OEM Dual Mass Flywheel Or Exedy Single Mass Flywheel

[Eiji]

Hi all,

I'm shopping around for a new clutch and flywheel for my 2002 Mini Cooper S.

My choices have drilled down to getting:

1. OEM LUK Clutch and matching dual mass flywheel

or

2. Exedy Clutch Kit + single (solid) mass flywheel.

The reason why I'm pitching them up against each other is the OEM kit is twice the price of the Exedy, and I've used Exedy clutches in the past, in other cars and they were nothing short of perfect.

My biggest concern with the Exedy is the single mass flywheel. I have been told there might be a slight chatter at idle and increase NVH.

Has anyone here used the Exedy combination and can either confirm or deny this?

[Paul@1320]

Yes there will be a slight clatter...............the only isssue I had with the early exedy is it couldn't take even a very small shot of nitrous without slipping.

We went to the drag strip in November with a Richard O'Dwyers turbo'd R53 which makes 300whp, same thing even without doing a burnout it couldn't take the trq that it had.

A Clutchmaster FX400 has served a lot of people very well over here on track and drag.

We've also just started supplying Competion Clutches as well and just in the process of fitting a Super Single to our car.

[Eiji]

Sorry, I forget to mention the car is used daily by my better half and is not boosted or modified.

The approach with the clutch & flywheel philosophy right now is "OEM replacement". If there wasn't such a big price discrepancy I would have gone the LUK/OEM option already.

Also the Exedy in question is the:

*Exedy OEM Replacement (BMK-7876SMF)
Kit includes replacement Single Mass Flywheel

Nothing hardcore

[k-huevo]

I don't know what's available in your area, the Valeo OEM replacement is a great value in the US; less than half the price of OEM also. Smooth engagement, relatively quiet as SM flywheels go, fairly long lived at stock power levels. Of course no clutch kit can survive excessive slipping/dragging, and the clutch release bearing is no better than stock. Valeo Clutches » Products » Clutch Kits » Clutch Conversion Kits :: Solid Flywheel Conversion :: Valeo Clutches

Looking at the Exedy you mentioned, it appears to be very similar to the Valeo, so I'll attempt to address your concerns with that kit. The majority of the rattle noise in a single mass flywheel kit comes from the transmission gears. Each combustion pulse from the engine causes torsional vibration of the crankshaft, which is transferred through the flywheel, transmission input shaft, and on to the gears. Lightweight flywheels have low mass, and usually made mostly of aluminum, which can't dampen vibrations well, so they allow transmission gears to chatter quite loudly. The Exedy OEM replacement flywheel appears to be a solid steel unit, which means its mass probably is near OEM weight. Because it is solid, it can't dampen the combustion pulse as well as the OEM flywheel with its internal springs, rubber components, and primary/secondary masses, but because of its heavy steal construction, it won't allow as much vibration past as a lightweight flywheel would.

I've installed quite a few of the Valeo single mass OEM replacements, the actuation is smoother than stock, noise levels are moderate, and there is no increase in the VH components of NVH. If you have the funds, stick with the OEM kit, if economics are driving the decision, go for the single mass replacement, you can live with the slight rattle without becoming over annoyed. I've not had your "perfect" experience with Exedy clutches, so I don't give that brand an endorsement.

[Eiji]

Thanks k-huevo your post has been most helpful!!

Moving forwards, I did some looking around about these Valeo clutches and it seems they've got some very positive feed back (MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Any opinions on the Single Mass valeo clutch kit?)

I'll try get my hands on one. Being located in Australia does make locating parts a little more difficult, or at least more expensive. So more often then not I look online and almost always end up buying from abroad.