Swap out the damaged or cracked flex plate in your 1999-2003 Ford 7.3L Powerstroke. The flex plate can become cracked over time causing it to wobble. Symptoms of a cracked flex plate can include a clunking or grinding noise while the engine is running. Crack or breakage can happen due to an out of balance engine/torque converter or from bolts that were not torqued to the proper specifications or in the proper sequence. Ring gear teeth can also break off or wear as a result of the starter, failure to use starter shims (where required), or engaging the starter when the engine is running. Excess noise when starting an engine can also be an indication of either a starter failure or broken or missing teeth on your flex plate. A flex plate (or flexplate) is a metal disc used to connect the crankshaft of an engine to the torque converter and automatic transmission. The flex plate takes the place of the flywheel found in a standard manual transmission setup. Flex plates are generally much thinner and lighter than flywheels due to the smooth coupling action of the torque converter and the lack of a clutch surface. A flex plate typically consists of two parts; the flex-plate and the ring gear, fitted to the outside of it. Available in OE-replacement style steel or upgraded billet units that are SFI 29.1 certified. Shop all the top brands such as ATS Diesel, Sun Coast Converters, BD-Powers, Revmax, DPC, Diesel Site, Hays, Valair, and more!