Make it handle

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by robnolimit

SHOCK MYTH Got your thinking caps on? Company A advertises thier new bad ass double throw down billit shock. It's the latest and greatest ever. Years of testing and technology have gone into them. - Now, this could be 1970, 1999, or today, it's been going on for a long time. So lets think about how good these are for YOUR TRUCK. They sell these new Brand-X shocks by LENGTH, and MOUNT TYPE. So, you need a 4.5" stroke shock in front, with a 10" spring, and a 6" stroke rear shock with a 12" spring. Now here's the really cool part, they have it all in stock!!!! This is so cool. They tell you you need a 500 lb front spring and a 250 lb rear spring. Good to go. Isn't this great? This is all set up just for your truck! ----- or is it??? Did you notice any information telling you a different part number for a front or rear shock? Well, no but the length does that right? Honestly, I don't know. But I do Notice Brand-X only seporates shocks by length. Thinking cap time. If the front of your truck weighs 2400 lbs, (1200 per side) and has a load rate of 30%, the shock would see almost 4000 lbs of force per inch of shock travel. Out back, the rear weighs in at 1400 lbs (700 per side) with the shock layed over at 20% you net a load calc around 88%, so the shock would see about 795 lbs of force per inch of travel. OK, once again, 4000 lbs force up front, 800 lbs force in the back. Wow, thats 500% difference! Here's the question of the day - How could you expect the same shock valve to work correctly in both places?

This is such a good point, Rob. One of the big talks I had with RideTech when I was looking at the Shockwave was the valving based on my application vs. the shockwave that "fits my mounting location". At least from what I gathered the Shockwave Selects are valved soft/hard based on preference and application.

When I tuned my motorcycle suspension, it was a combination of valves and springs based on bike weight, rider weight and overall performance objectives.