My torque tube needs help. Why should I do it?

[When do we get liberated?]

I am ordering parts to repair the torque tube on my 1970 Opel GT. The question I have is, why is it there? What purpose does it serve? It would seem to me that a simple driveshaft would suffice, but no, I have a heavy (everything seems heavy in an 1800 pound car) piece that serves, as far as I can see, no purpose. I have read the Wikipedia definition of what it does, but this makes no sense to me. Can someone tell me in layman's terms why it is there?

[cripplecreek]

If I had a dollar for every time I needed help with my torque tube......

[mylife]

Is there trouble at the mill?!!!

[TonyInOhio]

Have you adjusted the disgronificator?

[Kirkwood]

“The torque tube extends from the transmission to the axle and encases the driveshaft. The axles and gearbox are essentially connected and as a result, no trailing arms or multi link suspensions are necessary. This system allows for extreme axle articulation but prevents the axle from being contorted when it is at extreme compression or droop. It also prevents axle wind-up and axle hop, and encloses the driveshafts and protects them from obstacles and the elements. “

[sleddogs]

Any pics?

[jessduntno]

“If I had a dollar for every time I needed help with my torque tube......”

You don’t keep it sheathed?

[50mm]

It’s there to keep the flayrods from going out of skew on the treadle.

That's only on pre-1970 Chevettes with the transmogrifier and deflatulent options.

[The Comedian]

It's used to stune your flux capicitor's beeber.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Slings and Arrows]

I thought it was for buffering the flux capacitor past 1.21 Gigawatts.

[When do we get liberated?]

This is the lightest car outside of a Nash Metropolitan. The torque tube was used on Fords up until 1950’s and in Corvettes today, but in the Corvettes case it is because the engine is in the front and the trans is in the rear. The torque tube is needed to prevent any vibration in the input shaft. a micrometer at the motor is a millimeter 8 feet later. In the Opel’s case I have a 1 foot driveshaft (cue 1 foot driveshaft jokes)2 U joints AND a torque tube.

[Old Flat Toad]

Is that Algore telling his son to slow down?

[shibumi]

There's just trouble at the mill - that's all.

I didn't expect a sort of Spanish Inquisition...

[Billthedrill]

NOBODY expects the...

...I'll come in again...

[mylife]

Oh!

[50mm]

I have a 1 foot driveshaft

And you're complaining? LOL

[Kirkwood]

It directs force from the rear wheels back through the drive train to push the car forward rather than through the rear suspension to the frame.

[jessduntno]

“It directs force from the rear wheels back through the drive train to push the car forward rather than through the rear suspension to the frame.”

Is that from the Carma Sutra?

[cripplecreek]

You don’t keep it sheathed?

I used to but the U-joint needed grease so often that I had the sheath removed so I could keep things limber.

[mylife]

I dont know about Opels, but there is a lot of info on Tata’s in the Kama Sutra.

[The Cajun]

Bought a 1970 Opel GT third hand in 1982, what a great little car (Poor Man's Corvette). Regret selling it in 1989 to this day. Got twice what I paid for it from a collector (This was his third).
That little four cylinder Adams Opel engine would run like a spotted a$$ ape! Got it up to 125 MPH with some left to go.