[quote=Dan_Lockwood][quote=Hamwich][quote=RedThree]
Good thought! This looks a lot like the rotoflex coupler, used on the rear axle half-shafts of the Triumph GT6 and Lotus Elan. They have their problems, mostly with age, and can be dramatic if they fail at speed in that application. I think they were used as a "cheap" way to accommodate universal joint action along with lateral axle movement due to suspension geometry challenges. The torsional "wind-up" affect of them was always a problem with the minor but noticable induced driveline snatch.
The original Harley type compensator coupling also had a rear driveshaft rubber coupling used on Mercs and BMW's, probably others too.
They are used for some harmonic dampening and also for very slight angle misalignment.
The difference between the Lovejoy and the driveshaft rubber couplings is that the Lovejoy can windup and the driveshaft couplings are pretty much non-windup types. They are rubber, but most have some type of Kevlar or fiberglass disc cast into them to keep them direct drive without windup. But this disc will still allow for slight vibrations to be absorbed and flex off angle just a bit.
I like the Lovejoy for this application and it's possible with the adapting shafts and plates, it could be a bolt in replacement.
Just food for thought guys.
