Yamaha Lateral Harmonic Dampers

[GodSquadMandrake]

You might remember my thread about rigid subframe collars. I've got a new one this time: Performance harmonic dampers.

I first saw these at a Tein Autobacs exhibit. They demonstrated that the front strut towers are like a tuning fork. And when you strike the fork, you get a nice ring. So they had a piece of tubular steel welded up like a giant tuning fork and you were supposed to hit it with a hammer, and it rang really loud. The next exhibit was where they boxed off the top of this fork, as if a strut tower brace were installed between your strut towers. When I hit it with a hammer, it resonated a low dull tone. The final exhibit had a damper installed between the forks, as well as the "strut tower brace". When it hit it with the hammer, it was silent. It was like I was hitting a pillow, amazing.

DING

DONG

*silence*

Here's what I'm talking about:

This one is made by Yamaha for Nismo to be used on the GTR.

Another use

These are coming OE now on some Lexus cars.

Here is the official Yamaha news release PDF:

It is widely known that chassis performance is an important factor that functions along with
suspension performance to determine the handling stability and the comfort of the ride in an
automobile. For this reason, the various auto makers have invested great efforts in optimizing
chassis rigidity as an important component of chassis performance. Amidst these efforts, a new
project was undertaken at Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. to develop a "performance damper" the aim of
which was to greatly improve chassis performance in a way that went beyond mere optimization
of chassis rigidity by adding appropriate amounts of cushioning effect at certain points.
After the basic concept of the performance damper was proven valid in actual road tests in the
autumn of 2000, development efforts to put it in applicable form and improve its performance
were carried out at a rapid pace. It then made its appearance as a world's-first technology on
the Toyota Crown Athlete VX (2001 limited edition of 300 units). Finally, in April of this year
it appeared for the first time in the world on a full-scale production model, the sports grade
version of the Toyota Corolla to be shipped to the domestic Japanese, European and North
American markets.
The performance damper has a simple structure and is easily mounted on a chassis, and not
only does it improve handling stability and ride comfort, it also reduces vibration noise. What's
more, these effects are so marked that any driver can feel the difference in normal driving,
not just in extreme driving at the hands of trained test drivers. Many domestic and foreign car
makers have evaluated the performance damper very highly and expectations are high that it
will become a common structural element of cars from now on

http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/profile/craftsmanship/technical/publish/no38/pdf/ts_01.pdf

It's no surprise that our buddies over at Nasioc are already onto this:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1215727
And the Chinese have already made knock-offs so you can get it for about $100.

I just wanted to give you guys a heads up if you hadn't heard about this. It's already 7 years old in Japan, but expect to see it more and more. I have feeling this is a good product that many people will like.

 

[GodSquadMandrake]

And wouldn't you know? They make them for the MKV too.

You can buy it here:
http://www.cox.co.jp/products/index.php?id=87

 

[carbuyer]

what was that exhibit supposed to prove?

that a tuning fork shaped object will ring?
obviously...

and regarding the last one, which didnt ring, that would largely be due to the fact that it is much heavier and closed off.

you could attach a stick of lead in place of the damper in the last demo piece, and it would have the same affect...