What is a dual mass flywheel???

Dual mass? You mean critical mass don't you?

I dunno Doug. They mention it several times like it is something to brag about.

Here you go

http://www.standardtransmission.com/dmf.html

Ron

Ok , just helped my buddy switch a auto trans to a ZF 6 spd on a late model corvette. Leave it to GM to come up with this nightmare as the flywhell incorporates the torsion disc like a clutch has the torsion springs in the center. Instead of the disc having the springs it is mounted on the flywheel, hense the expense. So the clutch disc does not have any type or torsion spring, then they have a clutch surface area on top of that which makes the flywheel very thick and heavy. On top of that this application has the throw out bearing pull the clutch fingers to release the clutch instead of push like normal ones do. NOt sure if it is any better and have seen some performance cars use this setup. The late corvette has had it right back to the early 90's.

Thanks everyone. Now I know what a dual mass flywheel is, I guess I still haven't figured out why it is though. Does it make you car go faster?? Doesn't appear to. About the only thing it looks like it does is add repair expense. It figures. Something that provides absolutely no benifit for increased cost. No wonder the auto companies are going broke.

It apparently is designed to protect the gears in the trannie from shift shock in big diesel engines.
What are you runnin' in that thing DeTom 1,000hp?

quote:

Originally posted by PanteraDoug:
It apparently is designed to protect the gears in the trannie from shift shock in big diesel engines.
What are you runnin' in that thing DeTom 1,000hp?

Nope. It says 170 HP. I like my Focus. It is like having a minature SUV, only it gets good milage. The engine is buzy and it is real fun taking it up to redline. At 6,000 rpm it is like a turbo kicks in kinda feeling. It doesn't have a turbo it has all these variable this and that, but it is kinda fun. But as far as the flywheel goes, if it doesn't make the car go faster, you shouldn't brag about it in the literature. At least in my opinion.

Like the earlier post about the Corvette, I had an 89 Corvette that had it. It's a total piece of crap. At 55k miles a noise started. It sounded like a throwout bearing noise, & when you pushed the clutch in it got quite. It turned out to be bad insulators, bushings, muffler bearings or whatever GM called it. Only solution was to replace the flywheel. $800.00 for the flywheel alone. Total bill for a clutch & flywheel for the Vette was almost $1600. The reason they made it on the Corvette was the first to fourth gear shift under low throttle to avoid the gas guzzler tax. My car had the wires seperated so that the 1 to 4 shift could be avoided. Without the dual mass flywheel the car would have bucked and jumped more than the common owner would accept. It's not a high performance item, at least on the Corvette.

Can you replace it with normal parts or is it made so you HAVE to use their piece of junk and nothing else wioll work???

quote:

Originally posted by DeTom:
Can you replace it with normal parts or is it made so you HAVE to use their piece of junk and nothing else wioll work???

Sure you can replace it if there is a direct replacement made for the application.

If there isn't, TS, tell superman.

There was no other flywheel available at the time. 2 or 3 months later a solid lightened one piece flywheel came out, in the after market but it was too late for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Throttle man:
There was no other flywheel available at the time. 2 or 3 months later a solid lightened one piece flywheel came out, in the after market but it was too late for me.

Maybe I misunderstood? Maybe a dual mass flywheel is something the Catholic Church performs on your flywheel twice?