Shocks Question, How do they affect handling? Options

[Joe Ricard]

So now I see the MAJOR difference from Koni red externally adjustables versus the new Koni yellow sports.

Both are only adjustable in rebound. So what is it that is actually happening and what is the theory behind slower (firmer) shock dampening on handeling of the car.

The way I see it acceleration causes weight transfer to the rear of the car (if it gets to sliding mash the gas) squats the rear end and compresses the shock.

mash the brake and weight transfers to the front compressing the front and lifting the rear. Does the more dampening you have slow the weight transfer?

I know spring rates further complicate the whole thing.

So what I noticed/discovered was the effect that moving from 17mm to 21mm torsion bars and new Koni's in front reduced the nose dive under braking and somehow reduced the unloading of the rear wheels. Rear shocks Koni reds externally adjustable were full firm as always. fronts we set to 1/4 from full soft. seemed pretty good so we just left it alone.

[SLITS]

Ok Joe....Think of it as this way....as you roll into a corner, the suspension takes a "set".....as long as this "set" is controlled, the car is easier to drive thru the corner. If the car rolls in (suspension on the loaded side) compresses and on rebound the spring is allowed to extend rapidly, the car will feel uncontrolable in the corner (rapid camber changes)...twitchy....kinda like bad shocks. In reality, it is the rate of rebound you want to really control, 'cause the compression is taken car of by weight and force counteracted by the "springs".







How was that for bullshit?