Car manufacturers are looking to make vehicles lighter using more lightweight components. At the same time modern engines are becoming more powerful. More power means more strain on the lightweight components causing more vibrations. To address this, they have replaced the ordinary crankshaft pulley with torsional vibration dampers or harmonic balancers which absorb vibrations from the crankshaft and extend the life time of other components in the drive system.
- Prevent failure of the crankshaft by fatigue
- Decrease wear and tear on the belt, tensioner and other components in the driven assembly
- Improve noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics, and therefore increase the comfort of vehicle drivers and their passengers