A light flywheel is a popular performance modification that will have distinct differences from stock equipment. The flywheel is an integral part of the system that drives your car and changing it can really cause you to have trouble with keeping your car driving smoothly. The properties of different types of flywheels are very different, and often a super-light flywheel is not the right choice for someone modifying a car for daily use. There are plenty of options when it comes to upgrading the drivetrain, even when it comes to different flywheels.

Most modern cars use a dual mass flywheel. The dual mass flywheel flexplate is actually comprised of two flywheels joined together by shock absorbing springs and struts. This reduces shock to the drive train when the clutch is engaged. Dual mass designs are simply the best choice for most drivers since they are the most forgiving design. There are upgraded dual mass flywheels available for cars that will offer more responsive shifts for people with a slightly more performance-oriented driving style.

A single metal flywheel disk has a friction surface. Single mass flywheels are more responsive than dual mass designs since there is no cushioning effect on the drive train like that produced by the dual mass design. Shifts on a single mass flywheel and clutch will be noticeably more responsive, but they can be harsh at first, especially for drivers used to dual mass designs. This is because the clutch is allowed to engage fully as soon as the pedal is released. This allows the driver to have more control over the way that the clutch engages, but it’s up to the driver to make sure that he or she does this smoothly to keep from damaging the drivetrain or jarring passengers.

Lightened flywheels are the realm of drivers most dedicated to performance. The thing that should be stressed is that they are really not for cars driven on a daily basis. A lightened flywheel will produce more responsive shifting and engine rev’s as well as generally improved acceleration throughout the gears. That is because the rotating mass is drastically reduced. However lightened flywheels reduce drivability under most circumstances. Cars with lightened flywheels are more apt to stall in traffic, are much noisier and will probably increase engine vibration. For most drivers, a standard or slightly lightened single mass flywheel will give the biggest performance benefit without the trouble of a drastically lightened flywheel movie.