Shocks/springs/ride height

[John Larson]

If the shaft of the shock were an inch longer, or even 2", what would
prevent it from compressing?  A frozen shock is one thing, a shock of
improper length is another.  When you shorten a spring to lower the car, it
requires a corresponding reduction in length on the part of the shock to
preserve the effectiveness and range of its operation.  You cannot lengthen
a spring to achieve a higher ride without lengthening the shock (which
limits the overall increase in height by acting as a stop at full extension)
to allow an increase in the height limit. Failure to do so only makes the
spring effectively stiffer, it doesn't increase the height.  I agree with
you on the mounts, although we've recently had conflicting reports of ride
height direction and extent.  John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Todd Phenneger" <tquattroguy at yahoo.com>
To: "John Larson" <j.d.larson at verizon.net>; <duncan at systemcontrols.co.nz>
Cc: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2001 11:56 PM
Subject: Re: Shocks/springs/ride height


> I seriously doubt that its to long a shock.  If that were so
> then in driving you would get no compression at all.  Ever
> driven a car with a Siezed shock, its bad.   Shocks can affect
> ride height, just not that much.  Its common for Bilsteins to
> raise a car a touch.  While they wont support the car, they do
> exert force outwards.  To keep a shock compressed takes force
> (maybe 100lbs)  A stiffer shock can raise the car because it
> takes more weight to compress the spring and shock package.  But
> usually we are talking more like 1/4" not 1".
>   I wonder if possibly he used the wrong upper strut mount.  Its
> Fairly common knowledge that the blue ur-q mounts will make a
> car sit 1/2"+ lower than the 4kq front mounts.  If he put in
> 4kq/90q front mounts and had rear or ur-q mounts in before (or
> worn 4kq units) then that could accont for the raise.
>   l8r
>      Todd
>
> --- John Larson <j.d.larson at verizon.net> wrote:
> > Let's think about the ride height question.  You can compress
> > KYBs, and even
> > Bilsteins, by hand.  Let's say the car weighs 3600 pounds,
> > that's 900 pounds
> > per corner.  That's gonna compress them right to the limit.
> > You have
> > springs, held in check only by the shock absorber (or insert).
> >  See where
> > I'm going?  The spring holds the car up, and it's length is
> > controlled by
> > the presence nut on the end of the shock.  Take the nut off,
> > releasing the
> > end of the shock, and the car could theoretically rise until
> > the spring
> > reached it's unrestrained length.  The sheer weight of the car
> > prevents
> > this, however.  What you have is a problem with the length of
> > the piston,
> > not the pressure of the gas inside the insert (shock).  You
> > need a shorter
> > shock.  HTH, John
> >
>
>
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