Various isotropic finished gears from a BMW Airhead
Isotropic superfinishing is a chemically accelerated finishing process that smooths the microscopic peaks and valleys from gear teeth without altering their geometry or hardness. Commonly used in high-end motorsports, this process is also increasingly popular in OEM automotive and aerospace. The key benefits of superfinishing include:
Reduced friction in the gear train (20-30%)
Reduced heat in the gearbox
Improved lubrication
Reduced Wear
Smoother shifting
Air Support BMW has invested in the equipment to perform this process in-house and can now offer this service as an upgrade when rebuilding your gearbox (also good for final drives).
How it works:
As per a normal gearbox rebuild, the shafts are stripped, cleaned and inspected including the intermediate shaft where applicable. The gearwheels and shafts are run through a multi-step superfinishing process to produce smooth, mirror-like surfaces. The gearshafts are then rebuilt as per normal and re-installed in the gearbox.