TIRE REPAIR
TRANSMISSIONS: AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSIONS: MANUAL
U
V
VACUUM ADVANCE
WARNING LIGHTS OR "IDIOT LIGHTS"
Car Washing and Care
W
Washing and cleaning your car
WATER PUMP REPAIR
WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELDS
WIRING REPAIR
X
Y
Z

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