Torsional isolator coupling

A plurality of cylindrical, equiangularly spaced elastomeric isolator members are assembled axially between a drive plate fixed to an engine flywheel and a driven plate fixed to a transmission input shaft. The isolation members are resilient and yieldably resist relative rotation between the drive and driven plates at a first spring rate when torque loads are in a low range. When the torque load reaches an upper value of the low range, a pair of snubber members respectively mounted on the drive and driven plates are engaged by the flexed isolator members and support the latter such that torsional loads in a range higher than the low range will be yieldably resisted by the isolator members at a second spring rate higher than the first spring rate.