Fordnatics List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Roger Hupfauer <(email redacted)>


What is this for on the 5.0? I pulled if off my car last week and the
other day I nailed it at about 25 mph and the car experienced rear axle
hop, whereas I had never had this happen before.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: chucko (Chuck Fry)



That huge weight on the rear axle of your late Mustang is a damper. If
I remember right, it's supposed to damp various drivetrain resonances,
specifically out-of-balance driveshafts. But I guess in your car's
case, it was also damping out axle hop.

Are you still using the stock quad shocks? They're also supposed to
damp axle hop. You may want to track down a pair of Koni quads. You
might be able to find a used pair; check with all the folks who have
converted to torque arms or other alternate rear suspensions.
-- Chuck

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Scott Griffith, Sun Microsystems Lumpyware)

On Oct 25, Chuck Fry wrote:

> That huge weight on the rear axle of your late Mustang is a damper. If
> I remember right, it's supposed to damp various drivetrain resonances,
> specifically out-of-balance driveshafts. But I guess in your car's
> case, it was also damping out axle hop.

Not too likely. It's too small a mass to materially affect axle tramp
under acceleration. After all, you're getting about 160lb into
resonance at a very low frequency, so adding or subtracting 10lb that
close to the center of rotation isn't going to have any particular
effect (other than to maybe raise the resonant frequency by a few
tenths of a Hertz...).

I'm more inclined to put this case of hop down to aging quads, an aging
traction-lok, or aging bushings than the damper. That sucker is more
tuned to the 10-40Hz driveshaft frequencies, just as Chuck points out.
You should be able to leave it off with no more effect that a small
increase in driveline rumble.

-skod

- --
Scott Griffith, Sun Microsystems Lumpyware
expatriate SCCA New England Region Flagging/Communications worker
(and driver, of anything that turns both right and left,
and can pass tech...) Return Path : (email redacted)