Abstract: A flywheel device with a torsional damper including a driving side flywheel and a driven side flywheel, a first spring mechanism directly connecting the driving and driven side flywheels, and a second spring mechanism connecting the driving and driven side flywheels via a friction mechanism. The second spring mechanism and the friction mechanism are arranged in series with each other and the series combination of the second mechanism and the friction mechanism is arranged in parallel to the first spring mechanism. The first spring mechanism includes at least one combination of two springs arranged in series with each other. The two springs have a different spring constant or a different maximum angular stroke. Thus, a spring constant of the first spring mechanism changes at a predetermined torsional angle whereby a torque capacity of the flywheel is greatly increased.

Abstract: Noise reduction is achieved at the rear axle of an automotive vehicle by mounting a weight at the point on the rear axle housing at which a lateral control rod of the vehicle is connected. The lateral control rod extends between the body-frame attachment and a pin at which one end of the control rod is connected and the weight to reduce noise is mounted in the vicinity of the pin.