Light Weight Fly Wheel

[DanH]

Anyone considered doing this? One of the US chaps is looking into it? Not sure how difficult fitting would be, or whether the benefits would be worthwhile.

[m12_nathan]

Doesn't the M400 have one?

[gotapex]

The one for the M400 is 18-19lbs or so. I'm not too sure if the GTO-3R is heavier. At 18-19lbs, it's probably a great compromise for most people for this application. The extra weight gives you some ease of drivability (more inertia to start from a standstill, and less deceleration when you let off of the gas). A lighter one will not suit everybody's driving style and preferences, though it'll definitely make the car feel more responsive. All in all, a 18-19lb flywheel is not grossly heavy (Caterham 7 SV is 22lbs).

Here's the 2zz Toyota based Lotus Elise's:

Stock GTS (chromolly) - 13.0 lbs. - 5.897 Kg

And, some aftermarket choices for it:

Blitz Active Clutch (chromolly) - 10.5 lbs. - 4.763 Kg
Toda (chromolly) - 10.3617 lbs. - 4.700 Kg
C-One (chromolly) - 9.9208 lbs. - 4.500 Kg
JUN (chromolly) - 9.6998 lbs. - 4.400 Kg
TRD Japan Flywheel (chromolly) - 9.6 lbs. - 4.354 Kg
RPS Billet (aluminum) - 9 lbs. - 4.082 Kg
TOM's (chromolly) - 8.03 lbs. - 3.642 Kg
AASCO (aluminum) - 8 lbs. - 3.629 Kg
Mueller (aluminum) - 8 lbs. - 3.629 Kg
Unorthodox (aluminum) - 8 lbs. - 3.629 Kg
Fidanza (aluminum) - 7.5 lbs. - 3.402 Kg

[JLSELAN]

A small clarification: rotational inertia, which is what you "feel" at clutch engagement, depends not only on the flywheel mass but also on its mass distribution. So two flywheels can have the same weight but differ consideralby in inertia depending on the density of the material in the flywheel and just where that material is located on the disk. Low rotational inertia is achieved by concentrating as much of the weight as possible near the center of the flywheel disk. Hi-strength aluminium is about 1/3 the mass of steel, so, all things considered, it is almost always a better material choice for a performance flywheel.