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Monday, September 15, 2014

2015 Corvette C7 Z06 Carbon Fiber Torque Tube and AFM induced vibrations

When the base Stingray came about, the fine +General Motors engineering team led by +Tadge Juechter  decided to graciously add weight to the car by using steel torque tube housing instead of the previous aluminum.  The reason quoted was an attempt to minimize vibrations caused by AFM in   four cylinder mode.  The weight gain was explained by Juechter as the necessary evil to increase fuel economy of the car.  This of course was totally stupid and half ass and backwards engineering as it could come.

Fast forward to Z06 and its widely advertised carbon fiber torque tube assembly.  As far as GM claims, the Z06 will be using the same AFM system as the base car and run on four cylinders when fit.  Far enough, however, there is a slight problem here: the mass of carbon fiber torque tube housing and shaft are considerably lighter than the steel design.  Since the mass of the steel housing was used as a vibration reducer, how will this exactly work with the assembly that should be lighter than the aluminum torque tube?

The lower weight certainly will not help vibration reduction.  What measures have been taken to address the vibrations?  Will the car vibrate like mofo on four cylinders or is there a magic cure?

If there is indeed a cure to vibrations, without resorting to steel housing, why wouldn't aluminum torque tube housing or carbon fiber counterpart be used on the base car?

Things certainly do not add up with the carbon fiber torque tube, just as they do not add up with any other claims Juechter makes.

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