Clutch + flywheel

Clutch + flywheel

I need a new clutch in my '03, and while I'm replacing that, I was debating
about a lighter flywheel.
Flying Miata has 2: 10+ lbs. and 13+ lbs.
This is a street car so I don't need the lighter of the two. I'm told that
a lighter flywheel will improve throttle response by letting the engine rev
quicker and smoother while retaining a smooth idle. Any
thoughts/recommendations?

--
-----
Clark Friedrichs / 1clarkf@sbcglobal . net

Re: Clutch + flywheel

The real problem is that the Miata engine does not have much torque at low
RPM. Thus, the heavier flywheel is better for non racing applications. Yes
a lighter flywheel will allow the engine to rev up slightly faster.
However, maintaining higher rather than lower RPM is usually the secret,
even in racing apps. Now if the engine were modified, that may be another
story.

(And now for the flak onslaught!)]


"Clark Friedrichs" <1clarkf@sbcglobal . net > wrote in message
news:h0Kik.16402$uE5.2491@flpi144.ffdc.sbc . com ...
>I need a new clutch in my '03, and while I'm replacing that, I was debating
>about a lighter flywheel.
> Flying Miata has 2: 10+ lbs. and 13+ lbs.
> This is a street car so I don't need the lighter of the two. I'm told
> that a lighter flywheel will improve throttle response by letting the
> engine rev quicker and smoother while retaining a smooth idle. Any
> thoughts/recommendations?
>
> --
> -----
> Clark Friedrichs / 1clarkf@sbcglobal . net
>

Re: Clutch + flywheel

As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the expected
life of a clutch on a Miata? How many miles on your '03?

I have an '04 with 25k miles on it, hence the questions....

thanks in advance, y'all.



"Clark Friedrichs" <1clarkf@sbcglobal . net > wrote in message
news:h0Kik.16402$uE5.2491@flpi144.ffdc.sbc . com ...
>I need a new clutch in my '03, and while I'm replacing that, I was debating
>about a lighter flywheel.
> Flying Miata has 2: 10+ lbs. and 13+ lbs.
> This is a street car so I don't need the lighter of the two. I'm told
> that a lighter flywheel will improve throttle response by letting the
> engine rev quicker and smoother while retaining a smooth idle. Any
> thoughts/recommendations?
>
> --
> -----
> Clark Friedrichs / 1clarkf@sbcglobal . net
>

Re: Clutch + flywheel

On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:10:40 -0600, in rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata,
"Russell D. Miller" <neochordNOSPAM_nm@yahoo . com > wrote:

>As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the expected
>life of a clutch on a Miata? How many miles on your '03?
>
>I have an '04 with 25k miles on it, hence the questions....
>

My '93 has 105k miles and still has the original clutch. One month shy
of 15 years since I drove it off the dealer's lot.

Jim
--
Jim Hayter home: jhayter AT alum.mit DOT edu
Columbus, OH work: jhayter AT ecnext DOT com
Red '93 B Miata
Garnet '05 Legacy 2.5 GT Ltd

Re: Clutch + flywheel

On Jul 27, 2:16 am, Jim <J...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:10:40 -0600, in rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata,
> "Russell D. Miller" <neochordNOSPAM...@yahoo . com > wrote:
>
> >As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the expec=
ted
> >life of a clutch on a Miata?  How many miles on your '03?
>


'92 with 135,000 miles, but occasionally slips when driven hard. Plan
to replace clutch this year with Happy Meal and 10 pound flywheel.

Gary

Re: Clutch + flywheel

Jim wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:10:40 -0600, in rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata,
> "Russell D. Miller" <neochordNOSPAM nm@yahoo . com > wrote:
>
>> As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the expected
>> life of a clutch on a Miata? How many miles on your '03?
>>
>> I have an '04 with 25k miles on it, hence the questions....
>>
>
> My '93 has 105k miles and still has the original clutch. One month shy
> of 15 years since I drove it off the dealer's lot.
>
> Jim
My 1990 just passed 200K on the original clutch. Other than engaging a
lot higher than when it was newer, it works fine.

Ken

Re: Clutch + flywheel

Russell D. Miller wrote:
> As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the
> expected life of a clutch on a Miata? How many miles on your '03?
>
> I have an '04 with 25k miles on it, hence the questions....
>
> thanks in advance, y'all.

It depends a lot on how the car is driven. Also, forced induction,
especially anything past 8 psi, will eat a stock clutch in no time.

My last Miata had 75,000 on the clutch when it was wrecked. One person
commented that it looked basically new when I removed it, and had to be
better than his clutch that had been slipping.

I gave it to him and he installed it in his car. I haven't heard from
him in a while, but it was still going strong over 2 years after he put
it in his Miata.

Pat

Re: Clutch + flywheel

Russell D. Miller wrote:
> As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the
> expected life of a clutch on a Miata? How many miles on your '03?
>
> I have an '04 with 25k miles on it, hence the questions....
>
> thanks in advance, y'all.

The clutch on my '90 lasted 91,000 miles. The clutch on my '04 only
has 21,000 on it so I don't expect to have to replace it for several
years more.

Iva & Vixen
2004 Classic Red
No more winkin' Miata

Re: Clutch + flywheel

"Russell D. Miller" wrote:
>
> As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it),
> what is the expected life of a clutch on a Miata? How
> many miles on your '03?

I had to replace the clutch on my '99 at 91,200 miles, as it was
slipping. But the clutch on my '93 was OK at 140,000 miles when it got
wrecked. I bought the '99 used and I suspect the previous driver was
pretty hard on it.

yrs jp

Re: Clutch + flywheel

In article <IOSdnYeKtci3VhbVnZ2dnUVZ sjinZ2d@comcast . com >, Russell D.
Miller <neochordNOSPAM nm@yahoo . com > wrote:

> As an aside to this thread (not meaning to hijack it), what is the expected
> life of a clutch on a Miata? How many miles on your '03?
>
> I have an '04 with 25k miles on it, hence the questions....
>
> thanks in advance, y'all.
>

My '93 now passed to my son has 198,000 on the original clutch.
No real slipping, but does get grabby now in wet or very humid weather
until warmed up a little.

As others have implied, clutch life depends a lot on driver, driver
style and hp of the engine.

More hp will likely increase slipping at launch, and may cause some
slipping on shifts, but the shifting slippage varies with how well you
match rpms at shift points.

Slippage is what wears the clutch. Less time spent with the clutch in
the zone between initial contact and fully loaded will increase clutch
life.

Re: Clutch + flywheel

Stephen Toth wrote:

> My '93 now passed to my son has 198,000 on the original clutch.
> No real slipping, but does get grabby now in wet or very humid weather
> until warmed up a little.
>
> As others have implied, clutch life depends a lot on driver, driver
> style and hp of the engine.
>
> More hp will likely increase slipping at launch, and may cause some
> slipping on shifts, but the shifting slippage varies with how well you
> match rpms at shift points.
>
> Slippage is what wears the clutch. Less time spent with the clutch in
> the zone between initial contact and fully loaded will increase clutch
> life.

Very good description, Stephen,

I once had a diagram bookmarked that showed exactly what the driveline
is doing when the clutch is used, flywheel contact, etc.
It would have been helpful when I was learning how to drive a manual and
I knew far less about the internal workings of a transmission.

My daughter is learning to drive, and I told her that even though she
wants an automatic, she should learn manual.

The boosted '91 with the Act3 clutch should be a good training platform.
If she can master that clutch, she will be able to drive almost anything.

Pat

Re: Clutch + flywheel

In article <g6kqu4$ihi$1@aioe.org>, pws <pwshelton@austin.rr . com > wrote:

> Stephen Toth wrote:
>
> > My '93 now passed to my son has 198,000 on the original clutch.
> > No real slipping, but does get grabby now in wet or very humid weather
> > until warmed up a little.
> >
> > As others have implied, clutch life depends a lot on driver, driver
> > style and hp of the engine.
> >
> > More hp will likely increase slipping at launch, and may cause some
> > slipping on shifts, but the shifting slippage varies with how well you
> > match rpms at shift points.
> >
> > Slippage is what wears the clutch. Less time spent with the clutch in
> > the zone between initial contact and fully loaded will increase clutch
> > life.
>
> Very good description, Stephen,
>
> I once had a diagram bookmarked that showed exactly what the driveline
> is doing when the clutch is used, flywheel contact, etc.
> It would have been helpful when I was learning how to drive a manual and
> I knew far less about the internal workings of a transmission.
>
> My daughter is learning to drive, and I told her that even though she
> wants an automatic, she should learn manual.
>
> The boosted '91 with the Act3 clutch should be a good training platform.
> If she can master that clutch, she will be able to drive almost anything.
>
> Pat

Not sure what the Act3 clutch disc is. If it is the unsprung clutch
disc it is certainly a training tool.

Have only driven a 6 disc unsprung clutch disc a little on a Turbo RX-7.
Launches are a real exercise in getting the right rpm to launch
smoothly depending on conditions and car attitude. (Flat, uphill, dry,
wet, etc.)
Subsequent sifts just require good matching of rpm to road speed.