Has anybody ever seen this before? I just got my van back on the road and can't believe my luck that this didn't let go completely while I was on the road somewhere. This is a first for me.

 

I don't think I have ever seen one that clean and even... Damn, you do good work!!!

 

Duct Tape. Fix anything...

Actually that is one of the failures listed on the slip that came with my new flexplate a couple weeks ago... I guess time and torture will do that- It fractured right along the pressed in joggle, so probably just a time and wear thing... I replaced mine simply because I didn't like the look of the teeth... Went with one from Pioneer from Rock Auto for around $40 or so. Quality looks good to me...


Scott

 

I've never seen one tear in a circle like that, all the tears I've seen have been perpendicular-ish to the axis then go wherever. It does make sense for a crack to avoid leaving that ring.

 

Never seen that before. All I can say is wow!

 

agreed, never seen one perfect circle like that.
but as for ragged cracked, i must have replaced at least 20.

 

That is a real work of art!

Makes me think of a slight wobble, like face end of crank not perfectly 90 degrees to rotational axis, or Torque converter front face not perfectly 90 degrees to its rotational axis, or trans's stator support slightly bent/cocked.

And the wobble keeps flexing the steel, till crack starts and propagates around helping relieve the wobble.

The flexplate would be the thinnest member for the wobble, so first to give. Just thinking.

 

I did one back in the day when they only put two holes for the converter drain plug to go through and the previous mechanic didn't get the plug in one of the holes and after a couple thousand miles it did the same thing yours did. Although I will say I don't believe the one I did was quite as smooth as yours but very similar. That's why I lean towards the wobble theory as stated above.

 

What was some of the reasons the flex plates kept breaking

 

Also I wanted to ask if it only had 1 of the dowls that are there to line the trany up, would that cause it to break flex plates as well?

 

I know it is an old thread that was resurrected lol. But i can believe i missed it before.
He is my addition

I shelled the flexplate and output shaft at the same time lol.
4.3 2 door blazer with a few bolt-ons, zero torque management, 4L60E with full race shift kit (i.e. separator plate drilled to max accumulator springs extremely soft sonnax boost valve). Low range with 32x9.5 swampers and rear leafs set up for max traction. It would almost pull the front tires in the mud on a 1-2 shift ( it would on pavement lol). Had 2 seasons of bogs and drags on it with it also being my DD. Finally let go on a " Oh you dont believe it pulls the front tires? Hold my beer" moment.

 

Hockey Sticks Yeah I had buddy in hi school, 73 ch***, 3 on tree,could pull front tires enough to crush beer cans in parking lot, pretty hot 327 in it.

 

4 low is the great equilizer lol