Flywheel mod. Yay or Nay?

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Ok here's the story, I'm about to pull my trans down for the 5th time. easy job, no questions about that. But my slave it bad and the leaking fluid has ruined my disc. so, I'm doing all new hydros with a stg2 Centerforce clutch and TOB.

I was talking to my trans guy/ advisor. He mentioned a local machine shop that would machine my flywheel not only to resurface it, but also machine the surface where the pressure plate mounts, providing more clamping force in the disc.

Does this sound like a good idea? And unlike most people I do know how to use a clutch, flywheel momemtum not rpm. I'm not worried about the quicker grab, that's what I want. By the end of the year my clutch will have to hold 37" tires with the help of 5.13s.

Is this flywheel mod a good Idea? I personally don't see a down side to it.

 

[MAKG]

Your trans guy thinks the flywheel creates clamping force? And you trust this guy to, say, eat lunch without drooling?

There is this thing called the "pressure plate" which, well, creates pressure with big springs (and for the Centerforce ones, centrifugal weights that might actually do something at really high RPM). It's part of the clutch.

A potential downside is easier cracking because of smaller thermal mass. There is no upside. It won't change the clamping force.

And I wouldn't go back to this guy for ANYTHING.

 

[AllanD]

Would that be the Centerforce "Dual Friction" which they make for a 4.0.

Or the CenterforceII (something completely different) that they do not,
atleast when I last checked...

I still have a clutch/flywheel here that belongs to you... should be cheaper than buying something....

AD

 

[4x4junkie]

Sounds like machining of the flywheel so the pressure plate mounts closer to the clutch disc (which would create very slightly more clamping force).

I don't think it would make enough difference to notice (and it might potentially fatigue the pressure plate spring too)

 

[Hahnsb2]

Sounds like machining of the flywheel so the pressure plate mounts closer to the clutch disc (which would create very slightly more clamping force).

I don't think it would make enough difference to notice (and it might potentially fatigue the pressure plate spring too)

That's what I was thinking he was talking about...

 

[Jspafford]

Stock clutches are nothing to shake a stick at. Put in the centerforce with your OEM flywheel and forget about it.

Sounds like you know how to drive a stick, so don't worry about it.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Allan I don't want a stock clutch. I have and issue with needing to upgrade things that go bad in my truck.

And, yes. I was talking about machining the flywheel so that the PP is closer to it.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Personally I've heard of a number of people that didn't care for centerforce clutches in their wheelin rigs.

 

[AKBroncoII]

I had a centerforce in mine and hated it. I'd never buy another.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

what'd you hate about it?

 

[Yellowsplash]

Are you referring to stepping the flywheel? I assume instead of machining the inner part down a certain amount as most stepped flywheels are, you would be machining, say, the outer ring where the pressure plate mounts? I just dont like the thought of that.
On a side note, the centerforce clutches arnt that bad....I like mine. It does grab better than a stock replacement. Alittle more pricey too... Probably not worth the price for most people.

 

[rboyer]

If there would be that much of a difference in grabbing power then wouldn't there be an aftermarket for Ranger flywheels that were machined in that manner?

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I loved my CF clutch in my 88 B2. But since the CF setup is good for rpm, I figured "stepping" the flywheel would give it more static holding pressure.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

If there would be that much of a difference in grabbing power then wouldn't there be an aftermarket for Ranger flywheels that were machined in that manner?

No, cause it's not a Jeep or a Honda.

 

[AllanD]

Allan I don't want a stock clutch. I have and issue with needing to upgrade things that go bad in my truck.

And, yes. I was talking about machining the flywheel so that the PP is closer to it.

That's nice, but... (and this is a huge "but") your CLUTCH didn't fail.

your SLAVE cylinder failed.

an "upgraded" clutch would die the same way if it were soaked down in fluid from a blown slave cylinder.

I had a CF-II (not D-F) on my 2.9 and a stock replacement 4.0 clutch is a major improvement on the smaller 2.9 CF.

This is a "how much is enough" issue. I've never been able to make the 4.0 clutch slip (uncommanded)

I did have problems with smooth engagement on the centerforce,
that was grabby as hell and got grabbier as it warmed up (like
happens when manuevering a trailer or offroad)

I'm not sure I'd want a CF offroad or even in stop and go traffic.
MY 2.9 limited slip supercab ranger with the CF-clutch
wouldn't easily slip the clutch when it was "warm" but either
stalling the engine or spinning the tires was easy.