Who Can Repair Flex Plates On An Automobile?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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How much is a replacement flex plate? The flex plate or flywheel plate should cost somewhere in the region of

$50-160

, on average.

How much does it cost to fix a flywheel?

On average, flywheel replacement cost is anywhere between

$600 to $1,100

. You can save yourself a lot of coins if you did the replacement by yourself but only attempt that if you’re an experienced mechanic. If you have a friend or family member who is an expert, you could ask them as well.

What happens when a flexplate fails?

Here are some of the warning signs of a bad flex plate:

Clunking, grinding, chirping, or rattling noises from rear of engine when engine is idling

. Knocking noise when engine is shifted into drive or reverse. Heavy vibrations felt through the driver’s seat when driving at normal speeds.

What causes a broken flex plate?

Aside from a manufacturing defect, the only things that will cause a cracked flex plate are

improper torque on the plate bolts at the crank and torque converter

and the most common cause of transmission to engine misalignment; sometimes caused by missing alignment dowel pins that mate the transmission to the engine.

Is a flex plate and a flywheel the same thing?

1.

Flywheels are typically found on vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, while flexplates are used in vehicles with automatic transmissions

. A manual transmission has a flywheel that is attached to the crankshaft and has a clutch disk in between the pressure plate and flywheel.

What is a flex plate on a truck?

Basically a flywheel or flex plate is

the round metal disc shaped component that transfers power from the engine to the transmission

. A flywheel is usually referenced to a car with a standard transmission,and a “flex plate” is used with automatic transmissions.

Is it worth replacing a flywheel?

While you may not need to replace the flywheel when replacing your clutch, it is always a good idea to inspect it.

If there are radial cracks or deep grooves, then it’s definitely time for a new one

. If you’ve noticed any of the above, it may be time to order a new flywheel.

How long does it take to replace a flywheel?

Many rear-wheel-drive cars require only

4-5 hours

of labour because all that’s needed to slide the transmission out of the way is to drop the driveshaft. Whatever the installation process is for your vehicle, you’ll find that the labour cost still typically outweighs the material cost.

Can you repair a flywheel?

While

a solid flywheel can be removed and resurfaced at Mr Clutch Autocentres by undergoing a skimming process

, which can save the car owner a lot of money, wear characteristics on a dual-mass type, which tends to be fitted to more modern vehicles, lend themselves more ideally to the good practice of replacement.

How long does a flex plate last?

Slight misalignment may only cause a single flexplate to break in the life of the vehicle. More severe misalignment can break a flexplate in

15,000 to 30,000 miles

. Excessive crankshaft flange run-out or end plate can also cause flexplate cracking.

Will a car start with a broken flex plate?

Will A Car Start With A Broken Flex Plate?

Usually there is no need for a flex plate

since it takes away the flywheel’s connection with the transmission’s torque converter and connecting of an automatic transmission the flywheel takes place of the flywheel.

How do you check flexplate?

Start the engine and let it idle. Slide under the vehicle with a stethoscope, and place the stethoscope probe against the underside of the bell housing. Any noise emanating from the this region indicates a problem with the flexplate and/or torque converter-flexplate combination.

What does a broken flex plate sound like?

cracked flexplate sounds

very close to a rod knock

.

What does a flex plate do?

A flexplate (or flex plate) is a metal disk that

connects the output from an engine to the input of a torque converter in a car equipped with an automatic transmission

. It takes the place of the flywheel found in a conventional manual transmission setup.

Where is the flexplate located?

A flexplate is

mounted to the crankshaft

and connects the output from the engine to the input of a torque converter. The torque converter is located between the flexplate and the transmission.

How do you install a flex plate?

Should a flywheel spin freely?


If the transmission is in neutral or the clutch disengaged (pedal in), the engine should spin relatively freely

, and you should see the flywheel rotating at the same rate of the pulley rotation. If you hit a mechanical limit, then something is engaging the flywheel or rotors.

What does a damaged flywheel sound like?

Noise. The classic and most obvious symptom of a cracked flexplate involves the sound it makes while the engine is running. Descriptions of the sound include

clanking, chirping and a light knocking

. The reason for the sound involves the flexplate’s location and its function.

What is a flex plate made of?

Most flexplates are made of

a thick piece of sheet metal

with bolt holes for the torque converter and teeth for the starter. Manual transmission vehicles are equipped with a flywheel where the clutch assembly is mounted. The flywheel provides a smooth friction surface for the clutch disk.

How do I know if my flexplate is cracked?

The classic and most obvious symptom of a cracked flexplate involves

the sound it makes while the engine is running

. Descriptions of the sound include clanking, chirping and a light knocking. The reason for the sound involves the flexplate’s location and its function.

What are flex plates made out of?

At its core, the flexplate is

a simple metal disk

that bolts between the crankshaft and torque converter with a ring of teeth that is engaged by the starter to physically spin the engine during cranking.

How much is a flywheel for a car?

There are some flywheels which cost

under $50

while others cost as much as $400 or more. It all depends on what type of car you drive, how durable the flywheel is, and whether the part is an exact OEM replacement or aftermarket. In addition, clutch and/or release bearing replacement may also be necessary.

How much does a clutch cost?

The average cost for clutch replacement is

between $1,222 and $1,398

. Labor costs are estimated between $585 and $738 while parts are priced between $637 and $660. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.

What causes flywheel to break?

1)

Bellhousing bolts loose

. 2) rust build up between the torque converter centering shaft and the crank. 3) Bad converter. 4) missing or poor design flexplate hold down ring( not sure the proper name but it is a ring that goes between the flexplate and the bolts that hold it to the crankshaft.

Can a flywheel be resurfaced?


The flywheel can typically be resurfaced pretty easily

and should be a relatively low-cost procedure. If the flywheel is too worn and cannot be resurfaced, then it is advisable to replace the whole thing with a new part.

Can a flywheel damage a starter?

The click noise is the Bendix on the starter, it will click sometimes, if the Bendix don’t work properly it won’t allow the starter shaft to move towards the flywheel, therefore the car won’t start,

Flywheel can not damage a starter since they were all new

, The starter however can damage the flyheel, in your case the …

How much does it cost to replace a clutch and flywheel?

On average clutch repair will cost about

$1200 – $2000

if you need to replace the flywheel. Ford clutch repair: Clutches on Ford F-150 and Ranger pickups will range between $600 – $900, but these vehicles also have an internal slave cylinder.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.