Flywheel/Drive Plate Removal and Installation

REMOVAL
PROCEDURE

1. Raise the vehicle and support it on safety stands. Remove the transmission (refer to Transmission Gearshift chapter).
2. On vehicles with a manual transmission, remove the clutch assembly (refer to Clutch and Drive Shafts chapter). Immediately inspect the condition of the clutch components and the release bearing.

3. Remove the flywheel/drive plate mounting bolts from the crankshaft. If the crankshaft rotates while loosening the bolts, remove the starter motor (refer to Engine Electrical chapter) and wedge a screwdriver between the flywheel ring gear teeth (manual transmission), or insert a long drift into one of the drive plate holes and brace it against the projection on the block (automatic transmission).

4. Remove the flywheel/drive plate from the crankshaft.

The flywheel/drive plate assembly is quite heavy. It is advisable to have an assistant help. Wear work gloves to avoid cutting your hands on the sharp edges of the ring gear teeth.
5. Thoroughly wipe the flywheel with a rag soaked in acetone, completely removing all traces of oil and grease. Inspect the friction surface of the flywheel for cracks, grooves left by the clutch disc rivet heads, signs of overheating and scoring. Minor defects can be removed with fine-grit sandpaper. Inspect the ring gear for cracks and chipped teeth. Place the flywheel on a flat surface to check its flatness (use a flatness gauge). If necessary, have the assembly resurfaced.
6. Wipe the mating surfaces of the flywheel/drive plate and the crankshaft. If there are signs of oil leakage through the rear crankshaft seal, replace it (refer to Rear Crankshaft Seal Replacement).

INSTALLATION
PROCEDURE

1. Install the flywheel/drive plate onto the crankshaft.

Some engines have a locating pin, or the mounting holes are positioned asymmetrically, which ensures the assembly can only be installed one way. Before screwing in the mounting bolts, apply threadlocker to their threads.
2. Lock the flywheel/drive plate against rotation (see step 3), then tighten the mounting bolts to the specified torque in a diagonal sequence.
3. Install the remaining components in the reverse order of removal.