Should I invert my shocks
Discussion
The main body of my shock absorbers is at the bottom as per build manual. surely from an unsprung weight point of view it would be better at the top especially as I am about to add a lift ram which is also heavy and has to positioned over the shock body. I am assuming of course that they will fit upside down. I accept that adjustments to the rebound will be a bit more difficult. Is there any functional problem with inverting them?
MarkWebb said:
The main body of my shock absorbers is at the bottom as per build manual. surely from an unsprung weight point of view it would be better at the top especially as I am about to add a lift ram which is also heavy and has to positioned over the shock body. I am assuming of course that they will fit upside down. I accept that adjustments to the rebound will be a bit more difficult. Is there any functional problem with inverting them?
You don't mention make and model.Most are invertible.
Mark I stand to be corrected but once you flip the shocks the compression and rebound curves are swapped and those curves and valving are very different. Also if you have a single adjustable shock such as the intrax you will be adjusting compression instead of rebound. Unless I have this completely screwed up this is a very bad idea. Lee
F.C. said:
You don't mention make and model.
Most are invertible.
Ok scratch that!Most are invertible.
Check with your manufacturer, I used to run inverted shock(s)on a lot of my bikes(clearance issues)without problems.
Also not sure about the valving issue, the same valve(s) would work compression or rebound regardless of orientation surely?
You are still squeezing the oil past the compression valve on bump, the oil still has to pass the same direction through the valve right?
There are a lot of vehicles with horizontal shocks out there if the valving orientation were that critical they would be all over the place wouldn't they?
ROWDYRENAULT said:
Mark I stand to be corrected but once you flip the shocks the compression and rebound curves are swapped and those curves and valving are very different. Also if you have a single adjustable shock such as the intrax you will be adjusting compression instead of rebound. Unless I have this completely screwed up this is a very bad idea. Lee
I don't think that's right.a compression valve is only going to work when the ram is being compressed. It won't work differently because the unit is turned upside down.
Some shocks don't work upside down due to the design. check with the manufacturer.
Life Saab Itch said:
I don't think that's right.
a compression valve is only going to work when the ram is being compressed. It won't work differently because the unit is turned upside down.
Some shocks don't work upside down due to the design. check with the manufacturer.
This is correct - there is simply packaging issues, and practical issues such as the fact that the adjuster will be at the bottom so will get covered in crud etc more easily.a compression valve is only going to work when the ram is being compressed. It won't work differently because the unit is turned upside down.
Some shocks don't work upside down due to the design. check with the manufacturer.
The difference would be so minimal I wouldn't bother - a difference of a few 100g's makes bugger all difference to the wheels rate, as the unsprung weight is massive (25kg's+ per corner).
k for that, I thought I was losing my marbles for while there!Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff