Hello!

Thank you for taking the time to check this post out and in advance a thank you for any questions you might be able to answer for me.

I have a 2004 G35s 6mt. 2nd owner from 55k miles. It just broke 110k and I believe my clutch is going bad, based upon due diligence from this wonderful forum. I did the 6th gear test (6 gear 80mph, then floor it and watch at the rpm shoots up and stay there as the car catches up).

It failed with flying colors, so I do believe it is clutch time! I plan on buying the exedy stage 1. My question however is how can you tell if your flywheel needs replacing as well? I do not want to blindly make the purchase as that is an expensive piece you do not want to trust to ebay from my understanding. Also is the OEM what i've read called a "dual mass flywheel"?

My car in nuetral at a stop sign makes no apparent noise or this "chattering" I hear of. Surely that cannot be the only way to check your flywheel? I am not mechanically inclined, so moving an alternator would certainly be out of the question!

To summarize; 1.) How can I check the flywheel?
2.) Upon checking, do I only have to replace with a dual mass or will a lightweight do?

thanks so much!

 

Funny, just looked at my join date! Having this problem almost a year and 55k miles later! Not bad given this is the only problem i've ever had. (Except that damned window motor..)

 

Since you're doing the clutch might as well do the flywheel at the same time. Good rule of thumb to replace both together. One the stock flywheel you wont hear any noise thats when you get a light weight flywheel you hear the chatter. I say go ahead get the clutch and get a light weight flywheel and have it installed at the same time. Plus you'll get an improvement in acceleration.

 

Well that is quite a significant increase in price for a full exedy kit. $800 including flywheel, $300 without. I ask this because numerous articles I have read state that the stock flywheels in this car rarely go bad.

With Christmas coming, I would greatly love to keep the cash if at possible.

 

Z1 has a combo set for 600

 

Does anyone have an answer in regards to actually testing the flywheels need for replacement?

 

First, you're going to want to get that flywheel resurfaced at least if not replaced. Second, if that flywheel has too much play, it will need to be replaced. You see, the dual mass flywheel has moving parts inside and generally the intent is to replace, not resurface, this flywheel when the clutch disk is changed.

I would avoid the single mass flywheels if possible, at least for a daily driven car. The dual mass flywheel is there to soak up vibrations from the engine and to prolong the life of the transmission by acting to absorb some shock between the motor and transmission. With that said, I doubt the reliability would be compromised much in the near term, but I would still go with a dual mass flywheel.

 

Yeah, swapping out the flywheel is about like removing a gasket. It's possible it'll be ok the second time, but the reliability of it is waaaay down.

Since the additional labor cost (time or money) of doing the flywheel in addition to the clutch is fairly small, I'd definitely say add it into the job.

Also, I've got the JWT lightened flywheel/clutch bombo on mine. I love the performance, but the chatter is very bad. I will go back to stock flywheel/clutch when this needs replacement.

 

"Back in the day", when you put in a clutch, you resurfaced the flywheel also. It's like putting in new brake pads on old grooved up rotors. You clutch will last much longer with a smooth friction surface. HOWEVER, the OEM flywheel cannot be resurfaced. So, you must REPLACE it the first time. I recommend the Jim Wolf Tech clutch pack as you can remove and replace the friction surfaces of the JWT flywheel.

 

Actually it is possible to resurface the flywheel, you just have to find a machine shop that knows how I still wouldn't go that route but if a customer insists, it must be done.

 

I just got my car today with an exedy single mass flywheel and a new clutch. My release ceased up and caused havok. The flywheel is actually aboslutley silent, not sure if I am expecting the noise to start at a certain mileage.

U wont get many people that will attempt to resurface the dual mass - and not many would attempt it even then. If the flywheel is fine why would you replace it? especially with a lower quality 'noisy' one.

Good luck - I know the pain of going through. Also theres no way to check the flywheel without pulling the tranny and having a peak. (i believe)