DMF to solid flywheel

The dual mass flywheel in my 2005 Ford Mondeo 2.0-litre TDCI has started to get a bit noisy. I would love to have your opinion on whether to fit another DMF or the much cheaper solid flywheel. I seem to be getting equal arguments for both. Are the horror stories of vibration and engines being destroyed by solid flywheels true? Irwin Mcevoy The Valeo conversion kit, which includes the flywheel, clutch and concentric release bearing, costs around £300, while the new DMF and clutch assembly with bearing costs around £360.

Valeo has obviously researched and tested the product before bringing it onto the market and I am confident they would not sell the conversion kit if they had any worries that it would damage the engine.

I have read the same horror stories about crankshafts breaking due to the fitting of a solid flywheel in place of a DMF, but have never come across this nor seen one that I could confirm was affected in this way. I have replaced DMFS with solid flywheel kits on many vehicles at the request of owners who suffered from the DMF failing at low mileages and have never had a problem. Having said that, for the difference in price and for the reassurance that engine vibration will not develop and that the running gear is fitted with the components it was designed for, I would stick with a DMF on your Ford. While I have been happy to fit the solid flywheel in various vehicles that have heavy usage, as your car has presumably had no problems over the past 13 years or so, I'd expect a new DMF to give you a similar length of service.