Is this normal for a new clutch & flywheel??
 

I just had a Fidanza lightweight flywheel and Centerforce Dual Friction clutch installed on my ZXT (along with a PG LSD). My driveway has a steep incline of the curb, forcing me to come to a stop, before slowly rolling up at an angle. With the original clutch/flywheel, I'd quickly slip on the clutch, just to give me a small burst to get the front wheels up the incline. And once straightened out, I'll then apply the clutch again in another burst to get the rear wheels up. (I'm sure many of you have to deal with the same thing)

However, with the new setup, when I try to do that, it judders, threatens to stall, and can't climb without engaging the clutch more. And when I do engage the clutch more, and/or apply more gas, the car shudders kinda violent, like it's having a hard time completely grabbing hold for the climb. And after I do finally get on the driveway, the transmission sounds loud and clanky when I gently ease in the clutch/gas just to roll in the garage. It sounds really bad, like something may've broken in the tranny somehow, but by the next day, the transmission will sound fine again.

I've never had a new/aftermarket clutch and flywheel on any of my previous cars, so I don't know if this' normal for break-in. At all other times, it behaves just fine until I try to do that slow climb. Does it get better after break-in, or is this caused because of the lightweight flywheel? Or is it that something's wrong? I'd always thought this was a fairly common clutch/flywheel combination among us 280ZX's, so can anyone share some insight? ^^

well with the light weight flywheel, you wont be able to drive like you used to, it just doesnt carry the momentum. also the clutch you most likely have, has a very short slip range, so it will shudder without rpm increase, bigger than your used to. the clanking could be something else, or a worn u joint, or the lsd, hard to say, sound is never easy to get without video. but the rest is normal til you get used to it. drive it for a while, and if you dont like the flywheel, ill just pay shipping and you can send it my way!

Shady is correct... as usual... Light weight flywheel doesn't have the same rotating mass as the OEM model. The CF clutch is about twice as 'grippy' as the OEM clutch. Put the two together and you'll find that the grippy clutch will more easily slow and stop the light weight flywheel.

The most extreme example of this is on motorcycles with heavily lightened flywheels. I've seen them actually stall between shifts where the compression ratio is high enough to stop the flywheel from rotating and stall the motor.

You need to use more RPM's and more clutch to keep the revs up and prevent the clutch from stalling the flywheel.

Welcome to the world of high performance! ;)

Yeah, I just don't see the advantages of a lightweight flywheel on a mostly street car...is a few horsepower gain really worth the finiky clutch engagement, be it more positive and stronger. I think the clutch is a good call but for daily driving a factory weight flywheel would be best.

Yeah the Centerforce is a great clutch. Hardly any slip whatsoever. I am quite happy with it. And when I replace it in my other '82, I am going with Centerforce.:unibrow:

thanks l-dub. i run a lightened stock steel flywheel on the street, it only has 7 pounds or so removed, so i need not worry for the daily driving. however, feel free to ship it to me!!!

Drat, I hope it gets better. This' why I posted that thread a few weeks about about the drawbacks of a lightened flywheel. If it really gets unbearable, I may well have to return to the original flywheel. But damn I'd be taking a hit on the cost of the used Fidanza flywheel and the labor involved, if I do that. ~_~

i want the fly wheel, if you return to stock.... lol, ill pay more than shipping, take that shady!

so would i hozer, im being funny, but IF i cant afford it, then maybe. and thats if raver would sell it. hahah

im not the hozer yah hozer. lol. id kill for a discounted fidanza. i heart that company. lol

Have you felt an improvement on rev'ing or decrease in boost lag? Sounds like the bad is outweighing the good.

My friend has a turbocharged Integra GSR with a 7 lb. Spoon flywheel and ACT clutch. It's a little different from driving with a stocker, but after you get used to the throttle being a bit more sensitive, it was pretty easy to drive. His car doesn't shudder or vibrate when slipping the clutch. I found it much easier to drive in the corners as rev matching was a cinch. If I had the cash, I would go with an aluminum flywheel once I get the rest of this pedal swap completed.

HEY! im trying to get me a fidanza flywheel, wtf are you doing to me! lol

calm... calm.... goozfrahbah!

I had a jittery clutch when I replaced mine. Luckily I'm running a stock clutch, stock flywheel, and had a strong NA at the time so I had plenty of torque still :)

I like my heavy flywheel

It doesn't matter anyway. Since I'm in the Bay Area and Heat Rave R and I are TITE! I'll get first dibs on it with no shipping... RIGHT?! ;)

Haha, don't you already have one?

As far as the performance gains, since I'm still breaking in everything, I haven't really pushed it much. But if that driveway climbing doesn't get any better, I may have to swap the flywheel back out; for me, I'd rather have the ease of getting up my own driveway. Still, it makes me wonder if it's the clutch's fault since it seems like it might be a "grabbing" issue (and hence, why I wonder if it'll improve once "broken in").

I haven't driven the car the past couple days since I've been too busy at work. I'm going to change the LSD and tranny fluid and see if that makes a difference.

Nah, I just shaved the steel flywheel in my white 240Z down to about 15.5 lbs. I wanted SOME driveability... ;)

My ZXT has a shaved steel flywheel as well, but I never weighed it. I would put it in the ZXT since it's a 3.1L and has enough displacement/torque to make up for the loss in rotating mass. It's also got a Superior Friction 6 puck clutch that's not gonna be any fun on the street either, but I had to have it so the clutch would hold under 25psi boost.

Hehe, if I did want to swap mine back out, wanna do a trade+cash for mine? ^_~

You're just going to have to get used to it, unfortunately. It's funny to see anyone attempt to drive my 240SX with an OS Giken triple plate clutch & a 2-way Cusco LSD. It took me a month to get used to it & occaisonally I still stall it out or get it to bucking if I'm not careful. The last alignment I had, the guy stalled it out 5 times before I told him to get out & I'll pull it on the lift!

well 4 months and eleven days still isnt as bad as the whole 2 years thing..

Why are we digging up dead threads?

Seriously... Check the last posting date before you respond to a thread that is dead and buried.

No0b



Rod.

It's ANGRY Rod! ;)

Haha, it's ok, I guess I should update that my setup had begun acting "normal".