RB flywheel vs MS flywheel
 

I posted a week ago questioning between the CZ 1.1 (w CanScan) or a lightweight flywheel as a mod since both are similar in installed price. I have decided on the lightweight FW mainly because the opinions posted seemed to lean towards:

-Although many users of the CZ have reported gains and are happy, some (maybe 25% from what I can tell) have reported no gains, problems with their CZ, and in one case even a loss in HP.

-Most everyone who has installed a lightweight flywheel reports noticed inprovement with little downside


So it's a matter of risk of getting what I am looking for, which is increased performance, more acceleration, etc. It seems with the FW I am almost guaranteed a performance increase whereas the CZ there's about a 25% chance I won't feel much of a difference.

Anyway, now to my decision. I am trying to decide between the Racing Beat Flywheel or the MazdaSpeed Flywheel but some of the numbers I have been reading are confusing me.

RB states their flywheel weighs about 12lbs, but I am not sure if this includes the hardware weight plus the counterbalance also. I have seen somwhere the MS flywheel at 15.2lbs, but cortc posted when he installed his MS flywheel that he weighed it at like 10lbs plus another 3.5lbs for the counterweight, and that the whole thing with hardware was the 15.2lbs. Plus the MS flywheel is weighted more at the center and light on the outsides which should help it spin faster/easier too.

So if anyone has had the luxury to drive both a MS flywheel equipped 8 and a RB flywheel equipped 8 could you tell me if you felt a difference? Or anyone with either of these installed could you post your opinion on the one you have?

I can get a MS flywheel plus installation by the dealer for $975. With this I would still have the warranty.

I can get the RB flywheel and installation for around $850, but this is not by the dealer and no warranty.

So the main thing is the performance difference between the two. I would be willing to pay the extra $125 for peice of mind with the warranty IF the MS flywheel performs as well as the RB one.

I think that's a bloody mistake....

I can't remember a single person who TUNED the CZ and didn't get at least 10HP gain - most get + 15-25HP. As discussed ad nauseum, those who don't tune can expect random results.

The flywheel simply cannot give you any where near the performance of the CZ/e-manage. Its impossible. I have a MS flywheel and like it. I would do it again. But if you are looking for a real, measurable, increas in performance, its right there for the taking, for less $ than you are willing to pay for the flywheel. For 1/3 the $, you could have one of the new RB intakes that's gauranteed, bolt-on HP without tuning.

Its your $ and your call. But saying there is a 25% chance of seeing no improvement with a CZ is not telling the entire story. Its really that 25% of the people who responded to you were unwilling to tune it. I'd say if you don't tune there's about a 90% chance of worse performance or no gain. If you tune, there is nearly a 100% chance of seeing an increase.

If you are dead-set on getting a FW, get the lightest one you can find.

-MD

Thanks for the response. In the thread I made asking about the Canzoomer there was a guy who says he lost 20HP with the CZ installed.

I already do have the RB exahaust and intake and love them both. My next step is a flywheel. If I can get a better feel for the opinions on the CZ, I will add that too later.

But right now my choice is either the MS flywheel or the RB flywheel. You say get the lightest one possible however as I posted above I am not sure which is lighter due to the weight for the MS one being listed at 15.2 lbs either with or without hardware (can't tell) and the RB one stating 12lbs but I am not sure if they are counting the hardware and counterweight.

check this thread out... theres alot of actual facts of what you will gain instead of just opinions on what the car feels like. I believe I concluded the actual inertia of the MS and RB was practically the same (I'd wager not by accident either).

I too thought about a flywheel awhile ago but the math doesn't add up to be worth almost $1k. <shrug>

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=flywheel

Ihave installed Mazdaspeed, Racing Beat, and ACT Prolite flywheels on the 8. The lightest is the Racing Beat, the heaviest is the Mazdaspeed, the best value is hands down the ACT Prolite.


Charlie Shatzen
Mazcare Inc
Marietta Ga

Part Number RE-13120EXT from http://www.srmotorsports.com/RX8_Clutch_Flywheels.html

is the kit i put in and it is awesome with the hardware,flywheel, and counterbalance it shaved just over 5lbs from stock which was just over 17lbs

hope this helps!!

I chose the MS because of warranty concerns. I wish I had gotten the Prolite. MS was way too expensive and not light enough compared to the ACT.

-MD

have you factored in SR Motorsports? theirs looks really good

And for the exciting conclusion, go to the 9Oct04 summary w/ comparative before & after dyno sheets attached with 2nd, 3rd & 4th gear pulls:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=flywheel

Last but perhaps not least FWIW, particularly for track (i.e. relatively hard) use, there is also the less quantifiable benefit of drive line & gear box strain. There are a number of pretty knowledgeable racer engineering types who suggest the lighter mass in the flywheel etc. can significantly reduce gear box and engine component wear, tear and shock loads particularly for miss-matched or faulty heel toe downshifts etc. FWIW, the LWFW benefits are most heavily weighted towards your lower gears, i.e. 2nd & 3rd. Happily, these also, particularly 3rd, seem to be where most HPDE track driving makes the most use of. Some performance "gains" aren't just all about the "horsepower" gain or loss. IMO they're about the synergistic effect of a combination of parts working together to make for a greater whole. You are dealing with a relatively low torque, very high rpm engine design/concept. I think a LWFW, just like putting a premium on light tires and weight wheels especially for this car, makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

Mike "I'm pretty damn happy w/ the LWFW"