So I just was looking for low-buck upgrades for the FD, and it seems that a flywheel (coupled with my C's STS) is a good move. Can anyone enlighten me on these things? Wo they break? Worth the Money? Hard to install? Do I need any other parts 'as long as I'm in there?' I have a ~6,000 mi old reman and clutch. I heard one should replace the counterweight with the new flywheel? I'm a little lost. There is no real hurry here since I still haven't finished paying for some old parts (Justin, I swear.. tomorrow.. lol).

the stock flywheel has a counterweight built in so the lightweight ones require you to use an auto tranny counterweight.

Thanks!!!

I would look at the new ACT flywheels before an aluminum one. Available in 2 weights, one piece chromoly instead of steel bolted to aluminum. Also a hell of a lot cheaper. ($200 vs $400)



I'm thinking I'll get the Pro-lite this winter while I've got the engine apart.

how much is the ACT ??? $200 only ????? if so i am getting one!

Horsepowerfreaks has 'em for $204.



Comparing ACT clutch prices between Horsepowerfreaks and RX7Trix tells me RX7Trix can probably set you up for about $210, since they carry ACT already.

hmmmm... Sound's like a deal to me! I'll be doing that ASAP.

I could be wrong but I thought I was told the chrome molly flywheels are "not" rebuildable, hence the lower price. I have no idea if they can be resurfaced or not, maybe someone else does? On the aluminum ones, the center peice can be replaced. ...anyone know any different?

It's not 'rebuildable', it is one piece like a stock one after all. You should be able to resurface it, but how many times is a good question. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683561.gif



Can you resurface an aluminum one, or do you have to buy a new friction surface every time?

Last night I was talking with Loi and he was explaining to me that a lightweight flywheel (with a short throw shifter or not) is a PITA to drive, especially the 8.8 lb ones. He did mention some kind of steel lightweight (~8 lb) flywheel. Maybe my Bel-Tone wasn't turned up, but I coulda sworn.. Anyone heard of a steel lightweight flywheel? I'm confused.



I've never seen a lightweight flywheel in person, so I have no idea on the resurfacing questions. How often does that need to be performed, anyhow? I mean, how often does the friction surface fail on a lightweight flywheel? I can't imagine it'd be much, unless using an extreme HD clutch.



It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to say a cromoly is cheaper because it's not resurfaceable. A flywheel is a wear item just like the clutch is. If it were cheaper due to that limitation, that would essentially mean that the company is hedging profits on repeat customers - which would be a mistake for a niche part like a lightweight flywheel. I would assume it is less expensive because cromoly is cheaper to manufacture.

Chromoly is steel.



You would only resurface when changing your clutch.



The aluminum ones would be more expensive to make because they are several pieces of different materials attached to each other. The lightweight chromoly are just one material.

That's what I thought.. loi got me a little confused. I think my bel-tone was off.

Mazdatrix offers both kinds, a semi-lightweight and the light weight with replacable friction center (requires flywheel). On my CRX it's only a pain when I drive and shift slowly but I can compensate for it by taping the gas in between shifts to raise the rpm's like I used to do on my crotch rocket. http://www.mazdatrix.com/flywheel.htm

http://www.mazdatrix.com/f-writng.htm

ACT has both middleweight (StreetLight) and lightweight (ProLight) as well but you would have to resurface them upon a clutch change instead of replacing the friction plate. I have no idea how many times a flywheel can be resurfaced. It does not mention a counter weight included or available. http://www.advancedclutch.com/V3/mainframe.htm

A quick side question on lightweight flywheels.



My dad was saying how getting a lightweight flywheel takes away from your low end torque, and that since the rotaries don't have that great of low end anyways, that it wouldn't be that great of an idea to upgrade to lightweight.



Comments?

I was thinking the same thing, any opinions?

yeah you lose engine momentum by going to a lighter flywheel. youll only really notice it when slipping the clutch from a stop and in between gears. a lighter flywheel accentuates one of the cool things about a rotary, the low inertia. it just revs faster and easier. you have to shift faster because the rpms will drop quicker. but it makes heel-toeing so much faster. i run a 9.5lb aluminum one on the street and its not bad at all unless you run an extreme clutch.



lets do a quick calculation:



400 for an aluminum flywheel that can be reused unlimited times for $100 every time



200 for a steel flywheel that can be reused once.



times number of clutch changes

Al 400 -> 500 -> 600 -> 700 -> 800 -> 900 -> 1000

steel 200 -> 200 -> 400 -> 400 -> 600 -> 600 -> 800



well i guess you never save money by going with a replaceable friction surface. of course this changes if you can resurface the aluminum one. i will be finding out very soon because im due for a new clutch

I run an aluminum flywheel on the street, it's fine for me. You just have to know how to drive.

btw, for those of you who havent seen the aluminum one before... this is the one I bought from racing beat, it's for a NA FC.



http://pengaru.com/~swivel/cars/rx-7...w_IMG_1259.JPG

http://pengaru.com/~swivel/cars/rx-7...w_IMG_1260.JPG

The ACT's for comparison. Not necessarily RX-7 flywheels, got them from Horsepowerfreaks.com





Pro-lite (lightest)

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/Imag...T_CLUT_FLY.jpg



Streetlite (a little heavier)

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/Imag...FLY_600110.jpg





You can see they are almost the same, they remove material around the outside, where it affects inertia the most.

this is OT but may be relevant...



horsepowerfreaks.com may be cheap, but there's a reason for that. i'm presently in limbo waiting for them to decide what to do about a radiator they shipped me loose in the box (which obviously ended up damaged). they haven't yet said 'yeah we will take care of it' -- all i've gotten so far is 'we need to talk to our warehouse' and 'we can't get ahold of our warehouse because they are moving'. btw, the warehouse is in California -- HPF is in Oregon.

good to know! I was going to use Sportcarmotion since I trust them, but still good to know!

I only use HPF to find prices they have a lot listed on their site. Including things that don't exist! https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683827.gif

yeah i'll talk to rx7trix. $210 i am getting one mos def!

Hmmm, maybe I should have said $175! https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683785.gif I thought you had already talked to him and the price was $210. Which happens to be the price I guessed. If I had guessed a lower price maybe you would have got that price.





Nevermind https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...#>/biggrin.png

i talked to him but i need to get an actual price cause he didn't give me one haha