Australian Performance Parts Go To Orlando Racing Industry Expo
BLACKTOWN-BASED Ross Tuffbond Inc is one of nine Australian companies given the chance to show their wares to a global market last week.
The company, which designs and produces high performance parts for racing cars and boats, as well as parts for buses and trucks, took part in an international trade show in America.
Chief executive Ross Clothier and a five-member team joined representatives of eight companies at the Performance Racing Industry Expo in Orlando, Florida.
Ross Tuffbond is a part of an Australian automotive industry that supports 30,000 jobs and has an annual turnover of $5.6billion.
Leading foreman Darren Sunderland said the company had been around for nearly 30 years, starting in Seven Hills before moving to Forge Street.
It was started in 1981 by Ross Clothier, a mechanical engineer who started out in the NSW Railways workshop in 1966 as a fitter and machinist.
Mr Clothier then joined the Sydney Water Police where he designed and produced speedboat parts in the early 1970’s, Mr Sunderland said.

Machine parts: Darren Sunderland at the Ross Tuffbond Inc workshop. Picture: Simon Bennett
He set up Rosco Marine Services in 1981 to design and develop a rubber-bonding technique for standard harmonic balancers/crank pulley dampers for marine boats and race cars.
“It was renamed Ross Tuffbond when it also became the largest manufacturer of harmonic balancers/crank pulley dampers, truck and bus components.”
Dampers harmonic balancers recieves SFI approval
Ross receives approval From the US SFI Foundation for his Dampners.
The SFI Foundation, Inc. (SFI) is a non-profit organization established to issue and administer standards for specialty/performance automotive and racing equipment.
SFI was originally a foundation run by SEMA, the automotive aftermarket trade organization. The letters “SFI” stood for “SEMA Foundation, Inc.” Although SFI is now completely independent from SEMA, the Foundation has retained the name SFI Foundation, Inc. but the “S” no longer means SEMA.
Manufacturers of equipment are the primary users of SFI standards. Some standards are adopted as part of the rules of race sanctioning organizations. Ultimately, the consumerbenefits from the program as it establishes recognized levels of performance or quality for a product.
Participating manufacturers pay for development and administration of these programs through licensing fees and/or unit charges. Also, interested associations have provided grants and donations.
The SFI Technical Committee initiates the specification process, typically at the request of the affected industry or race sanctioning body.
SFI encourages industry-wide participation in the drafting of specifications. However, once a standard is enacted, participation by the manufacturer is strictly voluntary.
Typically, there are policing provisions through contractual or licensing agreements whereby SFI may inspect the records and/or equipment of a manufacturer in order to ascertain that the product involved meets SFI Specs. Once a manufacturer has voluntarily committed to participating in the program, it must comply with the specifications in all respects.
When adopted as part of the rules of a race sanctioning body, enforcement is entirely up to that organization. The manufacturer then provides the racer with product that is in compliance with the specs enforced by the sanctioning body.
To read more about the SFI Foundation Click Here
To purchase products from Ross Performance Parts Click Here.
West Coast distributors Harmonic Balancers Dampers
Are you a supplier of car performance parts?
Ross Tuffbond Australia is interested in hearing form US businesses who would like to become distributors of our high quality performance harmonic balancers and dampers.
Introducing a revolutionary development in torsional dampening technology. Utilising the ROSS Tuffbond original elastrometric bonding process to produce the ROSS Metaljacket® series harmonic balancers / crank pulley dampers.
Clink on a link to get a better description of each part.
New Balancers / Dampers:
MJ Race Series : Engineered to suit andra requirements and meets sfi rules. Suitable for extreme circuit & drag racing.
Metal Jacket : Engineered to suit andra requirements and meets sfi rules. Not suitable for extreme circuit & drag racing.
Nexus : Engineered to suit andra requirements and meets sfi rules without the refinements of the Metal Jacket range.
Reconditioned Balancers / Dampers:
Street Performer Series : High performance replacement made of billet steel.
United States West Coast Distribution Click Here enquiries welcome
If you would like more information you can also call 61-2-9676 – 1466 Australia
Mercedes 0405NH engine fandrive
Mercedes 0405NH engine overheating due to the fandrive unit failure.
Alex at Kastoria Buslines wrote: Every couple of years i have to send my Mercedes 0405NH fan hub assembly away for reconditioning at a cost of $2000-3000 each time, plus the inconvenience of a breakdown with passengers on the bus.
After fitting a ROSSFANDRIVE to one of my buses,we have been thru 2 summers and no breakdowns, then we fitted another one to another bus in 2008, we just went through the hottest times in Melbourne when the bushfires hit. Temperatures climbed to 47 degrees, the only buses in my fleet that didn’t overheat and stop were the ones fitted with the ROSSFANDRIVE .
Why do buses fitted with ross fandrivehubs keep going in high operating temperatures? The simple design has removed the complicated components that fail . So this design also allows for operators to easily strip down and service the bearings with no expensive costs .
To keep your bus cool this summer Contact us now for a quote
MJ RACE Harmonic Balancers Crank Pulley Dampers
For Circuit & Drag Racing
These harmonic balancers / crank pulley dampers are made to suit ANDRA requirements and meets sfi rules If your engine regularly sees RPM between 10% and 20% more than standard and you are racing on the track doing multi lap events, using fuel cuts and rev limiters in the programming of your engine, as well as rapid accelleration and decelleration then you will need a race series balancer / damper.
If you are running RB Nissan the balancer / damper has no provision for A/C belt The accessory drive pulleys are mostly underdriven and in some models up to 20%. (Consult catalogue).
Race Series Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers are bonded balancers created for circuit and drag racing applications. Much of the range is instock while customised Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers can also be manufactured to suit individual needs and specifications. The race series may not suit original OEM pulley setups.
For local or International enquiries please use the contact form.
Ross Tuffbond Harmonic Balancers Dampers
Which Balancer / Damper do I need ?
New Balancers / Dampers:
MJ Race Series : Engineered to suit andra requirements and meets sfi rules. Suitable for extreme circuit & drag racing.
Metal Jacket : Engineered to suit andra requirements and meets sfi rules. Not suitable for extreme circuit & drag racing.
Nexus : Engineered to suit andra requirements and meets sfi rules without the refinements of the Metal Jacket range.
United States West Coast Distribution Click Here enquiries welcome
Reconditioned Balancers / Dampers:
Street Performer Series : High performance replacement made of billet steel. Heavy Duty :
Both the SP series and HD series are designed & priced as direct replacements for a damaged balancers / dampers. Both using standard belts ands accessory drives.

Street Performer Series Reconditioned Harmonic Balancers
STREET PERFORMER SERIES
ROSS TUFFBOND Street Performer Series Reconditioned Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers are manufactured for over 100 engine types and offer excellent upgrade in reliability and dampening performance for standard or street performance engines.
All Street Performer Series Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers are unconditionally guaranteed against failure for unlimited kilometres up to 12 months from purchase.
Street Performer Series Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers sare sold on the exchange basis with deposit charged until core return. Street Performer Series Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers have an attractive finish with easy-to-read ROSS TUFFBOND timing markings and logos.
They are provided for the following makes.
- CHYRSLER
- FERRARI
- FORD
- CHEVROLET
- HOLDEN
- HYUNDAI
- JEEP
- MINI
- MITSUBISHI
- SUBARU
- TOYOTA
- VOLVO
ROSS TUFFBOND has a huge range of high performance parts for all makes and models.
To get more information please contact us by clicking here.
METAL JACKET Harmonic Balancers

Introducing a revolutionary development in torsional dampening technology. Utilising the ROSS Tuffbond original elastrometric bonding process to produce the ROSS Metaljacket® series harmonic balancers / crank pulley dampers.
* 360 timing marks at 1° intervals
* Adjustable timing disc, for TDC accuracy
* Precision CNC machined 40 Tonne tensile alloy steel hub and vibration dampening ring
* Dampening ring and hub permanently bonded together on TWO axis by our exclusive Tuffbond elastrometric bonding process, ensuring maximum harmful vibrations are absorbed.
* balancer is anodized for durability and appearance
* Absorbs more damaging torsional harmonic vibrations
* Quicker engine acceleration
* Increases engine life
* Lifetime warranty, even for racing use – a world first!
* Never requires maintenance or rebuilding – ever!
* Rated to 1500 HP
* Encapsulated MetaL Jacket® design exceeds AN DRA and SF1 i8.1(USA) requirements
* Fits standard or modified engines
* Affordably priced
Automotive & Transportation Replacement Parts
The hard work put in by Ross Clothier in building the business has filtered through the company and shows up in the demeanors of all our workings who strive to deliver the best product and service available. It’s through this great work edict that enables ROSS Tuffbond and all of it’s employees to aspire to become the biggest and the best manufacturer of Harmonic Balancers / Crank Pulley Dampers, Bus and Truck Components this side of the Great Divide – that is, in Sydney. While some company’s may become rigid and insensitive towards the needs of their customers, our aim is to maintain our high level of service and where possible to improve our company and workplace to better service our customers. We welcome any and all feedback, and will use all information in a positive and constructive manner.
GEN 3 LS1 Balancer with drive
This product, soon to be released, has been made to cope with 2000 hp + using a design used on Brian McCoskers engines in the BLOWN ALCOHOL BOAT LIBERTY www.libertyspeed.com.au
It will be supplied with the front pulley according to the customers needs, Overdrive, Standard, 15% and 25% underdrive also included in the kit will be a hardened drilling jig for those who want to take advantage of our unique 360 degree laser engraved timing marks and set up top dead centre for tuning purposes.
As is STD with all ross products in MJ and RACE series they have warnings and bolt tensions engraved on the anodised outer dampening cells.
Also in the kit will be a drilling jig for providing a scotch key to locate the balancer and an adjustable timing pointer
Another premium product from Ross Tuffbond
For more information please use the contact form.

