Crankshaft assembly for enabling engine cylinder deactivation

An engine system comprising:

• a variable displacement engine that operates on a first plurality of cylinders and a second plurality of cylinders that is less in quantity than said first plurality of cylinders;
• a crankshaft integrated within said variable displacement engine;
• a first pendulum vibration absorber assembly integrated within a first end portion of said crankshaft;
• a second pendulum vibration absorber assembly integrated within a second end portion of said crankshaft, said first pendulum vibration absorber assembly and said second vibration absorber assembly each including a counterweight integrally formed within said crankshaft and a pendulum coupled to said counterweight, said counterweight having a desired counterweight mass for providing a first order engine balance, said pendulum having a desired pendulum mass for providing said first order engine balance, said pendulum having a desired pendulum geometry and said desired pendulum mass for attenuating a torsional fluctuation in said crankshaft when said variable displacement engine operates on said second plurality of cylinders;
• at least one pin for coupling said pendulum to said counterweight;
• and
• at least one pendulum insert coupled to said pendulum, said at least one pendulum insert having a pendulum bushing portion and a retaining wall portion extending generally perpendicularly from said pendulum bushing portion, said retaining wall portion for retaining said at least one pin within said pendulum and said counterweight, said pendulum bushing portion for decreasing wear on said pendulum.