Shocks/springs/ride height

[John Larson]

But it can only ride as high as the upper limit of shock extension.  The
spring cannot exceed the physical limits of  the travel of the shock. I
maintain that, regardless of the pressure (or lack thereof) in the shock,
the car can only go as low as the fully compressed spring, and only as high
as the limits placed upon it by the nut on the top of the shock.  The spring
determines the height  at the bottom, and the shock at the top. As you said,
the shock is there only to provide damping.  I don't see the shock making
more than the barest difference in the ride height other than controlling
the upper limit.  John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Huw Powell" <audi at mediaone.net>
To: "John Larson" <j.d.larson at verizon.net>
Cc: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 2:07 PM
Subject: Re: Shocks/springs/ride height


>
> > 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 don't think that is true.  If you put a taller or shorter spring in a
> car, with the stock strut, it *will* ride higher or lower.  The strut
> *does not* support the car, it damps the oscillations when the car
> bounces on the spring.  In the example I just gave, of course, the strut
> may not work well, since its "rest" position is not the one it was
> designed for, and, yes, it may bottom or top out too soon for the
> "intended" range of motion of the different spring.
>
> --
> Huw Powell
>
> http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/
>
> http://www.humanthoughts.org/