Solid flywheel conversion...anyone done it?
 

So after carefully inspection I concluded that my ti shudder/tugging/chattering when taking of in first gear is due to a failing clutch, and those dual mass flywheels are so freakishly expensive, not to mention the added cost of the clutch kit itself, so, has anyone done the conversion to a single mass (solid) flywheel?

Honestly I think it will help in the long run since the solid one is resurfaceable, unline the dual mass.

There are a few ways to do it, the e30 crowd likes to use the single mass m20 flywheels and starter - not too sure what is all required but its a cheaper way to get a single mass lightened flywheel.

Another option is go with one that is made for the m44 but normally those are expensive.

Lastly you can look into just using a m3 clutch kit with a light weight flywheel. Here is link with some info (a search should bring up a good amount of info):

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...Racing-stage-2

I hope to do the same thing when my clutch dies.

Bumping this thread.

My Ti is just over 170K miles, still on the stock clutch.
Its working fine, but at some point its going to be time to replace it.

My goal is to get a solid, lighter flywheel.

I have read all the pages about the single mass M20 swap, I hate that idea. I don't want to get into swapping ring gears or starter drive pinions. Sounds like a bad recipe of one off parts.

My question is (and I'm new to the E36 world),,, I have read that ALL E36 flywheels bolt up to all E36s from the M44 to the S52.
True?
if so, couldn't we M44 people take advantage of the PLETHORA of lightweight E36 6 cylinder clutch kits out there in both the new and used market?
We would go from a 215mm clutch to a 240mm clutch, which on an M44 would likely outlive the car.

My perfect goal would be in the middle of 215mm and 240mm, and find a lightweight single mass flywheel that accepted a 228mm clutch WITHOUT going through all the silly business of swapping ring gears or starters. It seems from all the reading I have done the only option for 228mm clutch outside of custom is using the M20 part.

I like the Valeo kit option, except the dumbasses made the flywheel almost as heavy as the stock dual mass. Seems silly to put such a load of a flywheel back in.
Since you are in there, why not lighten the load and experience a little zippier response on the M44?

I am betting one can easily switch to the 6 cylinder 240mm parts, with a lightweight flywheel and still be lighter than the Valeo kit at around the same money by using the much larger base of 6 cylinder offerings.

Thoughts, things that have been proven, things that haven't???
I searched around here a lot and over at M42 board but it always seems to deflect to the M20 flywheel which I am not interested in.

Cheers
jimmy p

I've been told by a few people who've installed the valeo kit that there is ample material that can be removed. Probably wouldn't be too hard to get a machine shop to lighten the included flywheel and rebalance it.

Sent from my XT1056 using Tapatalk

Hey Dave,
Yes I thought about that as well. All the E30 M3 flywheels I have had lightened cost me ~$100 each, so if that pricing is still valid that would put the Valeo kit total (with lightening) around $550 based on prices I have seen casually looking around the usual sources.
It seems that some of the 6 cyl kits with lighter flywheels are under that (and you get the 240mm disk)...

I wish S14 flywheels fit I have so many S14 flywheels and clutch parts here, I could convert for free...

I wonder how light you can shave the Valeo down to. 3-5 lbs should be slightly noticeable.

Supposedly, the complete valeo kit is 5lbs lighter than stock out of the box. I never got a solid number on how much could be taken off the flywheel just that there was plenty of extra material on it.

Cheapest I've seen the kit was $400. But it would be nice to have a low cost solution without any extra work.

I don't see why you couldn't use a 6 cyl flywheel. The getrag 250 was used on the 323/325 and I'm pretty sure I've read that people have installed m3 clutches on the m44.

Here's a thread
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...Racing-stage-2

Seems like it should work no problem, just make sure to orient the clutch disc correctly.

I'll try to remember to weigh the Valeo and the original when I replace mine. I should be doing it around April.

Link already mentioned above, and reiterated by spidertri , but point being 6cyl clutch/fly will work.

Thanks for the solid confirmation.
I think the 6cyl combo is what I will end up doing. Even if the weight is a wash with the Valeo (which I believe it will be well under),,, the added capacity of the 240mm clutch will make it a lifetime unit for an M44.
Most of the Flywheel and clutch kits for the 6ers seem to be between 11 and 14.5lbs on the flywheel.
I'd love to get a confirmed weight on the M44 Valeo.

Thanks for the assist guys. Good info was solidly put down in this thread.
I am hoping to do this job in the fall.
As I said my clutch seems fine, but at 170K, thats a lot of miles.
Its time for it to have a rest haha.

Hah, sorry Anassa, I totally missed that you posted the same link.

I too am waiting for my clutch to go, it's at 200k now and AFAIK is stock. Engagement is way out on the pedal travel but it doesn't slip. Car is mostly used for track/autox now so it shouldn't be much longer.

Clutch replacement
 

Alright, so im here just researching with the most little experience possible. I'm ready to replace my clutch, but also gonna replace my flywheel as well. Of course, the dual mass is a lot more expensive, so i came across the Valeo kit. Does that kit really fit right in? Please respond quickly, ill be ready to order the Valeo kit in a few days if its even worth it.

The single mass flywheel Valeo kit will fit.

I'm looking to replace my clutch next saturday. I ride my triumph all year so mt ti sits most of the time. i'll weigh the flywheel when i change it.

Sorry guys. I got up yesterday morning to get some pics of the blood moon and i forgot to grab the scale. The replacement was fairly easy and it was done in 4 hours. The clutch is quiet, nice and smooth. I like my clutch petal to have some 'heavyness' like a performance clutch, put I'll get use to the 'liteness' of this clutch.