Upside down coilovers..

[s p a c e m a n]

My shiny new GGpros turned up today, if the rain holds off for a couple of hours tomorrow I'm going to wave a spanner around. Looking at a few photos everyone appears to have mounted them with the main body and adjuster at the bottom, is there any reason that they can't/shouldn't be the other way up?

[phazed]

No. They are easier to adjust with the adjusters at the bottom.

[s p a c e m a n]

True, but once I've found my setting then I shouldn't really need to play with them again apart from possibly track outings. Was just having thoughts about getting the unsprung weight down a bit seeing as I've gone up a size with the wheels.

[misteradz]

I agree, upside down coilovers are the right way to go.

I had Neil Garner fit mine and he always fits them this way. Something to do with rebound and all that stuff. I had Neil explain it to me twice and i'm still not 100% sure why but if the man with a racing history as Neil's I don't argue!

[A900ss]

misteradz said:

I agree, upside down coilovers are the right way to go.

I had Neil Garner fit mine and he always fits them this way. Something to do with rebound and all that stuff. I had Neil explain it to me twice and i'm still not 100% sure why but if the man with a racing history as Neil's I don't argue!

Neil is fitting mine next week so I'll see what he does with mine. Having said that, I haven't gone for Nitrons like your car. Pro Techs only I'm afraid.

[s p a c e m a n]

misteradz said:

Something to do with rebound and all that stuff.

Part of the idea of keeping the unsprung weight down is to allow the suspension to be able to react as quickly as possible. Think about throwing a punch with your arm holding a 5kg weight in your hand, you'll be able to stop and pull your arm back in quicker if you wern't holding the weight.

Theres more to it with gyroscopic effects with wheels and stuff, but as with most things it all comes down to lighter = better handling

[phillpot]

Not really following this

Isn't the body of the shocker (especially if oil filled, not gas) the heavier part, so fitting upside down means that part is moving with the suspension and the (lighter?) piston stays still?


Either way I suspect it would take an expert driver in a perfectly set up car to tell the difference, Mr (even slightly above) average driving on public roads wouldn't notice a thing

[phazed]

Amen to that Bro!

[s p a c e m a n]

You're right. It's unlikely to make enough difference that you would feel it, but I've been know for doing stuff that doesn't really make much difference in the grand scheme of things anyway

This is the way that I see most of them fitted, surely the heavy bit is at the bottom moving up and down with the wheel?

[phazed]

Your quite right.

I am about to get my Monos overhauled and will replace them adjuster up, just for a trial!

[AV8]

phillpot said:

Not really following this

Isn't the body of the shocker (especially if oil filled, not gas) the heavier part, so fitting upside down means that part is moving :

They are all oil filled, even the gas ones. The purpose of the gas is to pressurise the oil to reduce cavitation during high speed movements of the piston.

[QBee]

of course those who want to adjust them at the track to stiffen the front suspension will find it a lot easier with the adjuster at the bottom.

[phillpot]

s p a c e m a n said:

This is the way that I see most of them fitted, surely the heavy bit is at the bottom moving up and down with the wheel?

Yes, you're absolutely right, think I must have been having a "senior moment"

AV8 said:

They are all oil filled, even the gas ones.

I never realised that! thought they used gas instead of oil because viscosity doesn't change with temperature, and its lighter.

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 19th September 18:54

[phillpot]

s p a c e m a n said:

This is the way that I see most of them fitted, surely the heavy bit is at the bottom moving up and down with the wheel?

Yes, you're absolutely right, think I must have been having a "senior moment"

AV8 said:

They are all oil filled, even the gas ones.

I never realised that! thought they used gas instead of oil because viscosity doesn't change with temperature, and its lighter.

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 19th September 18:55

[QBee]

s p a c e m a n said:

You're right. It's unlikely to make enough difference that you would feel it, but I've been know for doing stuff that doesn't really make much difference in the grand scheme of things anyway

This is the way that I see most of them fitted, surely the heavy bit is at the bottom moving up and down with the wheel?

Looking at this again, am i correct in thinking these are mounted with the damper adjuster on the outside, ie nearest the wheel?
Mine are mounted with the adjuster on the inside, so to adjust them you just lie next to the car, put your arm around the wheel and the adjuster is there, between the arms of the lower wishbone

[Ab Shocks]

I wouldn't run any twin tube damper upside down even if the air had been bled out of them because air will eventually get into them and they will then knock. Monotube dampers like Ohlins Gaz Mono and Nitron can be run upside down and this does give you less unsprung weight on the hub. This would have a significant effect on a F1 car but not so much on a road car.

[QBee]

This might amuse you.

My standard Imolas, with standard road tyres, weigh 44 pounds each.
Some 17 inch wheels, which my TVR guy calls "heavy", also weigh 44 pounds each.
My 17/18 inch SP12s, nice light TVR track wheels, with worn Toyo 888s on them, weigh 43 pounds each.

I suspect we might be better off looking at the weight of our wheels and tyres that we use on the track before we start worrying about turning our dampers upside down!

[s p a c e m a n]

Ab Shocks said:

I wouldn't run any twin tube damper upside down even if the air had been bled out of them because air will eventually get into them and they will then knock.

Winner, someone who sounds like they know what they are talking about. Knew that we would find out why they're all the same way up eventually

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