For those who have light flywheels, how does starting from a dead stop feel now compared to stock? Does it all around feel faster and pull harder, or does it pull even less at first but then take off?

 

Just dynoed my car today with the lightweight flywheel. Apparently not much torque is lost (see post). From the butt dyno, doesn't feel like I lost any torque lo-down, & the revs defnitely picks up faster.

 

What was your MAX HP gain and at which RPM range for the Flywheel?

 

no torque is lost by using a lightweight flywheel. no HP is gained either. The advantage of a light-weight FW is measured in terms of acelleration advantage. The car will 'feel' like it has gained HP, especially in the lower gears. HP is gained mostly in 1st gear, a bit less in 2nd and so on. By 4th or 5th the car has no signifigant acelleration advantage.

 

Yhea, my previous car I had an 8.5lb fly wheel it accelerated like crazy from the 1-3 gear but was about the same drving on the freeway. Only get a light flywheel if you plan on race tracking your car, it is a bitch trying to drive a car with a light FW in traffic. In the same manner that the car accelerates it decelerates as well and makes your car jerk around all crazy unless you get good controlling your car.

 

I've never experienced a problem driving a lightened FW car in hours of stop-and-go traffic...just make sure you keep the revs up a bit. :D

 

I have had no issues driving with my flywheel (albeit only 2 days worth though). I think the lightened flywheels used by companies like Racing Beat & SR Motorsports are around 9.75+ lbs. They did comment that some of the 8.5 lb. jobs would give trouble in street driving. The car definitely picks up the revs in the first few gears. On the freeway in 6th I didn't notice any difference, so I guess what dmp said was right.

 

Agreed. To the average driver, it's a bit more clutch finesse starting from a full stop. For me, I start off at about 1500-2000 rpm, but they drop quick if you aren't good with a MT and you may stall.

 

I have the SR motorsports flywheel. The flywheel does weigh 9.75lbs. But that is without the counterweight and mounting bolts. Alltogether it weighs 12.5lbs with all hardware.

 

Where is the best place to go to have a light flywheel installed? Just a regular clutch shop? I dont know if I trust these shops with my 8, anyone know of a good shop in Vegas?

 

You're looking about at least $300 to drop the tranny and put the flywheel in. So expect anywhere from $300-$600 for the whole install. Just shop around and get the best price.

 

My mechanic told me the air intake, hi-flow cat, pulleys were a cinch, but the tranny/flywheel installation was a bear. Said the stock flywheel mount is cone shaped, so that getting it off the shaft was a pain in the you know what. All the installation, & dynoing/dyno time cost me about $800.

 

If drivability is important to you, get the MS flywheel. It is heavier than the SR (about 15lb altogether) but the car is easily driven, just like stock.
Installation cost me about 160-180euros...

 

will a flywheel void the warrenty? if it does, then i'm going to get the MS. if not i'll get the SR.

 

RX8VR, go with the Racing Beat. Same quality and CHEAPER! Don't make the mistake I did

 

you mean the MS was a mistake phil? its the one that doen't void the warranty, but a mistake?

 

thx...i think i'm going to go with the MS

 

Jason, are you sure the counterweight isn't spinning? Plz forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think it's bolted on the flywheel, so it has to spin along with it.
I watched the installation on my car, but maybe I was too excited and can't remember for sure now... damn

 

Correct, the counterweight does spin along with the flywheel. See the attached pics for references. They are from my installation of the SR Motorsports fly.

 

You have to go to a Mazda Speed Cetrtified/authorized dealership, and have them put the flywheel on your car. Chances are if you run into any issues you will have to bring it back to that dealership. The non-MS dealerships will not honor your warranty (or at least that part of your car that you altered). You might also want to look at Racing Beat, they make a very good aluminum flywheel.

 

How would a counterweight work if it didn't spin?????/
Maybe it just sits on the side of the car to counteract the driver weight.

 

cha-ching...

 

with the SR flywheel, IT IS NOT a bitch to drive it at any speed.
really notice the improvement in acceleration in low gears...like a heavy guy got out of the trunk....wife drives car and did not notice any difference in ease of driving.

 

I don't have any drivability issues so far with the new flywheel. I think that is what SR Motorsports mentioned that they kept it at 9.75 lbs, because the lighter 8.5 lbs. units would give drivability issues. The MS, SR M., & RB units all weigh more than 9 lbs. for the flywheel itself.

 

Well, thats what I thought but since I am no mechanic I don't want to speak like I know everything...

The companies Fanman mentions have some of best flywheels for the 8, but I think only the MS one has all its weight in the center. Its the only one with holes near the edges...