PURPOSE: To damp or reduce a recoil rate of serially-arranged compression spring sets by providing a viscous shear damper module generating viscous clutching coaction with a first clutching surface.

CONSTITUTION: A set of relative high rate helical compression springs 62 is provided for transmitting torque and alternating torsionals when a transmission input shaft 22 of a transmission is connected to a load. A set of relatively low rate helical compression springs connected in series with the spring set is provided for attenuating torsionals when the shaft 22 is not connected to a load. Further, a viscous damper module 48 is disposed in parallel with both serially arranged spring sets, and also disposed in parallel with the housing 50 and clutching coaction between operating surfaces of a clutch assembly 52. Consequently, the recoil rate of two spring sets can be damped or reduced.