What's this on an XF

[Polome]

Recently had use of XF saloon and sport back , both automatic diesels. Never driven a modern diesel before and was very impressed. Fast enough and serenely quiet ( compared to my 997 that is ) they were great family cars. Having a good look around it I noticed a cylindrical steel tube hanging off the back of the diff. It intrigues me what this can be ...anyone know what this is? Thanks.

[sjwb]

Mass damper.

[Polome]

Thanks for the info...do you mean it's just a lump of steel bolted on for weight or does it have a more technical function? Regards.

[russell_ram]

It's not a 'mass damper' as such - that is a common, but technically incorrect, description of a tuned absorber - a (rubber) sprung mass designed to resonate at a given frequency in order to reduce the vibration at that frequency of the thing its bolted to - in this case the diff.

[Triple7]

The last RRS had about 40kgs of weight just hanging behind the tear bumper

[sjwb]

That's funny russell ram; it describes it is a mass damper on the CAD!

[russell_ram]

My point exactly. . . .