Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

David W Mikels

Young-Jin Seo

David M Caldwell

An independently suspended, driven axle shaft set in which the axle shafts are asymmetric with respect to each other, wherein the asymmetry provides mitigation of powerhop. The asymmetric axle shafts are asymmetrically selected such that the relative torsional stiffness therebetween is different by a ratio substantially between about 1.4 to 1 and about 2.0 to 1. The asymmetry may be provided by any known modality that alters torsional stiffness and is compliant with operational load demands of the axle shafts, as for example the axle shafts having the same length, but differing cross-sectional diameters; or by the axle shafts having the same cross-sectional diameters, but differing lengths; or a combination thereof.

Independently suspended and driven asymmetric axle shafts

An independently suspended, driven axle shaft set in which the axle shafts are driven by a differential which is rigidly connected to the body of the motor vehicle by a rearward torque arm, whereby powerhop is mitigated thereby. Where the axle shafts are torsionally asymmetric with respect to each other, the differential is a limited slip differential and the relative torsional stiffness therebetween is different by a ratio substantially between about 1.4 to 1 and about 2.0 to 1, wherein powerhop is mitigated synergistically by both the rearward torque arm and the asymmetric axle shafts.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

David W Mikels