Fikshun

Hey everyone,

I don't want to know what flywheel to choose, or what the benefits are, but rather....

Do the RB, Bonez, etc. flywheels use solid aluminum for their flywheels, or do they have a steel center?

I read somewhere that the aluminum clutches have steel centers and couldn't find a definate answer.

Thanks,
Fikshun

Jimmy325i

Aluminum clutches? Clutch disk, pressure plate, and flywheel make up the clutch assembly. I can't imagine an aluminum clutch hub.

The flywheel is all aluminum, but with a steel friction surface inlaid to its face because of aluminum being so much softer than steel and not holding up to the abuse of the friction on the clutch, and not holding enough heat to make the clutch efficient.

So the center is actually the aluminum part and the steel is around it.

What you might be confused with (now that I think about it) is that the hub of the aluminum flywheels bolts to a steel adapter on the e-shaft.

Fikshun

My bad, in the last sentence, I subbed flywheel with clutch.

It was supposed to read "I read somewhere that the aluminum flywheels have steel centers and couldn't find a definate answer."

So, the RB, bonez etc, FLYWHEELS have a steel surface? And not a steel center?

Thanks again,
Fikshun

Jimmy325i

Yeah, they cut them out of aluminum plate and then turn them on a lathe to make all the depressions, then mill the holes. They only bolt up to the steel hub adapter.

Fikshun

Right on, one of the engineers at work is working on the CAD to machine out a flywheel for his Mustang. He was saying it wouldn't be hard, and he was using solid aluminum.

He knows what he's talking about that's for sure, but I wanted to ask someone else.

Maybe I can get him to CAD out a FC flywheel. Or maybe do it myself, but I'm lazy. He helped build a couple of the Formula SAE cars in his engineering class at the U. Pretty dope stuff.

Anyways, I'm rambling. Thanks for the info.

Fikshun

Jimmy325i

I love playing in the machine shop at school. I managed to get hooked up with a teacher as a student worker in mine last fall. (pretty much open access to it now) Fun times.

Snrub

iTrader: (1)

I was considering the same thing Fikshun. Keep us posted on what you end up doing.

Fikshun

I think I will start drawing it up in CAD, but it will probably take me forever.

I don't know CAD all that well, but maybe I can get a buddy to draw it up since he does it for a living. Once it's drawn up, its just a matter up letting the machines do the work.

Fikshun

JerryLH3

iTrader: (11)

Also one of the good thing about the lightened flywheels is the steel friction surface is completely replaceable. They cost around $80 from RB for their flywheels.

Jimmy325i

There is a big difference between a lightened flywheel and an aluminum one. I know you meant aluminum.

JerryLH3

iTrader: (11)

Ah, thanks for catching the oversight. It should have stated "the lightweight aluminum flywheel's steel friction surface is completely replaceable."

There.