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john.saylor Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2012 Posts: 51
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:57 pm Post subject: Turning my shocks upside down? |
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Sand rail vw 1835, had posted earlier my rear suspension was too soft and bottoming to often, I re-indexed one notch on the outside, all is good now except it springs back pretty hard, I am using KYB gas adjust, should I add another shock for rebound? someone told me to turn my shock upside down?
thanks |
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Multi69s Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 5364 Location: Lefty, CA
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Dale M. Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006 Posts: 20380 Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 6:06 am Post subject: |
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You need to soften rear by taking some of the preload out from outside spline move by changing the inside splines if rear is to solid..... You just when from one extreme to another.... By also adjusting inside spline you have better control of preload (spring rate)...
IF you turn shocks upside down, you might as well just leave them off.... The shocks are not the problem of you harsh ride, the problem is in your adjustment of rear splines...
Dale _________________ “Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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superpro56 Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2012 Posts: 206 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 7:08 am Post subject: |
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Flipping shocks is an old racers trick. Its done to reduce unsprung mass, when the shock body is attached to the suspension arm it must be calculated into for unsprung mass. When the shock body is attached to the chassis, its not included in the calculation for unsprung mass. There is no performance change when flipping shocks, the piston still moves through the shock fluid just like it would if it were right side up.
I agree with Dale, this is an issue with indexing not shocks. |
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Multi69s Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 5364 Location: Lefty, CA
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Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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I hate to start a fight, but like you said "flipping shocks is an OLD racers trick" In modern shocks, flipping them upside down is asking for problems. In the old days there is a good chance that the shocks were not even nitrogen charged. I do a lot of suspension work on VWs, dirt bikes and mini buggies and you NEVER flip the shock upside down. We have taken videos of KYB gas adjust shocks going though the bumps. They just do not have enough rebound dampening when the torsion bars get heavier or have a lot of preload. The ass end almost acts like a pogo stick and the wheels will leave the ground. If you want some shocks with good rebound dampening, get a set of bilstiens. They are well worth the money. _________________ 69 road Bug 2110
73 Squareback - 2L, T4, Automatic W/ AC
Gone, but many fond memories 69 Baja Bug 2010 - 5 Rib Bus Transaxle
Gone but not forgotten 72 Baja Bug 2010
My builds
T4 into Squareback http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458944&highlight=
Auto Trans Rebuild http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=516066&highlight=
AC in Squareback https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight= |
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PhillipM Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2010 Posts: 595 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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You can turn a monotube, non-emulsion shock upside down with no issues.
A twin tube, or emulsion monotube, no, you'll just get gas pockets and no damping in the travel - nothing to do with oil the wrong side of the piston - oil should be both sides of it! |
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john.saylor Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2012 Posts: 51
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Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Since I re-indexed the outer one notch I sit about an eight inch from the stops and do like the ride with the exception of the pogo stick effect so a shock to control rebound sounds good, can you suggest a shock? you had mentioned bilstein, is there one in mind? |
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