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Tech Briefs
Dana racing driveshaft
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"It (NASCAR Winston Cup) is the toughest, most brutal application for a driveshaft that we know of today," said Bob Morgillo, Technical Manager of Motorsports for Toledo-based Dana Corp. The company's patent-pending adhesive, balance weight technology, UV FlexBond, replaces heat welding, the traditional joining method that can cause deflection of a shaft in the balancer.
Several NASCAR Winston Cup 2000 race teams are testing the new technology, including cars driven by Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace, and Jeff Gordon.
Benefits of the new technology impact noise, vibration, and harshness (lighter driveshaft increases speed at which powertrain bending resonance occurs), as well as system capability (driveshaft, axle, and some transmission components can be balanced as a system).
At certain NASCAR race venues, a driveshaft may turn at more than 10,000 rpms. "We've had no failures (with UV FlexBond)," said Morgillo.
A production version of UV FlexBond balance-weight technology is anticipated for the 2002 model year.
Kami Buchholz
AEI September 2000
For more information, circle 232 & 233
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