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In this guide, we will discuss the difference between 153 and 168 Tooth flywheels and find out which one is better for your vehicle.
The flywheel is an important part of the car’s internal machinery. It’s crucial for the flywheel to work efficiently for a good balance and smooth engine performance. Since this is a minor piece of machinery, very little is known regarding Flywheels and their application.
But, do you know which flywheel you need – 153 Tooth or 168 Tooth? In this auto guide, I will talk about how the flywheel works and why it is essential for your car’s performance. In the end, I will mention a few differences between the two and help you pick the one for your car.
What is Flywheel?
A flywheel is a metal disc usually made of cast iron that is connected to one end of the crankshaft and generates rotation in the wheels with the help of clutch discs. A flywheel is typically used in cars with manual transmissions since automatic ones use Flexiplates which have a similar mechanism.
The flywheel is supposed to be a robust and strong piece of material as its teeth are always engaged with clutch discs and suffer wear and tear over time. That’s why some high-end manufacturers have started using carbon fiber flywheels, which is the hardest material known to human beings.
Let’s look at some primary functions of the Flywheel:
1. Smooth Engine Start
Many people may not know this but a flywheel is responsible for the engine start apart from providing wheel motion. It’s designed as a thick disc featuring gear teeth on the edges. These edges help the flywheel to interconnect with smaller gears connected to the starter motor which is called Bendix gear.
The moment the key is inserted the Bendix gear and the flywheel lock the gears and give motion to the flywheel and crankshaft. Once the compression is generated and the engine is on, the two will be separated and the flywheel starts moving freely.
A good flywheel is crucial for a quick and smooth engine start. Sometimes you may feel you need to insert and twist your key 3-4 times to turn on the engine, this may happen due to a bad flywheel with dull teeth edges.
2. Balancing the Drive
Flywheel’s weight in the car depends on the crankshaft and it helps dearly to smoothen the overall engine cycles, providing a smooth ride. When the engine is running, the piston moves from side to side, creating heavy vibrations. Naturally, this movement and vibration may ruin the balance of the car.
The flywheel is connected to the crankshaft and reduces unstable movement and vibrations. So if you feel unusual vibrations in your car, particularly at high speeds, get the flywheel checked immediately.
3. Smooth Engine Rotation
The engine inside a car is either a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine that generates the power two/four times. In other words, the piston travels from one end to another 2 or 4 times. This creates jerky motions. Then how come the car doesn’t feel this? And what keeps the car moving between those piston firings?
The flywheel transforms these revolutions into a seamless and smooth movement by providing mass to keep the rotational inertia. It also helps the crankshaft maintain its constant speed and motion to provide an overall smooth engine operation.
Difference Between 153 and 168 Tooth Flywheel
As the name indicates, each one has a different number of teeth on the edges but how does it translate into performance? Let’s find out:
The 168 flywheel tooth is heavier in weight and is more suitable for bigger vehicles such as pickup trucks, SUVs, and more. It provides better gear reduction and provides stability to high-compression engines such as LY6.
