Securing critical automotive joints with 3M™ Friction Shims

Shear forces are increasing – and not just within the vehicle powertrain. Electric vehicles generate high torque and shear force and often weigh significantly more, putting strain on critical joints throughout the vehicle. If a joint begins to slip, it may lead to significant failure.

Traditional friction enhancement has focused on torque, generally from fast-spinning mechanisms such as timing sprockets within internal combustion engines. Even the slightest slippage can potentially result in engine failure.

Automotive applications such as chassis, suspensions, and others generally involve e-coated steel or aluminum. These materials make traditional friction-enhancing solutions difficult to apply.

By increasing load transfer in bolted joints, Friction Shims allow for much higher resistance to rotational and shear forces without adding bolts or increasing component sizes. In many cases they can even allow for component downsizing, excellent for lightweighting.

Our Friction Shims protect bolted joints against higher shear loads. This is especially critical in electrified vehicles, which are heavier compared to traditional vehicles. They can preserve and strengthen bolted joints in e-coated chassis, battery mounts, suspensions and many other places throughout the vehicle.

Keep your current design by using Friction Shims as a drop-in solution for improved friction coefficients. They can also create new possibilities: as force increases, load-bearing components can remain the same or decrease in size.

Proven through years of failure-free performance in internal combustion engines worldwide, 3M™ Friction Shims can increase torque transfer by 3 to 5 times in ICE and ePowertrain applications without increasing component sizes or adding significant weight.

Enhancing friction coefficients can eliminate movement in bolted connections. Reduced micromovements in the vehicle chassis may mean less noise – as well as increased passenger comfort and a better passenger experience.

You’ll see the difference that 3M Friction Shims make during testing, and long-term in continued on-the-road performance. With 3 to 5 times the friction – and the higher load capacities that result – your designs are much better protected against bolted joint fatigue, loosening or failure.