Lightweight Flywheel

[accordlx]

Hi Guys:

At close to 190K my 98 Accord LX (F23a1 engine) will need a new clutch. Several sellers on Ebay are selling an Exedy OEM clutch kit with a Fidanza lightweight flywheel at fairly low prices. I've read that a lightweight flywheel will cause chatter and may kill your engine when decelerating. Also, it may decrease fuel economy in stop and go type of driving.

I'm not too concerned with the fuel economy but I don't want to deal with chatter or an engine dying while decelerating. Those of you who have installed lightweight flywheels, have you encountered such symptoms? My car does not have any modifications.

Thanks,
AccordLX

 

[Sketch o5]

from the experience ive seen and heard from lightweight flywheels, they chatter, its just how they are. if you dont want that, dont get it, haha. ive never heard of the engine stalling while decelerating from the lightweight flywheel tho, and have never heard of it happening to any of my friends. your engine will rev quicker tho, haha.

 

[Russianred]

I have Fidanza 8lb. flywheel, and there is no chatter. Significantly quicker revs though. I'd suggest getting that one, as it's popular, relatively cheap, and definite quality. If you are upgrading your flywheel, maybe you should get a performance clutch with it as well - not just an OEM replacement.

I have had no issues with car dying, or chatter at all. It rides perfect!

 

[simon_y]

If you get an OE replacement from Exedy with a light weight flywheel, it will not chatter, The only reason a clutch would chatter is from the material it's made from usually only stage 3's and up will chatter. (depending on the company, every bodies specs are different) Even if your clutch does chatter, it only will happen when you engage the clutch from a stand still if your rpm are to low. It won't chatter while decelerating or changing gears.

Although you will have to change and adjust the way you drive because rpms drop pretty quickly during your shift and also clutch engagement is going to be tricky in the beginning because you'll notice that the rpms are going to drop as soon as the clutch engages.

But you'll get use to it after a day or 2 of driving.

How heavy is the fidanza flywheel? I'm thinking its 8 lb's because my friend has a fidanza 8 lb. I'm currently running an 11 lb flywheel and am pretty happy with it. Don't really wanna go 8 lb considering my car is a DD. Our stock flywheel is like 25lb or something around there and 8lbs is quite a jump from stock. I would suggest an 11 lb, but its up to you.

My friend has an 8lb on his civic, but its not THAT bog of s difference because his stock fly is pretty light so it wasn't that big of a jump to an 8 lb.

 

[DarkSideAccord]

wtf is this chatter?

 

[Sketch o5]

when the clutch is engaged while the car is just sitting, like in neutral, you hear a clicking type of noise from the engine bay.

and my bad on the flywheel chattering, haha, it is the clutch. i havent talked about this stuff in so long, cuz i own a honda, so i know it has no performance so im not worried about performance parts

 

[x5carl3tMurd3rx]

ya stock is 22lbs I'm pretty sure. I got an exedy stage 1 with an 11lb flywheel and I haven't had any problems with it, except for the first test drive after we installed it cause I kept stalling it out lol but I had to drive like 3 hours back from the shop I got it installed at so by the time I got home I was used to it. Only complaint I have is since I drive my civic to deliver the za's I'll go days at a time without driving the accord and when I switch back it usually takes a me a minute to adjust back to it.

 

[simon_y]

wtf is this chatter?

It's when you engage the clutch in 1st and you car starts to shake from the engine winding up and then bouncing back and forth on the mounts which shakes the hell out of your dash board. lol.

It basically seems like your gonna stall because everything is shaking. But its just a mixture of a heavy clutch with a hard material and soft engine mounts.

 

[accordlx]

Hi Guys:

I appreciate your feedback. I'm going to go with the stock Exedy clutch kit and the 11lb flywheel. There are a couple of sellers on ebay that do sell that flywheel. Also going to replace the axles since one of my CV boot is torn. That cross member is going to be removed. Should I bother with replacing the oil pan gasket since we'll be in that area? It's not leaking but on my old 89 Accord it started to flow as soon as I passed 200k.

Thanks,
AccordLX

 

[mraw112]

It's when you engage the clutch in 1st and you car starts to shake from the engine winding up and then bouncing back and forth on the mounts which shakes the hell out of your dash board. lol.

It basically seems like your gonna stall because everything is shaking. But its just a mixture of a heavy clutch with a hard material and soft engine mounts.

Thats not clutch chatter. Its usually from multi disc clutch set ups. I think its from the floater plate, and pressure plate rattling around.

Heres a picture on my quarter master twin disc 7.25 clutch.

see the teeth on the outside of the floater plate. Theres some play in it causing that annoying chatter.


The oil pan gasket is such a pain to do. I wouldn't do it unless it was leaking.