Flywheel
The flywheel is an important part of the engine and can be found at the end of the crankshaft. This car part is made from machined cast iron and quickly weighs over 15 kilos. The clutch and gearbox are mounted on the flywheel. A flywheel makes sure that the engine of your car runs smoothly. When you release the clutch, the clutch plates are in fact pressed against the flywheel. The car?s combustion engine supplies power to the crankshaft as soon as ignition takes place in the cylinder. After this ignition, the engine crankshaft pushes slightly forward again. The flywheel is a heavy car part that absorbs part of this energy. It therefore ensures that fewer vibrations occur and that the engine runs smoothly.
New cars often have a dual mass flywheel (DMF). With a dual mass flywheel, the total mass is not one piece of cast iron but is divided over two equal parts that move independently of each other. One is attached to the crankshaft and the other to the clutch. The main function of this DMF is to store energy and transmit it to the crankshaft so that it can rotate smoothly. This will reduce the noise and vibrations. Also, a dual mass flywheel improves fuel efficiency by allowing more effective and efficient use of engine power.
Bad flywheel symptoms A flywheel is subject to wear due to extensive use. This means that it can eventually break. A common defect is that hairline cracks occur. With a dual mass flywheel, another common defect is that the springs are no longer strong enough. As a result, the two parts will no longer follow each other smoothly as they should. A bad flywheel can be recognized by a number of symptoms;
Gear slipping; changing gears while driving Burning smell Clutch chatter Clutch pedal vibrates Clutch drags Ticking sound after engine shutdown Do you recognize one of these symptoms? Then we would advise you not to keep on driving with your car for too long. Driving too long with a bad flywheel can lead to greater damages to your car. Defects to the flywheel can be caused by factors such as your driving style, the lifespan of the part or frequently driving low engine speeds. Also, a malfunctioning injector or a defective engine support can lead to a defect to the flywheel. When the flywheel is broken, you will have to replace it. However, before replacing the flywheel you should first determine the cause of the defect.
Flywheel replacement When the flywheel turns out to be defect, it is time to replace it. Replacing a flywheel is quite a chore, but doing it yourself can prevent a high bill at the garage. To determine if the flywheel is indeed defect, it is necessary to disassemble the gearbox and the clutch. When replacing the wheel, we would recommend you to also replace the clutch and the pressure group. These car parts often have a hard time when the flywheel is malfunctioning. If you do not replace the clutch and pressure group at the same time, changes are that you will have to do so within a short amount of time. Does it seem that the flywheel is not broken due to normal wear or age? Then make sure to find out what caused the wheel to be broken. If you do not check this and only replace the wheel, changes are that the problems will continue or arise later on.
Order a new (dual mass) flywheel Ordering a new flywheel is quick and easy at Winparts. You can easily enter your license plate of select your vehicle on our site. The suitable parts for your car will then be shown, just select the brand you prefer and order it quickly. Also looking for other drivetrain and suspension parts? At Winparts you can also find clutch cables , drive shafts , cv joints , shock absorbers , coil springs and many more car parts!
