Damper flywheel DIY repair

In detail: do-it-yourself damper flywheel repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

The flywheel is a massive metal disc and serves to stabilize the torque transmitted from the engine crankshaft to the gearbox. It is equipped with a toothed ring for engagement with the starter when starting the engine.

Low-power engines are equipped with a solid conventional flywheel. The breakdown of such a part includes the destruction of individual teeth of the rim, as a result of which it becomes problematic to start the engine at certain positions of the crankshaft.

More powerful motors are equipped with dual-mass flywheels to reduce vibration and damp torsional vibrations. Structurally, the dual-mass version consists of two disks. One of them is mounted on the crankshaft of the engine and has a toothed ring. The second disc is mounted on the clutch mechanism. The discs can rotate relative to each other. An angular contact bearing and a spring damping system are installed between them.

The damper springs are located on the outer circumference of the disc and are separated by cages to evenly distribute the load. Usually, a two-stage damping system is used when springs of different stiffness are present in the mechanism. Softer springs work during engine start and when starting off. Rigid springs smooth out torsional vibrations during uniform motion. The damper is filled with grease to reduce friction and ease the operation of the assembly.

The most frequent breakdowns in dual-mass flywheels are caused by shock loading or metal fatigue that breaks the damper springs. Bearings fail more rarely. Increased loads also lead to the drying out of the lubricant and the loss of its lubricating properties, as a result of which there is a subsequent destruction of the loaded elements - springs and bearings.

Video (click to play).

The most common cause of damage to a dual-mass flywheel is when the vehicle is running at minimum engine speed. With this operating mode of the motor, it has large torsional vibrations and increases the load on the damper springs. Breakdown can be caused by starting off in overdrive, clutch pedal jerks and aggressive driving style.

The reason for checking the flywheel may be extraneous knocks at low speeds, which are especially significant when idling a cold engine, characteristic clicks when starting and stopping it, and increased housing heating.

To find a malfunction, first of all, you need to inspect the outer surface of the case. It must be free from cracks and grease leaks. The flywheel installed on the car should turn in both directions at a small angle using your hands or a small pry bar and not make loud sounds. Small shocks are acceptable as a result of play in the damping mechanism. When trying to rotate, the force of the springs should be felt. If the part rotates freely in any direction, or is jammed, or has a distinct ringing of destroyed springs, then it definitely needs to be repaired or replaced.

Repairing a dual-mass flywheel can be difficult due to the fact that there are no separate parts of the mechanisms on sale. It is advisable to repair the device only in cases where it is possible to take defective parts from a similar one. The second problem is that the assembled flywheel after repair requires careful balancing, which is possible only with special equipment.

For repair, the part is first removed from the engine.The fastening bolts that secure the drive and driven discs with the motor and clutch cannot be reused, only new ones are required that have not been in use.

Usually, the parts of the assembly are interconnected by rivets that need to be drilled out without violating the integrity of the parts being fastened. After connecting the driven and driving discs, access to the damper springs is opened. If the flywheel is removed soon after suspicions of its breakdown, then several springs are broken, which change to the same ones exactly. Ideally, the springs should be changed all at once.

The damper elements are also inspected and changed, after which the inner space is filled with grease, and the unit is assembled in the reverse order.

Bearings with increased play are removed using a puller and replaced with new ones.

After assembling the assembly, you need to check its balance. At home, this can only be done by car through a test drive.

Increased vibrations, jerking when starting and stopping indicate a poor quality of repair.

Instead of repairing a dual-mass flywheel, most cars will accept a regular solid flywheel. At the same time, starting off slightly worsens and vibrations increase, especially when the engine is running at low speeds.

Repairing a flywheel instead of replacing it is a forced measure caused by the high cost of original spare parts, which often amounts to several tens of thousands of rubles.

Caution should be exercised against installing lightweight flywheels. Engines with such parts are unstable at low speeds and may stall.

Another type of repair - converting a two-mass flywheel into a solid one - cannot be recommended for use, since you still need to purchase a clutch for a single-mass flywheel, and the reliability of such a conversion is very low. The essence of the repair is that the entire internal filling of the faulty flywheel is thrown away, and the driven and driving discs are welded together. The biggest problem here will be balancing, which cannot be dispensed with in such a repair.

The flywheel of an internal combustion engine is used to store energy. It helps the pistons go through bottom dead center (especially when starting the engine). The flywheel transmits engine torque to the gearbox. There are three types of flywheels:

  • usual;
  • lightweight;
  • damper (springs are installed inside the damper).

The flywheel resource is usually 120-150 thousand km. It all depends on how intensively and in what modes the engine worked. Usually, a new flywheel is installed after two sets of clutch friction linings have worn out, so the flywheel is changed complete with the clutch.

Flywheel malfunctions are obvious. This part is subjected to constant dynamic loads and friction, which leads to physical abrasion of the contact surfaces. As a result, vibrations or beats appear, and the clutch can "slip". Simple flywheels must be replaced, damper ones are restored in special workshops.