I have been meaning to do this for a while but have been very busy, but with all of the talk lately about light flywheels and all of the write-ups not being very detailed and with hardly any pictures; decided to go ahead and put together this write-up...

Tonight I will post some pics of the Mazdaspeed light flywheel kit and tomorrow the install with pictures… I left the pics of the install on my laptop and it's at the office...

So here it goes...

 

Ready to open...

 

What do we have inside...

 

All of the parts out of the packaging; flywheel, counter weight and new bolts and washers...

 

Close-up of the counter weight...

 

Close-up of new bolts and washers...

 

Close-up of the flywheel, light but strong...

 

Ok, observations including exact weights of new Mazdaspeed flywheel/counter weight and with details and pics of the stock unit will be posted tomorrow; left my notes in my computer bag (also at the office)...

 

Keep us updated. Thanks.

 

Stock clutch ready to come off...

 

Stock flywheel, ugly cast and heavy...

 

Mazdaspeed flywheel (Nice and light, put it on a scale; flywheel is 10.5 lbs and counter weight is 3.5 lbs...) with one bolt installed; counter weight is already mounted behind it and flywheel bolts to the weight...

Bolts and washers weigh in at a little under 1/2 lb...

 

Well here is everything back in it's place...

 

Here is a picture of the back of the stock flywheel, notice that the counter weight is built in and all of its mass is located near the edge... It weighed in at 21.5 lbs; what a pig... All of that weight on the edge like that is like having 4 times the weight near the center (Ouch)...

 

Mazdaspeed total weight; flywheel, counter weight and nuts and bolts 14.5 lbs...

Stock; 21.5 lbs...

The Mazdaspeed has most of its mass centered, it is chromoly and pressure forged...

Stock flywheel is a big fat pig with most of its mass spread out all over the edge and it’s a really cheap cast unit and did I say it’s ugly...

Will write-up a detailed impression on the performance and feel later tonight; what do you guys think so far?

 

Great write-up, thanx for the info, Great pix!!!

 

interesting stuff, cortc. Thank You.

 

cortc,

Your photography is awesome.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Thanks, by the way the torque specs on the flywheel nut according to the shop manual is 361 ft lbs and it requires a little loctite...

 

Mighty fine illustrations. The stock flywheel is quite the hideous bastard!

 

I want one!!

 

holy crap! What a difference! After seeing those pics, I think I might change my mod priorities...flywheel is now first on my list!

BTW, has anyone seen before/after dyno plots or drag times documenting the effects of a lightenend flywheel? From the sound of things, I'd get one even if it just improves the "feel" of the car. But it would still be interesting to see if the difference shows-up in a more quantitative measurement.

MD

 

Okay 9k Rever,

I think I have a weekend project. I need to put my nerd skilz as an engineer to good use! I think I can analyze the effects of the light flywheel and the light rims and give an estimate of how it changes the output on the ground - at least give an order-of-magnitude estimate. Prepare to be dazzled by my nerdiness! Haha! (I knew all that schooling would payoff one day!)

 

Of all the mods this is my favorite, if you do not have a flywheel you are driving a different car... There is a big difference; you can feel the engine come alive...

 

There is more power everywhere; it is smooth, more responsive and easy to drive; the difference when starting from a standstill is hardly detectable... The only reasons I can come up with of why Mazda did not make this standard is 1) cost 2) they wanted to include it later in a performance model to justify its existence...

If you want to turn your RX8 from a sports car into an exotic, get the flywheel! You will not regret it...:D