LORD and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Improve Comfort for GM Passengers

Customer
General Motors for it mid-size GM car platforms. Vehicle launches begin with 2004 models and ramp up through 2006 models.

Challenge
General Motors sought a more economical and durable dampening device that would offer enhanced performance over traditional hydraulic dampers on various models of General Motors’ new mid-size car platform.

Solution
Teamed with Cooper-Standard Automotive, LORD applied its patented surface-effect (SE) technology and thus improved cockpit comfort. SE dampers contain no damping fluid and therefore cannot leak. Further, they exhibit consistent performance and durability for the under-hood environment.

Results
The surface-effect technology weighs 40 to 60 percent less than its equivalent steel and hydraulic-oil counterparts, is quieter and offers a wide range of tunable damping forces. LORD surface-effect dampers have provided damping over deflections of 1.0 mm and greater and frequencies up to 30 Hz in a variety of aerospace and industrial applications during the last decade.