Re: Subject: Re: HD or sport?

[ChrisBourk@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 98-12-01 14:07:51 EST, you write:	-Mike
 		klein@domain.elided >>

 <<"Stiffness" of a shock has nothing to do with height of the car.  There is
no
 spring rate associated with a shock, even a high pressure gas shock.
Stiffness
 of a shock describes the damping factor, which has no effect on the height of
 the car or the shock's compress.  A stiff shock compresses exactly as much as
a
 soft shock with the same weight on it; it just takes more energy to get
there.>>

Mike,  This isn't exactly true. Even though there aren't spring rates
advertised for gas shocks they do indeed act in the similitude of springs.
Also, a car that is lower will *usually* take less less energy (as a
percentage) on the frame and more on the springs because of the geometry of
the suspension - the control arms are more lateral.  Your last statement is
somewhat contradictory - if it takes more energy then it DOES NOT compress as
much (with the same amount of energy).  Of coarse it will settle to the same
height when standing still though.
 
<< However, as m6bigdog@domain.elided ably explained, high-pressure gas shocks (of
 which Bilsteins are one example) will add an offset to your height.  They
push
 their two halves apart with a certain constant force from the gas pressure,>>

The pressure increases with the shocks compression - the same as springs do.

< which raises the car a static amount until compensated by the suspension's
 springs.  This force doesn't affect spring rate because it is a constant
force,
 irrespective of position.  A spring's force is proportional to position.>

Wrong, - it compliments the springs rate - it's additive.

Christopher 	

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