Steve-O

i act like i understand what and why my vettes,(c5's) have torque tubes but i dont really know what is what.

sometimes a guy at tech at the track will start in on the "must have driveshaft loop". i know what that is and what it does but how do we explain our torque tube eliminates that concern ?

a non technical idea of what a torque tube is would be appreciated.

76 VETTE

tremor1

It is a drive shaft I guess but, I have always explained it to people as the torque tube being a long input shaft for the transmission. It is enclosed and secured at both ends with no u-joints to fail so it wiil not come out of the car under race conditions. Therefore no drive shaft loop is needed. If you lose a torque tube at the track there will be a lot of other very large parts on the track. Hope this helps.

m6 c5

Now Im not sure if this is right but I was thinking that the torque tube was the tube that surrounded the prop shaft so if for some reason it did fail catastrophically the torque tube would act like the drive shaft loop.
Now Im not sure if that is right but I know there are people on here that do.

Steve-O

now you see why after 10 years of torque tubbing i just couldnt go on without knowing...

i like tremor1 response "If you lose a torque tube at the track there will be a lot of other very large parts on the track."

the good news is your torque tube failed, the bad news is the engine fell out afterward.

dndrsn

Show them this.

Steve-O

dndrsn, cant tell ya how much i appreciate you going to all the trouble of taking the body off your car just to help out. now put the body back on before your wife comes home and catches you.



you know, thats a great pic for explaining the locations of lots of stuff.

dndrsn

It snaps off.

Steve-O

ah, so thats what the hood pins were for.

Jesse Asis

But in simple terms, the torque tube attaches the motor to the transmission that was re-located to the rear, this connection has to be solid and strong, thus a solid well built tube keep the transmission and engine block as solid as one unit. The C4 had the transmission attached to the engine block, con's, lack of leg room, front heavy, more heat up front to the passenger. The C5 resloved all these issues by re-locating the tranny to the rear. I hope that answers your question... Enjoy the ride in one of the best Corvette, the C5!

vetfeva2

Wow, I never really realized that I'm not sure the difference either. So far it sounds like what we are calling a torque tube is just a cover for what is already known as a drive shaft. I wish I never read this post. I don't know what to think now...

sfc rick

Simple answer = Torque tube is intended to keep trans and engine mated as a single unit and prevent flexing from engines power. Seen a cracked torque tube from the dragstrip before cause of too much HP for the tube to handle.

Just a sidenote...that car with the cracked bell housing and tube had in excess of 750hp. so breath easier.

81c3

Exactly. The TT houses the drive shaft or (propeller shaft) and its primary function is to mate the engine to the transmission and rear end. Also it absorbs torque caused between the engine and transmission.

The drive shaft is actually what transfers power from the engine to the rear end through the transmission just like any traditional rear drive vehicle.

2KFRC5

http://www.corvettetopia.com/Article...e/Default.aspx

Bluefire

Drive shaft U-joint replacement. Drop shaft and replace U-joints. a couple of hours

Torque Tube coupler replacement: Remove everything from under the car south of the flywheel, Disassemble TT, replace couplers, reassemble in about 8 - 12 hours.

s'noJob

Does anyone have a cutaway photo or drawing?


.

Vetteman Jack

Interesting article in that link and some good answers posted up. Thanks.

dndrsn

spankdxm

Ujointless driveshaft in that picture. And thats the simple fact of it. The torque tube makes a solid formation to help aid in lessening flexion. When a coupler breaks the TT acts as a full length safety loop.

Steve-O

when i get that question at tech/track, i'll just show them the pic and what spankdxm said

"When a coupler breaks the TT acts as a full length safety loop."

thanks to everybody for contributing to helping myself as well as others to better understand.