suspension/shock ratio
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: texas
suspension/shock ratio
This question is for any suspension guru's out there. . . .as I have pondered the "lowering" aspect of the leaf spring set up, the question keeps coming up "does the raising or lowering using the bolts change the "influence" of the leaf spring (on the ride characteristics) or is it the fact the shock travel is being shortened or lengthened that influences the ride characteristics? I experimented by raising the rear an inch to increase the rake a little (the car was lowered when I bought it) and the bumps seem a little less intense. Shocks are new bilstein sports by the way. I am leaning towards shock travel as the cause of slight ride change.........any physics majors available?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: Franklin County PA
It shouldn't take a physics major. Changing the static position of the shock doesn't change anything about how it works. At 3in/sec its still making the same force. The only change is how much travel there is before you hit the bump rubber. When you raised the rear, you probably got off the bump rubbers a lot more.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: texas
that is true....I need to re-visit the under side of the car and check the rubber stops and their place in this equation. I think your right also in that its not physics as much as mechanical engineering i need a lesson in. . .lol I guess the heart of the question would be in changing bolt position does it change the load on the leaf spring not allowing it to respond fully or is it fully engaged at any height? If all that is changing is travel distance to the rubber stops, then your right....no real mystery as to why the bumps are harsher.. . .the effective range of the system is reduced and not the systems function.. . .good input...thanks
