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Engine Torque Dampener


Jake.Lowther

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Most so called torque dampers are just a metal shaft sandwiched between pieces of very hard rubber and washers, and actually don't do anything except transmit engine vibration to the bodywork, i would avoid unless you can actually find a real gas or hydraulic damper, VAG/BMW used to fit them to the 2 and 3 series.

 

If you can fabricate mounts for a mountain bike damper, it will work much better than the ones you can buy...snake oil!

Edited by Tricky-Ricky
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Most so called torque dampers are just a metal shaft sandwiched between pieces of very hard rubber and washers, and actually don't do anything except transmit engine vibration to the bodywork, i would avoid unless you can actually find a real gas or hydraulic damper, VAG/BMW used to fit them to the 2 and 3 series.

 

If you can fabricate mounts for a mountain bike damper, it will work much better than the ones you can buy...snake oil!

 

The one I bought is a hydraulic or gas dampener but I had a feeling they were more for show than actual functionality. I'll post some feedback on it once I get it and fit it to see if it just another piece of engine eye candy or does what it says on the tin.

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Not really snake oil, as such. They do two things of note, one you noted as a disadvantage, that some consider an advantage; the fact that certain engine vibrations are felt more through the body (though this is lessened by real dampers vs a poly bush in a piston). Some say this is important to them, that they can 'feel' what the engine is doing better, but the primary purpose of them, which is to stop the engine lurching around in the engine bay under hard transitions of on/off power, is only advantageous and even the cheap ones are relatively effective at this. Fitting one can often result in a car feeling a bit sharper, especially if the engine mounts are soft as standard or worn out. The more horsepower you have, the more advantageous they are. As for disadvantages, can't really think of any...So, worth putting one in the basket one rainy sunday when you're really stuck for something to spend your paypal balance on.

Edited by Aashenfox
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Decent new or uprated engine mounts do exactly the same, but without the vibration transmission.....i have fitted several different types to several different engines, and taken them off again...IMO if you need to fit torque dampers to feel what your engine is doing you need a course in mechanical sympathy. ;):p

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Decent new or uprated engine mounts do exactly the same, but without the vibration transmission.....i have fitted several different types to several different engines, and taken them off again...IMO if you need to fit torque dampers to feel what your engine is doing you need a course in mechanical sympathy. ;):p

 

Didn't really want to feel what my engine was doing I just read some people reckon it helps get power down slightly better most likely tosh but I'll see for myself :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

I had one for a brief period on my ep3. Was running a fair bit of power.

 

If I'm being honest the car did seem to be a bit snappier when going back on the throttle after changin gear, but only slightly. The metallic vibration was horrible (worse than stiffened mounts I'd say) especially at idle so it had to go!

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I had one for a brief period on my ep3. Was running a fair bit of power.

 

If I'm being honest the car did seem to be a bit snappier when going back on the throttle after changin gear, but only slightly. The metallic vibration was horrible (worse than stiffened mounts I'd say) especially at idle so it had to go!

Was the vibration noise coming from the joints of the strut vibrating against the mounts or was it the whole frame of the car making the noise?

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It was the actual dampener vibrating against its own mounts that was causing the issue and it transferred it through the entire car, especially the steering wheel.

 

However, the civic was light and tinny and that could have made it worse. It might not be a big issue with the heavier better built zed.

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  • 7 months later...

Interestingly no feedback from the OP, that video just sums up the general consensus, vibration, I certainly have never noticed any change in "getting the power down" from fitting one, and fail to see just how this could happen, other than bolting the motor to the chassis directly, and then it would be tenths of a second and totally unnoticeable, mind you it is a US review.;)

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  • 2 months later...

Unless the engine is doing a 180 degree rotation how much quicker can power go down? 

Even if it's a 10 degree rotation then how fast does the crank move 10 degrees of rotation to "feel" it?

Edited by Daisyduke
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