Stiff Shocks

[Jono.C]

Well, for me it's more of a use what I've got type deal..

Lowering the rear of it and my factory are too long to be useful, these are pretty much the perfect height.

 

It's not a race car so I'm not 100% phased on matching spring rates to shocks etc, just holding them captive and having a decent stroke length

[ke70dave]

Unless he ups the rates.

 

I always like the saying "The springs hold the car off the ground, the shock absorbers hold the tyre on the ground"

[altezzaclub]

A good read Philbey- it linked eventually to FarNorthRacing, where I haven't been for ages but he has great practical setups on there. Here's the shock bit, all re-written.

 

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets6.html

[philbey]

That's a pretty good article.

 

Parrot, good point, I will admit I didn't pick up on the pajero point. Probably overdamped Jono.

[ke70dave]

It's not a race car so I'm not 100% phased on matching spring rates to shocks etc, just holding them captive and having a decent stroke length

 

just remember that proper matching is jsut as much about comfort than it is about handling.

 

my limited understanding is, if the body is kept relatively still and the wheels are allowed to move with the bumps in a very controlled manor, you not only get good handling but you also get good comfort.

 

A car doesnt have to bang and crash over bumps jsut because it is lowered, a good suspension setup will allow the wheels to move just enough so that comfort is retained, but will resist movement enough to allow the body to be kept still and enough feedback is given to the driver.

 

its a fine line!

 

On a side not, i think the best example i have had of this illusive perfect setup was when i swapped in 5.9kg/mm springs in the front with the sw20 excel G rear shocks (in 86 tubes). the car was low (just legal), The suspension was only compressing maybe 40-50mm under "normalish bumps", but to me the driver it felt both compliant yet precise. it was stiff but it was somewhat comfortable, it would soak up the bigger bumps with precision, yet it would hold its ground (excuse the pun) on the smaller bumps to give some nice feedback. coudl have probably needed a bit more dampening on the rebound, as when you hit corners hard you could feel the shocks extending a bit more than desired, but perhaps sway bars could have helped this as well.

 

The shocks were amazingly good in this setup for under $100 each.

 

So yeah i definately agree with philby that shock matching to springs is the most important thing, if you get it wrong it is either horribly overdamped and you lose your teeth, or horribly underdamped and it feels like you are piloting a cloud!

[snot35]

Nice article Altezza, cheers!