Clutch/Flywheel ?'s from a newb
 

HI this my fist post. pls be nice, i just got an rx-8, love it, lil unpleased with hp but i wont get into that. it has 27000 miles on it, has some aftermaket parts on it done by pre. owner. after bout 2500 miles the clutch gose out so i tear into it to find a Exedy clutch blown apart (sigh) so i need to get a clutch (dont think it will be Exedy) And was realy considering A light Flywheel as well but not sure on the purpose of a counter weight. Was wondering if some1 can explain it to me? I have been doing alot of looking but most just tell me what the flywheel dose not the countweight dose? Dont realy understand the point of dropping weight then adding it back? And if NE1 can recommend a clutch kit flywheel combo i would be greatful. pls keep in mine im poor. IS it poss. to get a clutch and Fly. for bout $500?? prefer less :Freak_ani

Flywheels alone usually cost around $400... then labor, unless you can do it on your own.

yea i knew that most were in that range but it was a nice dream. still lost on counterweight. I geuss ill do clutch now and flywheel later just trying to avoid tearin into it twice

I'm new to the technical aspects of 8s but I believe the counterweight is to balance the engine. I know at least for regular piston engines there are some that use a weighted flywheel to balance out the engine while its running. I forget the more technical details but its something like that. There are some engines that don't need the balance weight but it would seem the 8 is one. Perhaps someone more knowledgable could chime in?

Factory flywheel has counterweight built in . It is there to balance out vibrations from the rotors.
I have ACT prolite with Act HD clutch . Flywheel is great but HD clutch with LW flywheel combo is more difficult to drive than stock . I'm totally used to it now & its not a problem - however if anyone else gets in the car they have trouble with it.

Are you doing the work yourself?

Yes it already apart need to do some ordering

Racing Beat has a nice clutch unit, and their flywheel isn't too light, so you won't run into some of the limitations you get with the lighter flywheels.

What do you mean by limitations?

i looked at racing beat and they dont say what the counter weights, if it is 3.5 lbs like some others i seen then i only lose like 1.3lbs, How much diffrence is that realy gonna make and is it worth the $455,say it drops inertia approximately 55 percent. is that good amount?
and what limitations r there from going too light? and is that where u got ur fly? how dose it preform if so? sorry if too many ?'s

o and if i hadnt said yet...thx fellas

Some of the lighter units make it more difficult to engage the clutch smoothly from a stop, and also when you in reverse it is easier to stall your engine. I have the SR Motorsports 8.5 lb. unit (without counterweight added in) and at times it is a bit of a PITA to drive smoothly compared to when my car was stock.

Also, a big part of aftermarket flywheel design has not only to do with weight reduction, but where the weight is. If you look at the units like Mazdaspeed or Racing Beat units the weight is more towards the center of the flywheel thereby reducing the weight on the outer edge of the flywheel while still giving almost stock drivability.

this has links to threads with info on different clutches and flywheels:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/calling-all-springs-flywheels-sway-bars-intakes-pulleys-more-90832/
Should help as far as listing prices and some info about each one. Hope this helps

thx thx