Sunday, September 8, 2013
What Are the Causes of a Warped Flex Plate
A flex plate is basically a molded piece of thick sheet metal that is used to connect the engine to the transmission. Even though flex plates are built keeping their exposure to heat and corrosion in mind, they tend to get warped many times due to a variety of factors. A warped or bent flex plate can cause serious damage to the engine assembly, making it imperative to replace any warped flex plate as soon as possible.
Improper Installation
A flex plate will bend if the flex plate assembly is not installed at a right angle to the crankshaft flange. Flex plates also get warped if the engine or the torque converter is out of balance as it increases the overall weight on the flex plate.
Improper Bolt Fittings
Improper bolt fittings is the most common reason for flex plates to warp or crack. Loose mounting bolts, improperly connected flex plate and torque converter bolts can cause flex plates to warp. Even during maintenance, if the mechanic fails to follow the proper sequence (removing the torque converter and flex plate bolts before removing the engine or transmission bolts), this invariably leads to a bent or warped flex plate.
Bad Starter Drives
An improperly installed starter drive can cause the flex plate assembly to rapidly wear off leading to cracks or a warped flex plate. Also, some starter drives may require the use of starter shims. If these shims are absent when the starter drive is employed, this will lead to improper alignment of the flex plate and cause it to bend over time.
Other Causes
Flex plates may also get warped due to worn-out pump bushing in the transmission. Also, crankshaft wear and tear can also eventually lead to a warped or bent flex plate.
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