solid flywheel conversion question

[Bosco1980]

My mk1 vrs is due a new clutch. Have been looking at converting to a solid flywheel as it is a lot cheaper than the dual mass. However, after phoning my local indy garage to see if he will fit it for me, it has left me with doubt. :S

He said he would not fit it for me because after going to a demonstration by LUK he saw the after effects of what damage a solid flywheel conversion can do. He basically said that a solid flywheel conversion puts more stress on the driveshafts/ crank due to the lack of cushioning that the dual mass provides. I am not the most mechanically minded person so i just wanted some feedback from people that have converted and whether or not they have had to replace any drive shafts or crank due to snapping since converting.

Many thanks. Rich.

[RADIOTWO]

My mk1 vrs is due a new clutch. Have been looking at converting to a solid flywheel as it is a lot cheaper than the dual mass. However, after phoning my local indy garage to see if he will fit it for me, it has left me with doubt. :S

He said he would not fit it for me because after going to a demonstration by LUK he saw the after effects of what damage a solid flywheel conversion can do. He basically said that a solid flywheel conversion puts more stress on the driveshafts/ crank due to the lack of cushioning that the dual mass provides. I am not the most mechanically minded person so i just wanted some feedback from people that have converted and whether or not they have had to replace any drive shafts or crank due to snapping since converting.

Many thanks. Rich.

Hi Rich

My son had the solid flywheel fitted to his L&K and I think he did about 20K before he sold it, and no problems with drive shafts,etc, now he was(is) not the most careful driver, but poss if you were using it as a racing car then I don't think you will have any problems

Radiotwo

[Interphase]

I can't help thinking that LUK, one of the biggest makers of DMFs, would have a vested interest in persuading people not to convert I've not heard any horror stories yet and know quite a few specialists who recommend it, at the expense of the slight increase in chatter at idle. Would the slight dampening effect of the springs really be all that stands between a healthy driveshaft and a broken one, especially when you consider that there are a fair few moving parts to take the strain before the power gets there?

[wolfinsheepsclothing]

Hi Rich

My son had the solid flywheel fitted to his L&K and I think he did about 20K before he sold it, and no problems with drive shafts,etc, now he was(is) not the most careful driver, but poss if you were using it as a racing car then I don't think you will have any problems

Radiotwo

Hi

we sell to the trade and never had a warranty claim for a solid flywheel that has been fitted causing damage, saying that we deal with a fair few suppliers who slag them off!!

The daul mass is like a shock absorber, it takes away the vibration from the engine, what most suppliers say "taking the daul mass away!, the vibration has to go some where, so goes through the drive train etc" mind you saying that most who slag them off, dont sell them anyway!! lol

The only thing if you have fitted a solid flywheel is the clutch!! If it need replacing, you can only fit the the same make as the solid flywheel other dont fit!!

we also sell alot of daul mass flywheels, not the best thing in the world!

I would go for it and have the solid flywheel.

ps I would say that 80 to 90% of solid flywheel sales are to taxi drivers!!! ask some and see what they say!!

hope this helps

Edited 29 December, 2010 by wolfinsheepsclothing

[Guest westallc]

what a load of tosh why would all big power cars run single mass flywheels??? surely they would be even more prone to transmisson failure lol

[Andy_VRS]

what a load of tosh why would all big power cars run single mass flywheels??? surely they would be even more prone to transmisson failure lol

I agree with Clive(Westallc)! i fitted a new gearbox on my old vrs, so did the clutch at the same time converted to single mass flywheel It's a G60 flywheel anyway if my memory serves me right my car felt better after i had fitted it!

garage is trying to scare you by the sounds of it

[modra_vrs]

My car has had a solid G60 flywheel / Vr6 clutch fitted for 35k. Still going strong with a 50 % hike in power over standard. The LUK 228mm 1997 2.8 VR6 clutch will be going in if and when it expires. As Westallc says, companies (like Awesomes GTi for example) recommend this conversion for big power hikes and it's around half the price of dual mass IIRC.

Here is a good guide Bodge wrote detailing the bits you need - http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/150787-clutchflywheel-review/

[Bosco1980]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Feel much better about it now. Am definitely going to convert to solid flywheel . Think the garage was trying to cover his back. I know he prefers to fit genuine parts due to warranties etc..... Just wondered if anyone had had any bad experiences after converting.

[Chris B]

The best mod I made to the car was the single mass flywheel and the drive feels the same as the dualmass.

[mainspring]

The new clutch plate takes up the load , it has a spring loaded centre spline. So instead of having a spring loaded flywheel you have a spring loaded clutch plate.

All big trucks and cars used to use these before this "new idea DMF" arrived, never had any probs other than normal wear and tear. In fact a lot of trucks would rip the splines of the half shafts before doing any more trasmission damage.

[STSKODA]

The best mod I made to the car was the single mass flywheel and the drive feels the same as the dualmass.

not doubting you in any way (in fact if my clutch goes i'm gonna do the same thing) but,..... you do realise how ridiculous the above statement reads

Edited 30 December, 2010 by STSKODA

[chrisee]

I used to have a dual mass in my Octy and after it broke down (my fault actually :( ), I have fitted a single flywheel. Also thought there would be some judder or any inconvenience but thankfully it works well. I have done about 30k km and got no slightest problems.

Edited 30 December, 2010 by chrisee

[octydan]

Funnily enough I have just posted in the thread I started in September about clutch judder from my solid conversion. Im still getting bad judder in 1st and reverse.

[Guest westallc]

i doubt its the flywheel as lots and lots of us have dont this mod and have had no issues

have you checked the dogbone mount??? engine mounts????

not bed clutch in properly ???

[jmf]

I also have a SMF and get some judder in 1st and 2nd if I keep the revs low (e.g. 1000rpm) and engage the clutch very slowly. Otherwise it's fine

[octydan]

Thats identical to what I get. If I bring up clutch quicker then I get no problems. Its most obvious in reverse. Its not dogbone mount as I have Superpro in there, (2 weeks old)