What is stock flywheel made of?

[mnakandala]

Hi guys a little dilemma, the subject tells it all, what is the stock VW bug 200mm 12V flywheel made of? is it cast iron or other material

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1964 bug
1983 mitsubishi Delica

[Joe Bence]

The stock German flywheels are Chromium vanadium steel very high quality by OEM standards (most OEM stuff is cast), yes there are cheapo cast iron wheels out off brazil etc both OEM and aftermarket.

[mnakandala]

[Joe Bence]

I can tell just from looking at it. Also if some one is selling a flywheel or lightened flywheel too cheap it is most likely cast.

Cast wheels have a dull machine finish and pressed on ring gear, German wheels have a shiny machine finish.

[Quokka42]

The machine finish is from the machining after it is cast. Cast iron provides a very effective frictional surface in such an application. There would be no logical reason to forge such a part (except the "forgery" of marketing.)
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There has only ever been one man who was perfect, and they nailed Him to a cross.

[Boolean]

[Quokka42]

Not sure of the metallurgy, I'd have though Chrome Vanadium too expensive and unnecessary for this application, but it is definitely cast steel - you can often see the mould impression. Very hard metals such as Cr-V tend too provide poorer friction and less heat tolerance, as does forged metal.
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There has only ever been one man who was perfect, and they nailed Him to a cross.

[jpaull]

If your application is high performance, I would not settle for anything but a NEW forged chromoly flywheel. Vw's have enough issues with the dowl pin area already. Dont settle for anything but a REAL Chromoly flywheel such as this:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1382480

I spun the Center out of a "German" flywheel after a hard launch on the street. Never again will I mess with a stock VW flywheel of any sort in high performance application.

Jeff
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[email protected] MPH 1/4 Mile & 8.1 @ 83.7MPH in 1/8 Mile with Mild Type 1 VW Mag Case 2234cc commuter engine in stock weight bug w/only .491 total lift(CB2292 Cam), 42x37 heads, 48idf's, Street tires, Belt on, Mufflers, Pump gas, video of the run here: https://youtu.be/M3SPqMOKAOg

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Rhino case, Klinkenberg 4.12, Superdiff, 002 mainshaft with 091 first idler. Weddle 1.48 Third & 1.14 Fourth.

[Boolean]

[jfats808]

This is true. I saw the light a few years ago myself and almost always try to run a german flywheel when .possible on builds now. A loose or improperly torqued gland nut can accomplish the same results.
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2276 IDA's 86C 11-1 DD !
2017 48 Trijet DRLA's W125

[andy198712]

Where are you finding German flywheels? Buying a used one and 8 doweling? Refacing ect?
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[Northof49]

I used to shoot at an old VW flywheel at a gravel pit when I was a teenager. 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser with fmj ammunition wouldn't even leave a dent in an oem german flywheel. Just a shiny spot and it rang like a bell.. That was not cast iron.
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[Joe Bence]

[andy198712]

I'll have a look at his site, being in the uk mean postage is a killer on something like that
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[flyinglow94]

From first hand experience, I have lighten stock flywheels and they are anything but cast iron ,cast iron is very flake when machined like drilling a cast rotor and Cr-v does not chip very well it wants to come off the tool in strings. Also the stones to resurface most import fly wheels are speced for Cr-v. I highly recommend buying only OG VW flywheels especially for daily drivers.
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[miniman82]

[stealth67vw]

[Quokka42]

I think the Germans were a little too clever to forge a flywheel ever. It doesn't mean they were cast iron, a lot of metal can be cast (and what we traditionally know as "cast iron" would be unsuitable for this application due to it's high carbon content.) Ironically, (pun intended,) several "stainless steel" alloys work well for flywheels and brake disks and drums, but they are almost invariably cast.
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There has only ever been one man who was perfect, and they nailed Him to a cross.

[satterley_sr]

Old thread, but I am curious about the use of cast flywheels. Seems like they have been around for ACVW's for a number of years now. Has there been any improvement in metallurgy to where they are now ok to use?

p.s. remember old quokka42?
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DDC racing

[raygreenwood]

Lot of crap in this thread. The stock flywheels are indeed steel...cast and hardened steel...not cast iron...and not forged. They are tougher than hell.

For instance among type 4 engines (I realize we are speaking of type 1 here)..the only models that came with a forged flywheel were the early 411 with 200mm (Europe only) and the Porsche 914 2.0 liter.

Cast steel is totally different than cast iron...alot stronger tensile wise but with some of the same issues.

All aircooled VW types 1 through 4 cranks that came out of Germany were forged. Whether they started making some cast cranks in Brazil in the last years.....mainly 1980s....I do not know.

Aftermarket cast flywheels...I have no idea what they are made of whether its iron or steel. Ray