Chance to buy a NOS DMF - Do it or wait?
 

Ok, so i've come across the chance to purchase a NOS clutch disk and dual mass flywheel. Supposedly these are both brand new parts, never used.

Here's the dilemma, my car doesn't NEED a clutch right now. However it does have 95k on the stock clutch so at some point it will need to be replaced.

Do i go for it and buy the NOS clutch disk and DMF? Or wait until the clutch fails and most likely replace it with an aftermarket disk and heavy SMF?

Looking for some input from others who have been though the clutch replacement drama

While it is an opportunity to get a difficult part, is it a good price? All you are trading off the dual mass for is a little more noise... a good exhaust and turning up the radio will fix that. I'd only buy if the price is right.
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DMF are in demand, especially NOS. So even if I didn't need it, I would also buy it... unless the price is crazy.

Let me know if you're not going to buy it, I may be interested!

If you are planning to keep a stock setup, then get it if it is a reasonable price.

If you don't care whether to keep your car stock or aftermarket, then get it if it is a reasonable price.

If you want to go to a single mass either standard weight or light weight, then it is only an investment. So get it if it is a good deal.

In my case I have had several dual mass setups and for me they work fine.

I had one SPEC single mass (the heavy one the same weight as stock) and I did not have any issues with the ZF noise. I just didn't notice any more noise. So I don't mind a single mass flywheel, and the lighter ones can add some acceleration improvement at the expense of ease of low speed engagement. So there may be some benefits to the single mass.

In my case I had a balance problem with the SPEC flywheel (off by 20 grams) and I replaced it with a dual mass.

Good luck with your choice.

Thanks for the input everyone. Honestly, i'm not well versed on the clutch offerings for our cars other than the increase in gear noise with a light flywheel (which can be mitigated as brought up by diz) and the fact DMF's are hard to come by.
The only reason i'd be purchasing is to have options when the time inevitably comes.

What's a reasonable price for new DMF?

The kit being offered is an NOS bellhousing + NOS disk + NOS DMF. Is there value in getting all 3 pieces? Or is the DMF the only valuable piece.

EDIT:
One more thing....

Is there a difference between 91-96 disks and DMF or are they all the same design?

Were you supplied part #'s for what was offered to you? Snapshots and casting #'s?

There would be 2 DMF - 1 for L98 - LT1/4 and the 2d for an LT5. Disc would be same for all regardless of engine. Clutch housing there would be 3 '89 & '90 L98, '91+ L98 - LT1/4 and a 3d for the LT5

Thanks.

Bell housing -> 10126448
DMF -> 1 204 074 00 (also shows FSG4 but I think that is a date code)

Housing is '91+ LT1/4

L98 - LT1/4 DMF I'm not familiar with but I'd think GOOGLE would be a friend.

Also be aware that on the two L98/LT1/LT4 bellhousings they are different. The early are aluminum and the later are magnesium. The magnesium has the word magnesium cast on the surface of the belhousing to make it easy to spot which one. The magnesium one needs to have formed or stamped shims between the housing and the block. If you do not have them the position of the bellhousing will be too close to the block and may cause some problems Like the clutch fork being too close to the pressure plate. So if magnesium, make sure to get the shims with it. Either bellhousing can work. The aluminum one without shims interchanges with the magnesium with shims.

On the dual mass flywheel, the LT5 has one more bolt hole than the L98/LT1/LT4 one does, so it is easy to check. The L98/LT1/LT4 flywheels interchange. I used a '90 (L98) on my '96 (LT4). I think there was a running change on them that may have upgraded the seal so that the later ones are better, but I don't remember the specifics of what year they changed (although my guess is about '91 or '92).

Good luck.

If you decide to go the DMF route, I'm providing information regarding balancing. This is from the manufacturer (LuK). The balance weights removed from my flywheel are 3 gram and 2 gram sizes. I made new weights from 0.248 dia. carbon steel rod. 0.50" length = 3.0 grams. The original weights had raised notches on the side for a friction fit. New and original weights (with piece of rod) are in the picture. I suppose you could secure new weights with Loctite or deform the weight for a friction fit. For curiosity, I used a website centrifugal force calculator to find that there is 16.5 pounds of centrifugal force on the 3 gram weight at 4000 RPM. These fine balance weights are important.


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