does this flywheel have weights?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 518
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From: Bangor PA
does this flywheel have weights?
I couldn't find any pictures after searching and searching. I'm trying to get this new clutch/ FW installed and just got the old FW out of the car. Where are these so called "weights" supposed to be if my stock flywheel has them?
Even if my stock FW does have weights, I guess I will still need to have the machine shop spin it to see if the original assembly was zero balanced or off balance for engine balancing purposes correct?
thanks guys!
Even if my stock FW does have weights, I guess I will still need to have the machine shop spin it to see if the original assembly was zero balanced or off balance for engine balancing purposes correct?
thanks guys!
Last edited by 96TTdodge; Apr 25, 2011 at 03:11 PM. Reason: pic
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 1
From: COCOA Florida
Look on the backside closest to the starter ring and you will see small holes drilled in the flywheel. if you see some of them filled then they have weights hammered into them to balance it. I have just checked three dmf wheels for balance...it can be done with a tire balancing machine. i can send you pictures if you need some. tom
the weights are lead or soft metal (silver color) and weigh about 3 grams each. if you want to confirm if it a weight drill into the center and put in an easyout and turn it to just snug the easyout into the metal. then use a pair of locking pliers or vise grips to pull it out...it is about 1/4 in long...tom
it that a dual mass flywheel...it does not look the same as my dmf. the weights on the dmf are on the crankshaft side not on the clutch side.
the weights are lead or soft metal (silver color) and weigh about 3 grams each. if you want to confirm if it a weight drill into the center and put in an easyout and turn it to just snug the easyout into the metal. then use a pair of locking pliers or vise grips to pull it out...it is about 1/4 in long...tom
it that a dual mass flywheel...it does not look the same as my dmf. the weights on the dmf are on the crankshaft side not on the clutch side.
Last edited by C4TOMCAT; Apr 25, 2011 at 03:42 PM. Reason: more info
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 518
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From: Bangor PA
Tom - thanks for the info! I flipped it over and sure enough there are two silver slugs that are easy to identify. I'm sorry, I'm not up to speed with all the lingo on this forum yet... I'm not sure what dmf is? This is the stock flywheel out of my 01' coupe.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 1
From: COCOA Florida
dual mass flywheel has springs inside it with a membrane that allows the clutch mating surface of the flywheel to absorbe the shock as the clutch engages. send me your email address and I will give you a picture of mine. if yours flywheel has a moveable spring loaded side and fixed side on the crankshaft...then it is a dual mass (dmf) flywheel. it would or should be original....however, someone could have put in a single mass flywheel before you purchased it.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 1
From: COCOA Florida
OPPS...I thought I was in the C4 section....01 flywheel is different...sorry to mislead you but it would still be balanced in some fashion as well...I don't have an 01 flywheel but assume it is a single mass one. sorry for the error. tom
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: The Chi
correct me if im worng.
doesn't the weight just balance the flywheel?
You new flywheel should be already balanced and you just pop it on. You new flywheel might have weights too if it didn't spin true out of the factory.
doesn't the weight just balance the flywheel?
You new flywheel should be already balanced and you just pop it on. You new flywheel might have weights too if it didn't spin true out of the factory.
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From: The Chi
Since I don't want to hijack the tread does anyone know if I can rebalance my motor? I dont think i have my old flywheel. Could i just buy a weight and stick it in all the positions until my vibration is gone. PM please. I thought I was just running rough and needed spark plugs.
Side note, why couldn't they balance the crank instead
Last edited by -DLS-; Apr 25, 2011 at 11:33 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
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From: Sartell Minnesota
Most of the engines are pretty well balanced but since it's a mass produced engine and parts vary it happens. It's not like the LS7/9's that are all hand built. I did ALOT of research when i did my clutch and was really nervous about weights and breathed a sigh of relief when i saw i didn't have any. What you need to do is if you had the stock flywheel, take out the weights and put them in the same spot on the new one. If you don't you will get vibration. It's a big pain in the a$$ really but its just like life, sometimes it sucks but you gotta keep going. Without knowing where those weights were or anything it will be difficult getting it back into balance.
P.S. The dowel pins need to be removed on most of the flywheels if you use and aftermarket clutch because they don't utilize the dowl locators and the clutch won't sit flush. I tried prefitting the assembly together beforehand and found this out. Just use a fine head punch and a hammer and they come right out.
P.S. The dowel pins need to be removed on most of the flywheels if you use and aftermarket clutch because they don't utilize the dowl locators and the clutch won't sit flush. I tried prefitting the assembly together beforehand and found this out. Just use a fine head punch and a hammer and they come right out.
Last edited by ColeTrain'sC5; Apr 26, 2011 at 01:20 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: The Chi
Most of the engines are pretty well balanced but since it's a mass produced engine and parts vary it happens. It's not like the LS7/9's that are all hand built. I did ALOT of research when i did my clutch and was really nervous about weights and breathed a sigh of relief when i saw i didn't have any. What you need to do is if you had the stock flywheel, take out the weights and put them in the same spot on the new one. If you don't you will get vibration. It's a big pain in the a$$ really but its just like life, sometimes it sucks but you gotta keep going. Without knowing where those weights were or anything it will be difficult getting it back into balance.
P.S. The dowel pins need to be removed on most of the flywheels if you use and aftermarket clutch because they don't utilize the dowl locators and the clutch won't sit flush. I tried prefitting the assembly together beforehand and found this out. Just use a fine head punch and a hammer and they come right out.
P.S. The dowel pins need to be removed on most of the flywheels if you use and aftermarket clutch because they don't utilize the dowl locators and the clutch won't sit flush. I tried prefitting the assembly together beforehand and found this out. Just use a fine head punch and a hammer and they come right out.
luckily theres only like 13 spots which means I could keep guessing. Did all models use the same weight? Could I use the same weight in a ls7 flywheel? Im think no because its a lot heavier.
Am I SOL since I do not have the old weight and a new heavier flywheel? Anything else I can do?
Alsp TTdodge, it seems you have a weight at the 6 o'clock position, a little to the left. Like 6:15
Last edited by -DLS-; Apr 26, 2011 at 01:42 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
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From: Sartell Minnesota
you would probably be surprised at just how many cars have this type of fix. In the O/P's post you can't see the weights as they are in the back side and not the friction side. I believe the weights are the same width but the amounts each weight comes in at varies. I'm not sure you can even get replacements for them but i'm not certain of that.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
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From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Wow that's the most shoddy engineering ever. My flywheel had a weight in it when I swapped it out for the ls7 flywheel clutch kit, but I thought It was to balance the flywheel.
Since I don't want to hijack the tread does anyone know if I can rebalance my motor? I dont think i have my old flywheel. Could i just buy a weight and stick it in all the positions until my vibration is gone. PM please. I thought I was just running rough and needed spark plugs.
Side note, why couldn't they balance the crank instead
Since I don't want to hijack the tread does anyone know if I can rebalance my motor? I dont think i have my old flywheel. Could i just buy a weight and stick it in all the positions until my vibration is gone. PM please. I thought I was just running rough and needed spark plugs.
Side note, why couldn't they balance the crank instead
The 2001 service manual tells you to transfer the weights (if present) from the old flywheel to the new one in the same locations while maintaining the new flywheel's same relative position as the old on the crank shaft flange. Did you use the service manual procedure when replacing your clutch?
I don't think the engineers and technicians that wrote the service manual were taking into consideration that individuals would be installing a much heavier clutch assembly that does not belong on an LS1/6 rotating assembly without taking into consideration final balancing.
I disagree with you shoddy engineering statement, if you have a better way of externally balancing a crank shaft assembly with a single mass flywheel on a production engine perhaps you should apply for a job at GM and show them how you would do it.
Last edited by ipuig; Apr 26, 2011 at 06:58 AM.
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From: The Chi
The 2001 service manual tells you to transfer the weights (if present) from the old flywheel to the new one in the same locations while maintaining the flywheel's same relative position on the crank shaft flange. Did you use the service manual procedure when replacing your clutch?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Most individuals striving to improve performance go with lighter (aluminum) flywheels. Why anyone would choose to install a much heavier flywheel designed for an engine with an additional 81 cubic inches and a much heavier rotating assembly is beyond me.
Instructor
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From: The Chi
As previously stated the service manual does not take into consideration that you would be installing a clutch assembly that does not belong on there so I do not know if the weights would work on the new flywheel. The weights are not for balancing the flywheel, they are for final (external) balancing of the complete rotating assembly.
Most individuals striving to improve performance go with lighter (aluminum) flywheels. Why anyone would choose to install a much heavier flywheel designed for an engine with an additional 81 cubic inches and a much heavier rotating assembly is beyond me.
Most individuals striving to improve performance go with lighter (aluminum) flywheels. Why anyone would choose to install a much heavier flywheel designed for an engine with an additional 81 cubic inches and a much heavier rotating assembly is beyond me.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 202
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From: The Chi