High Performance Shock Absorber Guide - The Damper Dance

Up to a certain point, a stiffer shock, especially in rebound, is advantageous. But there also comes a point where a stiff shock will not allow the suspension to react to ruts or tall bumps. This stiff rebound allows the tire to skip over the tops of a series of bumps such as a washboard asphalt exit ramp. When this happens, the tires physically lose contact with the road, which means you've just lost all traction. This is quickly followed by a possible spin. If you've ever driven a car with too-stiff shocks, you know this is an extremely disconcerting and evil situation. This is yet another reason why adjustable shocks are a good idea. Another situation that can affect this is when you change to significantly lighter-weight wheels and tires on an otherwise optimized shock package. Suddenly, the car is very skittish because of the reduced unsprung weight.

ConclusionWe've just touched on the high points of the complex, yet intriguing, world of shock absorbers. There are vast performance improvements to be gained with the right shocks for your application, and it's worth the effort to learn more about how shocks can make a big difference in the performance of your car. It's certainly better than four pogo sticks.