Nitrons: which way up & does it make a difference?

[david010167]

One of those Friday afternoon questions:

I have Nitrons fitted to my Griff and a friend has just had them fitted to his Chimaera.

Now mine have the adjuster at the top and the Chimaera has the adjuster at the bottom.

Does it make any difference to the handling or is the only inconvenience; that I have to jack the car a bit to get clearance between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch to get my hand in to adjust the damper.

Just curiouse, what do you think.

David

[jeremyc]

I don't believe it does, other than for ease of adjustment as you have pointed out.

The purists might argue that you can minimise unsprung weight by having them upside down, but it's a miniscule difference given those big heavy tyres and wheels you've got hanging off the suspension.

I should add that I'm no expert, not even an owner of Nitrons, so all IMHO etc.

[joospeed]

for a road car use them the right way up .. the sving in unsprung weight isn't worth the chance of stones hitting the damper rod and damaging it ..
I do fit some inverted, but only if the owner specifically asks for it or they are a track day warrior and make a lot of set up changes.

so you're both right, but you are more right than ur friend on a road car and he's more right for a track / competition car

[david010167]

Thanks Jeremy & Julian, so the right way up for the road is the adjuster at the top.

and now for the silly question: what do you mean by unsprung weight, surely they weigh the same whichever way round they go, therefore what is it that the weight affects? or does this get into the realms of complexity that will be beyond me

What I can say for sure; is that the more I have used them (especially the 600 miles in Wales last weekend), the more I have been impressed with the poise of the car, it just feels more planted and settled. When I first had them I only noticed the difference going through corners, however now I am noticing that on the straight, when accelerating or braking the car does not dip as much.

David

[jeremyc]

david010167 said:

..what do you mean by unsprung weight, surely they weigh the same whichever way round they go, therefore what is it that the weight affects?

The weight that is not supported by the spring/damper.

By putting the spring/damper assembly upside down the heavier piece of the unit is now supported by the spring (hence becomes 'sprung' weight).

[david010167]

Ah, I understand and obviouse if I thought about it.

Thanks Jeremy.

David

jeremyc said:

david010167 said: ..what do you mean by unsprung weight, surely they weigh the same whichever way round they go, therefore what is it that the weight affects? The weight that is not supported by the spring/damper. By putting the spring/damper assembly upside down the heavier piece of the unit is now supported by the spring (hence becomes 'sprung' weight).

[greenv8s]

Guy told me to mount them with the adjuster at the top if possible, because inevitably gas will eventually collect at the top regardless of how carefully they are bled, and with the adjuster at the bottom this gas will interfere with the damping effect. If you're using a remote reservoir system this probably doesn't apply to you!

[cptsideways]

Hang on a min, is'nt the piston in an oil bath with gas on top to stop it foaming?

In which case the wrong way up = no oil where it should be or am I missing something here?

[jeremyc]

cptsideways said:

Hang on a min, is'nt the piston in an oil bath with gas on top to stop it foaming? In which case the wrong way up = no oil where it should be or am I missing something here?

Gas monotube dampers (like Nitrons) can be run either way up - check out the excellent tech paper at www.nitron.co.uk/car_tech.html

Nitron web site said:

Gas monotubes are filled with high pressure Nitrogen which allows them to run in any orientation (unlike twin tube dampers that can only run rod up due to their internal valve structure). Running a damper with the light piston rod end attached to the wishbone helps keep the un-sprung mass element to a minimum ...