Inverted Shocks

[cerbfan]

Has anyone got there shocks fitted inverted to reduce unsprung weight, I was speaking to someone at Nitron who was telling me that they are designed to be used upside down for this reason. Mine are definetly fitted the normal was round but was considering changing them. Has anyone got theres installed this way? Is it even possible on the Cerb?

[carl_w]

Actually it should reduce unsprung weight.

The "right way up" has the bottom part of the shock "unsprung", i.e. the weight of that bit is not supported by the springs and shocks, and goes up and down with the wheel.

The other way round has the long bit being supported by the springs, and the short bit going up and down with the wheel. Hence a reduction in "unsprung" weight.

I thought this through just now, and I think it's right...

[mars]

It is Carl. It's long been accepted practice in the Se7ens world.

[cerbfan]

Well I am just about to make a start this weekend on renewing all my bushes and painting my chassis etc, so I'll have a look to see if it possible to put them on the other way round. The only issue I can see is access to the adjuster knob may be more difficult.

[trackcar]

It's a pretty small reduction inunsprung weight .. TVR fitted heavyweight components as std (have you ever taken the rear hub upraight off a cerbera? it weights a ton!!) .. not worth the effort bearing in mind the greater risk of damage to the piston rod from road debris when mounted upside down. the rear damper adjuster is easier to get to inverted, but the front adjuster gets too close the bottom arm to make it any easier to adjust.

[mars]

All good points. In Se7ens-land, you can only invert shocks that are designed to be used that way, and if intverting them makes them more difficult to adjust, the gains are completely negated.

[cerbfan]

No not taken one off so far but give me a couple of weeks. I hear what you are saying about damage etc, I won't bother then I imagine it would only save about 1kg per wheel anyway, would this be significant?

Actually do you sell the uprated bushes from Powerflex I think it is, as I am stripping all the suspension to get shotblasted and powder coated so I think I will change them all for the uprated ones along with the diff bushes.

Mars, Nitrons are designed to be run at any angle at all so would definetly be possible but maybe just not beneficial for the reasons stated by Trackcar.

[carl_w]

trackcar said:

It's a pretty small reduction inunsprung weight

I did realize that, which is why you won't see me on my driveway inverting all my dampers

However, the theory is valid.

[ajp4.2]

I am also thinking of getting my suspension shotblasted & powder coated. Then re bushing. Where can I get polybushes from ?
I wont be inverting my nitrons but I agree with the theory.

[mars]

I'm sure I read that Joolz (Trackcar) sells the poly bushes. His webby ought to give details.

[trackcar]

they're not on there yet mars, but powerflex do make them now as we have a full set on our T350 race car which runs cerbera arms and hubs. I'll get vicky to check prices and availability

[mars]

Oh well, there you go then. A little nudge and it all gets sorted.

[ajp4.2]

That sounds promising that they are now been manufactured