What is a crankshaft shock absorber?

In modern cars, motors are often installed, capable of gaining a large number of revolutions. Manufacturers do not take the same scrupulous approach to the manufacture of conventional cars as in the case of sports cars. In view of this, strong vibrations are formed in the area of ​​the crankshaft. They are caused by a large load on the crankshaft. This can lead to premature wear of the crankshaft pulley.

Often, engine vibration can be associated with a malfunction of the damping washer of the crankshaft. This small part of the car actually plays an important role in engine power and its service life.

Vibrations arising in the motor lead to wear of bearings, belts and even to a breakdown of the crankshaft at a certain speed. That's why a damper washer comes to the rescue here. It protects the engine from the damaging effects of torsional vibrations and protects the crankshaft from breaking.

How important is the damper washer?

Vibration is an integral part of engine operation. Extremely high vibrations in the engine shorten its service life and lead to faster wear. It is necessary to minimize these vibrations.

In most vehicles, this can be done with a damping flywheel. But an excellent vibration reduction, as well as even engine operation, is also achieved with a damper washer. The main role of the crankshaft pulley is to reduce its vibration and engine noise.

Damper washer device

The damper washer is an element of the car's belt drive, or rather, the pump drive, alternator and air conditioning compressor. It is located in front of the crankshaft and dampens the low-frequency vibrations produced, which are most often found in diesel engines. Its role is to minimize these torsional vibrations.

It is made of an external metal hoop on which a strap, a rubber core and an inner metal part are placed. It is the rubber between the two parts of the washer that acts as a vibration damper. Due to its flexibility, it needs to be replaced frequently, as over time the material simply breaks or becomes tough.

Damage to the bus leads to the formation of loud noise, slippage and vibration, damage to the disk of the generator and, therefore, the generator itself.

The damper washer is of two types - closed and open type. The open damper washer is most common in gasoline engines. The closed modification washer is mainly used in diesel engines.

Common Damper Washer Problems

Sometimes the metal and rubber parts of the damping washer are disconnected from each other. Over time, the rubber part of the washer hardens and cracks. This is due to the aging of damping materials and increased engine load.

Any mechanical deformations, distortions and tiny cracks mean that the time has come to replace it. Otherwise, the elastic material will spill out and the drive will stop working.

The tire on the damping washer can also be damaged if the engine often idles. In such cases, larger cracks occur. These malfunctions cause a louder noise than usual when the engine is running, and therefore its stronger vibrations.

Due to the fact that the rear side of the damping washer is located very close to the engine, it is subjected to high thermal loads. This factor makes it more elastic.

Every 60 km. inspection of the washer for damage such as corrosion or cracks is recommended. After an average of 000 km. scheduled replacement of the part should be carried out.

If we ignore the maintenance of the damper washer and do not conduct regular damage checks, they wear out faster than usual, and this will lead to engine damage and costly repairs.

Another cause of premature damage to the damper washer may be incorrect engine torque setting.

Damper Washer Care Tips

If you see the following symptoms during a visual examination, it's time to replace it with a new one:

• Cracks in the rubber washer;
• There are no parts of the rubber core, and its shape is noticeably changed;
• Drive belt is not tight enough;
• The mounting holes on the damper washer are damaged;
• Rust formation on the surface of the damping washer;
• Broken or loose generator connections;
• Visibly damaged and cracked bushings on the washer;
• Complete separation of the rubber core from the washer.

Here are some guidelines for maintaining and replacing the crankshaft washer:

• When replacing the alternator and tension belt, it is also necessary to replace the damper washer. It is recommended to change it regardless of whether there are visible signs of damage after our car has traveled 120 km.
• Always install a damping washer on your vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Sometimes it is attached to the engine with rubber elastic bolts. They must be replaced with new ones at each disassembly.
• Regular replacement of the crankshaft shock absorber washer eliminates damage to the gas distribution system.
• Rapid acceleration, accompanied by a sudden stop of the car, which is part of the sporty driving style, is a prerequisite for the rapid wear of the damping disc.
• Do not let the engine idle, which is common practice for most drivers in winter.
• When buying a damper washer, beware of fake models that do not have a rubber core. Such washers do not have the ability to dampen vibrations.