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April 30, 2010 4:30 p.m. shuttlepilot Reader

I need to buy a flywheel for my mk3 golf. I can't find anyone in my area who will resurface my factory flywheel.

I was wondering if buying a real OEM flywheel at $250 is worth it over a $60 autozone refurb or other $120 aftermarket unit. The car is going to see autox and track days. I am worried about the chances of a cheap flywheel exploding during a bad down shift or much abuse. This is not something i really want to find out. Is the quality of a real OEM or name brand unit warranted in cases like these?

Anyone have the step and min thickness dimensions for a single pin 8v flywheel used in a late 1994 Golf? I can't seem to find that info anywhere.
April 30, 2010 4:34 p.m. 16vCorey SuperDork

Is there a reason you need a new flywheel? Unless the clutch was wore down so bad that the rivets cut grooves in it (which I've never seen on a VW flywheel), just hit it with a die grinder and a roloc scotch-brite disk to take the slick surface off and you'll be fine.
April 30, 2010 4:52 p.m. zomby woof HalfDork

You can even use a 36 grit disc on a grinder.
April 30, 2010 5:00 p.m. iceracer Dork

There seems to be a belief that the flywheel needs to be resurfaced when replacing the clutch. Over the years, I have done many clutches and never once had to resurface the flywheel. Just cleaned it up like has been said,
April 30, 2010 5:16 p.m. shuttlepilot Reader

There surface is not totally flat. There is some wavyness on the flywheel with a .0015 apex in the middle of the surface. There is also a ~0.030" deep swath worn by the clutch.

I'd like to get back the full force from the pressure plate with a resurface. The VW stepped flywheel design needs a resurface to bring the dimensions back to spec.
April 30, 2010 6:33 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

.0015? NAPA will resurface your flywheel for ~$20.

It's a big chunk of heavy steel, why buy new when a big chunk of heavy steel can be remachined?

Cheap Dan
April 30, 2010 6:44 p.m. Carson Dork

What Dan said. I don't know where you live but I can name at least 6 places with 15 miles that, I know for a fact, can resurface flywheels and I'm in rural NC.

Napa and Carquest offer the service here and they're nationwide chains. I'd also imagine that any garage that will replace a clutch either does it on location, has a third party that they deal with, or knows someone who will.

The good 'ole boy down the street will do it for a 6-pack of Bud. See:
April 30, 2010 6:54 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

Follow up: If you're buying a new flywheel, buy an aluminum wrapped light weight wheel.

BTW if you were closer I would re-do your wheel for free.

Barter Town.
April 30, 2010 8:07 p.m. chaparral Reader

Fidanza. Cheaper than OEM, made in Ohio, 8-11 lbs for any four-cylinder app.
April 30, 2010 8:08 p.m. Jerry From LA HalfDork

Stepped flywheels should be no problem. Usually it costs like five or ten bucks more because of the second set-up.
May 5, 2010 11:04 p.m. shuttlepilot Reader

I ended up resurfacing the flywheel myself. It wasn't so hard, you just needed a boring bar for the lathe. You just need to get it true on the lathe with a dial indicator. There was about a .010 dip between the highest and lowest point on the flywheel from all the wear. I am glad I did it.

For future reference to anyone going to do a flywheel for a mk3 2.0 golf or jetta with a single pin flywheel, the step is .920 between the flywheel surface and the pressure plate mounting face. I also found out a LUK flywheel will not accept a Sachs pressure plate. Sucks to find out after I machined it. So watch out for compatibility with the pressure plate before you get it machined. I ordered what I think is a LUK flywheel and hopefully that will fit.
May 6, 2010 7:35 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

chaparral wrote:

Fidanza. Cheaper than OEM, made in Ohio, sounds Italian, 8-11 lbs for any four-cylinder app., comes with stickers that add 42hp and 395ft/lb torque

Edited.
May 6, 2010 9:42 a.m. Paul_VR6 Reader

You can get either clutch to fit either flywheel.. I've done it before. I want to say you need to remove a dowel.
May 6, 2010 11:41 p.m. shuttlepilot Reader

John Brown wrote:

chaparral wrote:

Fidanza. Cheaper than OEM, made in Ohio, sounds Italian, 8-11 lbs for any four-cylinder app., comes with stickers that add 42hp and 395ft/lb torque

Edited.

they don't list any flywheels for 4cyl VWs

You really can't use any old pressure plate. It is not just a pin issue, it is these large cast blocks of iron on the pressure plate. You will have to grind down these protrusions on the Sachs to make it fit this LUK flywheel. Then you would risk the balance. I think VW specified this oddball flywheel for the 4cylinder Golf sports.

I got the flywheel today, it is a Rhino Pac (supplier to LUK) model 17-038SE from RockAuto. The pressure plate fits and is even stamped with LUK on all the parts.