Flywheel Inspection

After engine removal, inspect the flexplate or flywheel for damage and wear. Flexplates are found on vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Flywheels are found on vehicles equipped with manual transmissions.

When a flexplate wears, it develops cracks around the bolt holes. It must be replaced when this happens; small cracks turn into big cracks. Both have a starter ring gear attached. If the ring gear is damaged on a flex plate, the entire flex plate is replaced.

If the ring gear on a flywheel is damaged, it can often be removed and replaced. If the flywheels surface area has light surface cracks or scoring, it can be resurfaced. Resurfacing a flywheel ensures that it has the proper flatness and smooth finish. The surface area must be smooth and not warped. Warpage reduces the contact area of the flywheel, allowing it to slip. This slipping causes excessive heat, hotspots, and glazing.

Whenever removing a flywheel from an engine's crankshaft, mark its position to the crankshaft. Replace the flywheel in this same position during reassembly. This ensures the balance of the flywheel to the engine. An unbalanced flywheel can cause excessive drivetrain vibration.