is lightened flywheel worth to pay?

[mike's machine]

I need clutch job soon on my 2.7t A6, and I was wondering if it really is worth to put aluminum flywheel.
It costs at least extra $500 compared to get mine resurfaced.
I did quick search, but couldn't find much info...
someone please help me on this!!!
Oh, and how about tranny stabilizer? is is worth to get?

[Giza]

def. worth it to get a tranny stabilizer. i have one, and i love it

[2001S4NY]

you can get a fidanza on ebay right now for $280

[mike's machine]

so tranny stabilizer is a go, but how about lighter flywheel???
noticable improvement with it compared to stock???

[Tifosi]

Are you planning on racing (track or drag) the car often ? If not, there is really no need for LWFW. LWFW also tend to cause clutch chattering and can change the clutch feel dramatically.

[mike's machine]

Thank you for your honest opinion.
I'm not planning to race at all, so I guess it would be better to stick with stock resurfaced.
Then how about Vast RS4 rep clutch compared to ClutchMaster Stage1 clutch?
A buddy of mine just put RS4 clutch from Vast and it seems it's a little lighter than it used to be.
and I heard CM Stage1 is slightly heavier...

[haus4]

Just added to what was said, if your keeping it a DD and want best driveability, stick with the stock FW. save the money for the DTS and other little things

[JayyyyyC]

I have a LWFW from JHM. Love it. It does chatter a little bit but it's worth it when you launch. Revs go up so quick. I loved having to learn how to drive the car again after the install. It feels so much more responsive, and rev-matching is much easier.

[theboogieman1]

I have a LWFW from JHM. Love it. It does chatter a little bit but it's worth it when you launch. Revs go up so quick. I loved having to learn how to drive the car again after the install. It feels so much more responsive, and rev-matching is much easier.

I would have to agree. I got mine a few weeks back from Jay and have been enjoying the change in feel. I was doing better when I first got it but have been having a bit of trouble the last week or so. But I like figuring this stuff out and trying to master shifts. Mine is a daily driver as well. It definitely revs faster.

[okkim]

I agree too. It doesn't make the clutch difficult to use. If you use original clutch, just drive and go. It will make some chatter noise below 2000 rpm's, but it depends how much torque you use then.

If I had to choose from 500$ resurfacing or 500$ LWFW, I would chosee the LWFW (and I have).

[mike's machine]

It seems I could get fidanza aluminum one on eBay for $360...it seems good price...
So how does it different?
I drove my buddy's 08 M3 and the clutch def. felt like there's nothing...and it took a while to get used to it...
Would it be something like that?

[loomx]

No it will be nothing like the 08 M3,

That has a Duel Mass FlyWheel.

BMW use DMFW on all there cars.

A LWFW will make the clutch bite point more obvious and it will feel more direct and aggressive. In other much better imo.

[jukesandz]

I had a LWFW on my B5 Passat, and it chattered like a mofo. And the clutch feel was pretty terrible. It revved really nicely, but it wasn't worth it.

[mike-2ptzero]

I have a LWFW from JHM. Love it. It does chatter a little bit but it's worth it when you launch. Revs go up so quick. I loved having to learn how to drive the car again after the install. It feels so much more responsive, and rev-matching is much easier.

If you want less chatter go with a Billet Steel flywheel. Clutch Masters offers one but its not list it on their site and it is 18.25 lbs vs their 14 lbs Billet Aluminum flywheel, it is also $100 cheaper.

[RedRocketS4]

I would have to agree. I got mine a few weeks back from Jay and have been enjoying the change in feel. I was doing better when I first got it but have been having a bit of trouble the last week or so. But I like figuring this stuff out and trying to master shifts. Mine is a daily driver as well. It definitely revs faster.

I triple stamp your double stamp. I love my VAST LWFW (from Jay) matched to my VAST stage 3 clutch... well, loved them... then I blew a turbo (unrelated to the clutch), so not driving the car for a little while... but you definitely have to relearn how the car drives and it chatters until about 1800 rpm. sounds like a turbo diesel truck.

[Tifosi]

It seems I could get fidanza aluminum one on eBay for $360...it seems good price...
So how does it different?
I drove my buddy's 08 M3 and the clutch def. felt like there's nothing...and it took a while to get used to it...
Would it be something like that?

As you can see, the opinion on LWFW varies greatly, if you have never driven a car with LWFW, I suggest to you that you try to see if someone will let you try and see what its like on their car. Clutch chatter is normal and common for LWFW, regardless make or model of the car or the clutch setup. The differences between OEM and LWFW will be even more amplified in cars that uses DMFW.

There is nothing worse than shelling out $500 for something that you ended up hating and will have to pay for the labor again to have it changed out.

[mike's machine]

Thanks so much to you all for the inputs!!!
For normal driving, I don't even rev my engine over 2K rpm for stop and go or 3K if i'm accelerating a bit...
So would LWFW be suitable for low-revving daily drivings?
Sounds like it'd be a lot more fun, but if it bothers me for 90% of the "stuck b/w cars can't go nowhere" time...
Would chattering somewhat similar to Ducati Dry Clutch sound???
I can't find anyone with LWFW...and couldn't find a video either...

[Rajan147]

i have a lwfw in my daily driver, a little chatter when i first got it, but after breaking in the clutch correctly, i experience almost no chatter.

I have a vast stg 3 clutch and fidanza flywheel. I will say that this setup is a lot more aggressive than stock. There is a lot more bite, which you consequently feel when it engages, although this is not a bad thing, personally the grabbier the better. I don't feel that my driving experience is compromised from having a lwfw.

[mike's machine]

It seems all you guys with LWFW use St.3 clutch.
How would it work with RS4 clutch?

[lowered97a4]

just got mine in the other day the thing grabs nice deff could drive it everyday thats with the southbend kevlar ceramic disc rs4 pressure plate

[lucajS4]

naww...i just did my clutch dropped a rs4 with a vast stage 1 clutch plate its prefect

[mike's machine]

So what exactly is this chattering???
I really wonder how it feels like...Couldn't even find any video clip on youtube...
Anyone near western Mass that I can try the LWFW???

[2001S4NY]

so yea another case of a fidanza flywheel tone ring problem, this is the 3rd time this has happened in a year with 3 different customers :(

So i guess its a hit or a miss with these but hey for $280 on ebay for a fidanza u have to be risking something

[mike's machine]

so chattering is worse on fidanza compared to others or common for any LWFW?

[mike-2ptzero]

so chattering is worse on fidanza compared to others or common for any LWFW?

The lighter the flywheel or less dense the material the more you will hear the chatter sound.

[revhards4]

you can get a fidanza on ebay right now for $280

ding ding ding. i bought 1 a month ago and no probs here

[Dimcorner]

I don't have experience on the S4 and a LWFW, but I had on on the RX7 and I was 50/50 on it. On one hand it felt like the car was more responsive climbing revs and engine braking. It made the car "feel" lighter.

On the other hand, driving around traffic was more work since I had the slip the clutch a bit more. In stop and go traffic it was not fun.

It will probably feel less of a pain in an S4 because it will have way more torque down low than a 1.3L / 80cid rotary. It had no torque until about 2500 rpm (I switched it to non-sequential turbo system, with the sequential you would start getting boost at about 1800).
If the car was any heavier it probably would stall.

Funny thing is I went to Gainesville with the RX7 and encountered a rather steep hill with a stop light at top in UF. It actually had to use the emergency brake cuz I couldn't get the car rolling without stalling. Kinda embarrassing when you have a nice sports car and stall...

[okkim]

With the S4 you can take off even without touching the gas pedal if you rise the clutch carefully. It is very easy to start.

[1997gtx]

I love mine. And I don't race my car.
--Adam

[ms4cd]

Where did you guys get it for $280?

[wdbdy2000s4]

when did people start considering a 93 rx7 "a nice sports car?"

[wdbdy2000s4]

Where did you guys get it for $280?

I think greg covered this:

you can get a fidanza on ebay right now for $280

so yea another case of a fidanza flywheel tone ring problem, this is the 3rd time this has happened in a year with 3 different customers :(

So i guess its a hit or a miss with these but hey for $280 on ebay for a fidanza u have to be risking something

and in reference to greg's post about ebay...

ding ding ding. i bought 1 a month ago and no probs here

[washyourrhands]

my vast flywheel just kicked the bucket...but i really liked it when it worked...

i think that it might have just been a faulty part...im going to take it up with vast and hopefully they will replace it for free...i only had the part for 2 and a half months=[

[Dimcorner]

when did people start considering a 93 rx7 "a nice sports car?"

50/50 weight distribution.
2800lbs weight.
.96 skid pad on stock tires (16" 225 width).
RWD with torsen LSD.
twin oil coolers.
full boost and full tq (220lbs tq) at 2000 rpm and flat until about 8000 rpm (in stock trim).

With a ECU tune, FMIC, and exhaust I was at 320whp and 300Tq.

I would call that a nice sport car along with vettes, miatas, supras.

I wouldn't call a civic a nice sports car and a S4 is really a GT car. I love the S4, but there are some things that the RX7 is REALLY good at that the S4 can't really touch and vice versa.

[Frizo]

when did people start considering a 93 rx7 "a nice sports car?"

You must be kidding right? You obviously dont know squat about the FD3S!!

[i5wikcedi3]

I got my Fidanza for 265 shipped on Ebay... Luckily I had the 10% discount haha... Switched it out and dropped an RS4 clutch kit with it, runs a whole lot better. Revs pick up really fast but I'm only stage 2+ so who can imagine lightened flywheels with stage 3s. Awesome! I also have the AWE DTS. Love it. Works like a charm. Very well worth it all. That's why people make these things!!!

[ms4cd]

50/50 weight distribution.
2800lbs weight.
.96 skid pad on stock tires (16" 225 width).
RWD with torsen LSD.
twin oil coolers.
full boost and full tq (220lbs tq) at 2000 rpm and flat until about 8000 rpm (in stock trim).

With a ECU tune, FMIC, and exhaust I was at 320whp and 300Tq.

I would call that a nice sport car along with vettes, miatas, supras.

I wouldn't call a civic a nice sports car and a S4 is really a GT car. I love the S4, but there are some things that the RX7 is REALLY good at that the S4 can't really touch and vice versa.

You forgot to say unreliable as hell and it had 71 vacuum lines...

[Dimcorner]

From the threads here... the S4 ain't doing much better. (squeaky seats, $1,000 dash LED's going out, turbos, speakers, dimming mirrors, DV's)
At least the vacuum lines don't need the engine pulled to get to them and going non-sequential gets rid of most of them.

Most of the problems in the FD came cuz people turn up the boost and the car doesn't have a MAF, so it won't compensate for added boost. You end up with a blown engine when you add 50% boost with no extra fuel.

I ain't saying that the Rx7 were the absolute best cars around, but saying that they aren't "nice sports cars" is untrue as well IMHO.

Either way I like the RX7 for the way it handles and drives around a road course/auto x and the S4 for it's compromise between practicality and performance.

In the end my recommendation is to go for the LWFW if it's going to be about the same price as re-surfacing the OEM one. Adjusting to driving with one, I think, shouldn't be that difficult since you would have plenty of torque to move the car and all.

[JayyyyyC]

From the threads here... the S4 ain't doing much better. (squeaky seats, $1,000 dash LED's going out, turbos, speakers, dimming mirrors, DV's)
At least the vacuum lines don't need the engine pulled to get to them and going non-sequential gets rid of most of them.

Most of the problems in the FD came cuz people turn up the boost and the car doesn't have a MAF, so it won't compensate for added boost. You end up with a blown engine when you add 50% boost with no extra fuel.

I ain't saying that the Rx7 were the absolute best cars around, but saying that they aren't "nice sports cars" is untrue as well IMHO.

Either way I like the RX7 for the way it handles and drives around a road course/auto x and the S4 for it's compromise between practicality and performance.

In the end my recommendation is to go for the LWFW if it's going to be about the same price as re-surfacing the OEM one. Adjusting to driving with one, I think, shouldn't be that difficult since you would have plenty of torque to move the car and all.

So true. I think we as German car drivers... wait, let me clarify. As VAG drivers, we shouldn't be ragging on other unreliable cars. I know lots of people that on average, will never consider a VW or Audi because they have heard how unreliable they are.

[Brav]

I would get it. I have one in my state 3- car with a state 3 clutch, and am very happy. There is a slight vibration on low RPM engagement (is this normal? Chatter?) but afterwards is fine. Revs WAY faster, and is good for revmatching downshifts. Now I just have to get the pedals closer so I can heal/toe.