Flywheel - second opinion

[GRW]

Replace it with a dual or (my preference) a solid flywheel.

I've heard of people welding up DMF's to effectively make them into a solid flywheel.
No idea exactly how they do this, nor whether it's effective though.
(Either way, that OP friction plate face doesn't look to make that example a good starting point)

 

[Melvyn Best]

That flywheel reminds me of a Mondeo I replaced the clutch on probably 20 years ago. Customer wouldn’t pay for a new flywheel even when told of the likelyhood of problems . Next day he was back complaining

 

[Domdom]

100% change it, and also change that rear main seal. If it's one of those concentric slave cylinder arrangements like a lot of VAG stuff you want to change that as well for the small amount they cost. The sheer amount of work to get in there makes it a no brainer.

Done properly it will be good for another 100k miles, whereas if any of it fails again you have all the work to get to it.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Thanks for the feedback chaps. I didn't want to colour any opinions to start with, but I can give some more context.

The crankshaft seal is fine, what you are seeing is a lot of clutch dust. Everything is caked - its been slipping for a while. I think it is original and is just over 100k now.
This is a petrol and the DMF on these are surprisingly not a common issue - they very rarely fail from what I understand. This one is within the spec that LUK provide as far as the DM part goes.
I do already have a new thrust bearing for it (its a concentric slave), although i understand even good brands are very hit and miss for longevity compared to the now discontinued OEM ones - but it is what it is.

The cover plate has some small cracks. I've inspected the flywheel carefully and can't see any cracks but there are, as you can see, more than a couple of hot spots!
Car drove lovely and smooth, aside from the clutch slipping, that was really the only problem they had.

My thoughts are it really needs changing - and it is a an absolute swine of a job to get to, so I'm wary of putting it back if it has to come out again (and it would be me doing it unfortunately) .
However, they do very low mileage, and the cost of the parts is now getting up to value of the vehicle, so I can see why they want to keep the expenditure to a minimum to be fair.

Its put me in a bit of an awkward spot, the car is immobile and taking up a lot of space in the workshop - and I'm a little concerned it might become a permanent fixture if it proves uneconomical to repair!
I haven't looked into resurfacing, DMF grinding is a specialised thing I understand. Second hand might be an option, but I really don't know if it’s worth the potential of more problems from an unknown part.

I've cleaned it up further and taken another picture.

 

[8ob]

However, they do very low mileage, and the cost of the parts is now getting up to value of the vehicle, so I can see why they want to keep the expenditure to a minimum to be fair.

Its put me in a bit of an awkward spot, the car is immobile and taking up a lot of space in the workshop - and I'm a little concerned it might become a permanent fixture if it proves uneconomical to repair!

Best and worst case scenarios are better discussed before the spanners come out.

Bob

 

[Morris]

Quick wiz over with a 4" grinder, it'll be fine

 

[Domdom]

The value of a vehicle is only an issue if they want to sell it. If they want to keep it, and it is otherwise reliable and in decent condition, I would do the lot.

Replacing the vehicle with something similar brings an unknown quantity into the frame. Better the devil you know in many cases.

 

[Smallfry]

The value of a vehicle is only an issue if they want to sell it. If they want to keep it, and it is otherwise reliable and in decent condition, I would do the lot.

Replacing the vehicle with something similar brings an unknown quantity into the frame. Better the devil you know in many cases.

Absolutely right. My thoughts exactly.

I would change it as its fu**ed. You are already there, and its not worth the chance of refitting everything, then having them whingeing later.

Only good thing with reusing that, is that they will not ask you to do anything again, as YOU fu**ed the job up !

Are you charging them for your time ? If not the cost of a new flywheel is a no brainer.

 

[rhubarb7]

It's knackered. Either do it properly or don't do it at all.

 

[JOEPRO]

Grinding solid flywheels was maybe a thing 20 years ago. But machine shop availability and labour rates mean that's usually not viable anymore and also flywheels moved into DMF territory.

So really the only option is to shop around for the best clutch kit price and bite the bullet.

If I was doing the work for family I would be getting a branded clutch locally. That way if there is a problem you can get the LUK rep in for example and stand a chance of it being covered if there is a fault. I know people that did just this and LUK did help and pay the labour the odd time something went wrong.