Lightened Flywheels: Things to know
 

I just read that the MS3 and MS6 now have a lightened dual mass flywheel option. Outstanding work and a big thanks to SSInstaller. Since a group buy is already in the works I thought it would be important to share some knowlege I have on them.

1. With out a doubt; there is nothing better to make an engine rev quickly than adding a lightened flywheel. (ok arguably Titanium or Aluminum connecting rods); but hands down LF's are one of the single most important mods for reducing rototational mass on the crank assembly. Freeing this load on the engine will increase power output for sure on even a stock MZR engine.

2. All things have a cost however. Lightened flywheels, while they allow a engine to rev really fast, they also allow the engine to drop revs really fast. Example: when you get out of the throttle quickly. IE, you push the clutch (for long enough time to return to idle) from a high RPM you might find yourself restarting your car. This is because the engine revs will drop so fast the ECU might not be quick enough to recover the environment change. (this has yet to be proven on the MS platforms, but this has been my experience with other applications). Quick or normal shifts betwen gears will not be a problem. see # 4.

3. Lightened Aluminum flywheels typically transmit noise. IE throwout bearing noise. It's sounds like a rattle but only at idle. (Again this has yet to be proven on the MS platforms, but this has been my experience with other applications). However, loud/open exhaust or slightly increasing radio noise can typically muffle the noise.

4. Loss of torque for clutch engagement. Less rotating mass means clutch engagement will probably need to be made at slightly high revs to get the car rolling. It will certainly take a little getting use to, but basically it only means relearning the sweet spot(s).

I hope this helps in your decision. Look out EVO's and STI's the Mazda game is getting pretty serious

Nice post

i was in as soon as I saw the GB, gonna really let this car tear shit up
thanks for sharing your impressions just makes me want it more

good post!

A few things I would like to add from my Mazda experience is that on the Protege's they tended to stall and search for idle for like the first 50 to 100 miles at most until the ECU learned and adjusted for it then the cars would drive perfectly. I went from a dual mass to a fidanza on my SVT Focus and never had any problems with doing so. I think the S/C helped with the low end torque though.:wink:

i had the findanze fly wheel on my svtf with a gt28rs... they only problem i has was it took for ever to get moving, i had to really give is some gas pedal

hence the reason I went with a blower.

lol; I certainly miss my PowerWorks EAP SVT Focus at times.

oh hell yeah I miss it all the time. there was something about that car. Black Euro Package 3 door with Jackson kit and smaller pulley, Full exhaust car was a blast. I've had faster cars too.

I have a 7lb flywheel on my del sol, it has a Blower as well. I love the flywheel, made a huge difference, though you do have to rev a tad higher on take off so you don't stall.

I have very little rotating mass on that motor, I swear it revs almost as fast as my bike.

honestly blowers on the svtf were a joke! after all the trouble powerworks had with their intial tunes, i said screw it. all that whp and no trqe...i had 265 and 240 at 10 psi! the JR SC was good for what it offered, but buying the kit basically ended the modding of the car and sc.
i degress from the intial thread. lighter flywheels=fun!