What does flywheel throwing failure mean?
2 Answers
Flywheel throwing failure refers to a mechanical accident where the wheel, along with the hub and brake drum, automatically detaches from the vehicle while driving. The causes of this failure are as follows: Poor connection between the hub and axle: The front wheel hub of a car is installed on the steering knuckle with two sets of reverse-mounted radial thrust bearings. The bearing clearance is adjusted with the inner nut of the steering knuckle, and the outer part is secured with a locking nut. Improper connection of the stop device and locking device can lead to flywheel throwing failure. Radial thrust bearing failure: Improper adjustment and use of radial thrust bearings can cause issues. If the bearing clearance is too small, the bearings may burn out. Conversely, if the clearance is too large, additional impact forces during driving can cause thread failure, also resulting in flywheel throwing failure.
With over a decade of car repair experience, flywheel wobble issues essentially mean the engine flywheel rotates unevenly, swaying back and forth like tossing a pancake. The most common causes are loose flywheel mounting bolts or broken damping springs in dual-mass flywheels. This problem can range from minor to severe—initially, you might just feel slight steering wheel vibrations during gear shifts, but prolonged issues can lead to abnormal clutch disc wear. In severe cases, it might even cause the crankshaft rear oil seal to leak due to vibrations. When dealing with such problems, I usually start by using a dial indicator to measure the flywheel face runout. If it exceeds 0.2mm, the transmission needs to be removed. Last year, I worked on a Passat where the owner reported loud clunking noises during upshifts. Upon disassembly, we found the flywheel edge had warped into a wavy shape from overheating. Replacing the entire flywheel eliminated all noises. If you smell burnt clutch or notice power delivery issues, I strongly recommend getting it checked by a professional shop immediately—don’t wait until transmission gears are damaged to regret it.
