the damper it is nothing more than a pulley located at one end of the crankshaft. In fact, it is technically correct to call it crank pulley, although it is commonly known as "damper" or "damper pulley".
Its function is similar to the dual mass flywheel, it serves for dampen crankshaft vibrations caused by the series of explosions that move the pistons. These explosions that generate vibrations and twists in the crankshaft impair vehicle reliability and ride comfort. In the past, only heavy vehicles with large engines, such as trucks, were equipped with this type of crankshaft pulleys. Today most Diesel and even gasoline cars carry it.
The damper is located at the end opposite the flywheel. In many cases it is part of the accessory belt drive wheel, so its good condition is essential for the proper functioning of the car's auxiliary systems. The excessive tensions of the timing belt, alternator or the blows produced by the air conditioning compressor are absorbed in part by the damper so that they do not affect each other.
The damper is usually made up of three pieces. There are two that are metal and one is attached to the crankshaft while the other is part of the accessory belt schematic. Between both there is usually a rubber block that is responsible for damping vibrations and at the same time the weakest point of the damper, which over time dries out and cracks due to material fatigue, subjected to strong vibrations and high temperatures.
What happens if the damper pulley breaks?
If the damper pulley does not do its job, the crankshaft could break.
If the damper pulley of our car breaks down, the first thing we will notice will be more vibrations and noises coming from the engine, especially at idle. The crankshaft will suffer more and due to the torsions that the damper would not absorb, it could break, preparing a very expensive breakdown that could end up sending the car to scrap.
A damper pulley in poor condition also may cause distribution to be skipped, the belt breaks, the steering pump breaks or the operation of the air conditioning compressor deteriorates. In any case, an expensive fault to repair.
It is a very simple element, but it should be checked periodically for the sake of the useful life of our engine.
In an alternative engine (piston) two types of vibrations are generated, vertical and torsional vibrations, generated as a result of the explosion of the fuel in the chambers and by the inertia of the rotating components (crankshaft). Torsional vibrations occur in all engines, due to the momentary torque due to the force developed in the explosion stroke and its recovery in the rest of the cycle. Although the flywheel is designed with sufficient size and mass, so that its inertia maintains a uniform rotation, absorbing energy in the rotational impulses and returning it in the rest of the cycle; it does not prevent the crankshaft from twisting in those moments of acceleration.
For this reason, another device is used at the other end of the crankshaft, called a vibration damper, whose purpose is to create a torsional force equal to and in the opposite direction to that which it suffers at the moment of the explosion, so that its effects are cancelled.
How about good night to the community, my truck leaks the oil and the mechanic says it's because he dropped a piece of plastic that stops a differential seal, my truck is an explorer 97 xlt 4.0, is that possible? What can I do, the piece is sold alone, that is, the pure plastic that retains the gasket inside the damper
hello, good afternoon, I have an automatic 2002 jetta, 3 months ago they repaired the transmission of my vehicle, when I received it from the mechanical workshop, it felt formidable, as the days went by, when I started the car cold and made the change from parking to drive or reverse, it vibrates brutally, they tell me in the transmission workshop that it was the supports, they have changed and continue with the same vibration, now they comment that it could be the damper, is this diagnosis correct?????
I have an alfa 159 and they changed the damper pulley three days ago, however, it continues to make more noise and vibrations than normal.
My question is: does the damper have some type of regulation or is it that they have placed it wrong?
I have done a reform in my car.
I have switched from automatic to 5 speed manual.
When starting the engine, I have noticed that it vibrates at low revolutions, at the moment I have the box without connecting to the transmission.
I have not changed the damper, I do not know if it has to be changed when removing the Flexplate and the pressure converter, and mounting a manual gearbox, the type of damper must be changed.
Another possibility would be that the flywheel is the reason the motor vibrates.
Can anybody help me.
Thank you! Excellent explanation. I learned something new and important.
Hello friend, how many pounds of pressure does a 2.0 engine carry in the DO0DGE CALIBER crankshaft pulley, and in the intake camshaft gears?