Start by saying my truck is a stock 2003, 40K miles, only hear a slight rattle when I turn the truck off with the clutch out. (Done this since I drove it off the lot) I just started to notice a slight vibration at between 2000 and 2200 RPM, just barely noticable, mostly through the floorboard of the truck. It's not a constant vibration like a driveline issue but more of a droneing. I don't feel anything through the shifter or clutch. How did your flywheel failure start? How long did it take before it failed completely or was too bad to drive? I'm leaving to pick up a new camper in Iowa over thanksgiving and I'm mildly concerned.

Racket at the point of engaging/disengaging the clutch. And the rattling under hard acceleration. Then the clutch slipping, and of course, the hard clutch pedal...


Talk with Craig (CPMac) and get a flywheel and clutch setup that will hopefully last.


Tim

Started all of the sudden. One day I pushed in the clutch and it made a whirring sound and stopped when I released it. The growling started shortly thereafter.

Thanks guys, sounds like I might have something else making the vibration.

I have an '02 that is bone stock (i.e. no tuners). At around 70k, when pushing in the clutch about half way down, the DMF would rattle. Had the DMF changed and approximately 25k later the second unit acted the same way. Hopefully this second unit will last. If it goes out I will looking for CPMac.


MaxRock

I have a stock 02 and my flywheel problems the day the truck left the lot. I had always noticed that there was more "noise" from the under carriage on my truck than on the automatics but didnt think much of it till about 35,000 miles when the rattling got so bad it was embarrassing. The dealer changed the throw out bearing and as you can imagine it did not fix anything. They then changed everything, including another throw out and thats was good for about 5,000 miles. Keep in mind I only use my truck to haul myself and some tools. They have since installed 5 flywheels with the latest being of new design. The flywheel had never failed to the point that I could not drive it so I would not worry about it too much. I would have them install the new design and hopefully you will be OK

It's the flywheel alright! Just got back from a 1700 mile trip to pick up my new camper in Iowa and after I went to start it (after being stranded in a WAL Mart parking lot during that ice storm over Thanksgiving weekend) I got a nasty rattle when I let out the clutch, that minor vibration is still there also at around 2200 RPM but now when I push in the clutch it rattles pretty good at about the halfway engaged point. I notice it alot when I'm decelerating and push in the clutch. I'll wait a little bit and let it get a little louder before I take it in. It's pretty bad when it gets cold now. Hope that new flywheel is a good one.

I guess I am fortunate. I never had the hard clutch pedal or clutch slipping! So far, the 3rd DMF is holding up fine, of course it has less than 10k miles on it. I'm keeping fingers crossed on this one. My truck has 101,000+ miles on it and the next flywheel will be on my nickle.

MaxRock

I'm new to this discussion form but not new to the flywheel problems. I have an appointment to get flywheel #4 installed later this week. I really wonder why GM keeps messing with redesigning a DMF that's never gonna last and not just go to a solid flywheel. Would there be any long term effects of running a SMF on the engine? Or is it solely just a vibration dampening device used when shutting down the truck. All I know is I'm getting sick of it and can't seem to get a hold of CPMac to get a better clutch and flywheel. (Who seems to have a stronghold on this small market ;) )

It's sounds like it's my turn. 2003 with 45K. Yesterday as I got off the highway after 100 miles of straight cruising a rattle started as I turned a corner in 4th gear at low rpms. Stopped in neutral it rattled as I slowly released the clutch. Not pushed in and not fully released. I have a slight rattle in 5th and 6th as I power up but it isn't any worse than before. For the most part the rattle is only below 1000 rpm. It rattles like an input bearing is bad but I'd think a bad bearing gets worse with rpm not better.

Does this sound like the DMF? Also has anyone gone in for a DMF problem and had to end up fixing the trans too? I'm kinda torn if the dealer finds both a DMF and trans problems who would end up fixing the trans being out of warranty? My dealer is good but I'm their only ZF truck.

Jeli,
If it sounds somewhat like a "grinding gears" sound or rattling sound when you're in the middle of the clutch pedal travel, it's definitely the DMF. When it gets bad, it will start to make that same sound when you release the clutch when taking off from a dead stop. As always, it will only do it when the pedal is in mid-travel. Not fully engaged or disengaged.

I'm not sure what to think. Truck has 92k miles and I've never had any noises (other than shutdown with clutch pedal released) from the DMF. I always shut down with the clutch pedal pressed to the floor and in neutral and it's quiet. If mine is going to fail it now has less than 8k to do it!!

1BADDMAX,

What you hear when you're shutting your truck down with the clutch released, i'd be willing to bet, is perfectly normal. The DMF is going to rattle some when the truck is shut down like that because it's doing it's job. To dampen the engine vibration when the truck is shut down and not transfer it through the transmission. The most obvious way to tell if the DMF has gone south is to hold the clutch pedal at about halfway between the floor and all the way up (with the transmission in neutral, although it can do it when in gear and the truck trying to lurch forward). It will sound like you are trying to grind the transmission into gear. Very, very noticeable grinding, rattling sound. If your's has lasted this long, you are very lucky IMHO. GM must have gotten one right.

I definitely have NO grinding sounds what so ever. Unless I miss a shift :eek: .

i highly recomend CPMac's set up. i love it. no mor DMF truoble. call him at 816 596 0110 of pm him on here

Mine has rattled so bad you could not hear the engine running and there was never a Transmission problem. They would not change the last one put because they said a new design was coming out and it went for a long time making alot of noise. I was pretty upset with GM over all this mess for the same concern you have that it would bring on more problems down the drive line and I had 80,000 on the truck at the time. I got a new flywheel and no problems yet 6500 on the flywheel. If it goes out over 100,000 I aint paying for that is for sure.

how did my flywheel problem start?? hmmmmmmmm

at GM !! The engine and tranny are stout and not GM products. In between the two have been the problem. guess who designed it ?? guess who has yet to do a decent redesign?

I like the truck but not the manufacturer !