Broken Flex Plate; Any Collateral Damage to Look For? (1 Viewer)

[OZCAL]

After several mechanics were stumped listening to the angry metallic "rat-tat-tat-tat..." coming from my Oz LC when revving, this real scary noise was diagnosed as a broken flexplate. Definitely a better diagnosis than piston slap.

Anyway the new flexplate is on the way from Dan now, and I'm wondering what else my mechanic should "look for" while replacing the broken part?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,

David

PS -it's midnight here and I'm signing off; sorry I won't be around to answer any questions - I don't mean to be antisocial but wanted to catch you guys during daylight hours in the States.

 

[cruiserdan]

As I mentioned to David I also broke a flexplate. Not in a Cruiser but in my Dodge-Cummins. It made a nasty noise when the engine was un-loaded. As long as there was torque against it it held. I drove it 625 miles from Albuquerque to SLC pulling a tandem axle box trailer.... I never took it out of gear the whole time. When we got it apart we found the center ripped out right thru the middle of the mounting bolt circle....

All that was required for that one was a new plate.

After I put the new one in I discontinued the practice of power-braking it til the boost came up to about 18 lbs before dropping the brake pedal....

 

[OGBeno]

Pardon my ignorance/lack of knowledge, but without an FSM in front of me, what is a 'flex plate'? Where is it located? What is it's purpose?

Again, apologies for the stupid question...still learning, as always.

Best.
-onur
Akron, oh

 

[cruiserdan]

The flex plate is an automatic transmission equipped vehicle's version of the flywheel. It is not a thick heavy plate like a M/T flywheel but does a similar job. It is a stamped steel plate with the starter ring gear around the perimeter. The center bolts to the back of the crankshaft and the torque converter is bolted to the plate near the outer ring.

 

[OGBeno]

Thanks as always Dan!!


-onur
Akron, OH

 

[OZCAL]

Thanks Dan. I'll avoid power braking until the part gets installed, at least!

David

 

[cruiserdan]

I just thought of something David.

This would be an excelent time to replace the rear crankshaft seal and re-seal the seal retainer. The pesky heater hose is also a lot easier to deal with when the transmission is out of the way.

These items fall under the catagory of "While it's apart"...........


D-

 

[landtank]

Flex plate should be it provided it's not one of the torque converter bolts that has backed out and clanging around, then it's not needed at all.

 

[OZCAL]

I just thought of something David.

This would be an excelent time to replace the rear crankshaft seal and re-seal the seal retainer. The pesky heater hose is also a lot easier to deal with when the transmission is out of the way.

These items fall under the catagory of "While it's apart"...........


D-

That's a print.

 

[OZCAL]

Flex plate should be it provided it's not one of the torque converter bolts that has backed out and clanging around, then it's not needed at all.

The mechanic said he could see a crack, but I'll ask for the old part to make sure.

Thanks,

David