Aluminum?

[Venimuz]

As I was getting my clutch changed, they pulled out the flywheel and found that it was aluminum. I really thought nothing of it, thinking an advantage of it is the fact that it is lighter. We took it to get machined by a guy who races 9 second cars, and he said that if I increased the hp much more, I'd need to have a steel flywheel, otherwise, the flywheel could fly through the floor-board in racing. As you could imagine, hearing this bothered me a bit, so here's my question...How strong and reliable is my aluminum flywheel and driveshaft? Is it completely aluminum or does it haved a steel insert?

This may be a totally stupid question, but due to my lack of knowledge in this particular area and general worries toward my car, I felt that it needed to be asked.

Thanks
Chelsea

[03Venom]

i got a brand new Aluminum Flywheel when i did the clutch. There are plenty of guys w/ 03 Cobras running the stock flywheel and driveshaft that are putting some awesome numbers and fast ET's. you ll be ok!

[Corner-Carver]

Left of the state, center of the state, and now, right of the state:cool:

I seem to remember reading that the flywheel has steel inserts. Don't worry about it shattering, there are guys well over 600rwp who don't have problems with the stock flywheel.;)

[Venimuz]

Thank you so much for your quick and informative replys. Those responses were kind of what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure.

Chelsea

[cobrabitn]

North of the state. ;)

See y'all at drag day! If you are worried about it Chelsea, let me drive your 03 down the track and I'll test it for you...lol. :rotf:

[Venimuz]

HaHa, right, lol. That's my most frequently asked question about my car. And the answer, love ya guys, but no, lol.

[David A. Wilks]

We are using similar aluminum flywheels in our 800+HP Vipers. Take your parts to someone else and truly, you should replace the steel facing not resurface it.

By resurfacing the steel face you are doing the same thing as turning your brake rotors.... just making it thinner and less capable of dissipating heat. This equals to a greater clutch slippage and earlier failure rates.

[Venimuz]

just making it thinner and less capable of dissipating heat. This equals to a greater clutch slippage and earlier failure rates.

If the flywheel was very worn on the first clutch and you did not replace it, and then you put in a brand new clutch, could this cause faster clutch wear? I put in a Centerforce Dual Friction, for time purposes (I needed something quick), and it is now gone. I went to the drag strip 3 times for about 10 runs (with drag radials doing burnouts) and 2.6K miles on it, and burned it out 2 weeks ago. Could a thin flywheel partially be the culpret behind this?

Thanks
Chelsea

[03Venom]

yes! sorry to hear about your misfortune. Ive never had good luck w/ Centerforce but not resurfacing or getting a new flywheel definately hurt. Good Luck. Jamie

[Venimuz]

Thanks.

We did resurface it, but by doing that, with the wear it had, I believe it just made it thinner and more prone to wearing the clutch faster.

[cobragb]

Most '03 high HP cars are sticking with stock clutch pressure plates or stage 2 spec's to help save the half shalts. I wouldn't be too worried with the first resurface. But the next time you burn the clutch out, I would replace it. The benefit with with the spec over the stock is, that you can replace the steel insert.

good luck!