shock oil
#1
shock discussion
i hav a question, does the smaller the number the softer the oil is? or the bigger the softer? thanks
ie. 40 and 50...which is harder and which is softer?
ie. 40 and 50...which is harder and which is softer?
Last edited by davioh; 07-25-2003 at 11:16 PM.
#2
it should depent on the car/spring ...
#3
Tech Apprentice
smaller number is lighter, shock/spring etc don't make a difference to the oil wt
#4
thanks so much
#5
Tech Initiate
Heavier shock oil in the front of the car will make it
easier to drive, as heavier in the rear will give more
low speed steering.
easier to drive, as heavier in the rear will give more
low speed steering.
#6
Tech Elite
shock oil
Heavier Shock oil will make the Car react quicker to direction changes.
If your Car feels lazy in the Corners, try heavier oil. Too twitchy, lighter oil may help.
Overall balance is also important, so try not to get to far apart in rates from Front to Back. With the same Shock pistons front and back, a 5 to 10wt heavier oil is common for the front. Stiffer springs may also require heavier oil and vice-versa.
If your Car feels lazy in the Corners, try heavier oil. Too twitchy, lighter oil may help.
Overall balance is also important, so try not to get to far apart in rates from Front to Back. With the same Shock pistons front and back, a 5 to 10wt heavier oil is common for the front. Stiffer springs may also require heavier oil and vice-versa.
#7
Tech Master
iTrader: (5)
popsracer, that sounds kinda bass ackwards to me.
Shocks control how fast and when the chassis will roll.
Springs control how far the chassis will roll.
This is assuming all other things stay constant (roll centers, shock angles, etc)
Heavier shock oil (higher number) will slow that end of the car down, ligher shock oil (lower number) will let that end of the car react more quickly.
Smaller pistons (AE=smaller number Losi=bigger number) will also slow that end of the car down, Larger pistons (AE=bigger number Losi=smaller number) will let that end react quicker.
Piston changes make some different changes to the way the shock works than oil changes, but for the most part, changing to a smaller piston will act much the same as going to heavier oil, and vice versa.
A "lazy" car, is one that doesn't react. It takes too long to transfer weight to the front and outside tires going into a corner and then trys to hold the front and outside down coming off a corner. Lighter oil will let the car load quicker going into a corner, and unload quicker getting off a corner.
A "twitchy" car is one that reacts too quickly. Going into a corner, it dumps too much weight onto the front and outside too quickly. Then getting off the corner, the front and outside unload too quickly. Heavier oil will settle the reactions down some, making the car smoother throughout the corner.
Usually you'll run the front shocks firmer than the rears, as this really stabilizes the car.
davioh, I know this is way more than you asked for, but I'm bored tonight and felt like typing. lol
Shocks control how fast and when the chassis will roll.
Springs control how far the chassis will roll.
This is assuming all other things stay constant (roll centers, shock angles, etc)
Heavier shock oil (higher number) will slow that end of the car down, ligher shock oil (lower number) will let that end of the car react more quickly.
Smaller pistons (AE=smaller number Losi=bigger number) will also slow that end of the car down, Larger pistons (AE=bigger number Losi=smaller number) will let that end react quicker.
Piston changes make some different changes to the way the shock works than oil changes, but for the most part, changing to a smaller piston will act much the same as going to heavier oil, and vice versa.
A "lazy" car, is one that doesn't react. It takes too long to transfer weight to the front and outside tires going into a corner and then trys to hold the front and outside down coming off a corner. Lighter oil will let the car load quicker going into a corner, and unload quicker getting off a corner.
A "twitchy" car is one that reacts too quickly. Going into a corner, it dumps too much weight onto the front and outside too quickly. Then getting off the corner, the front and outside unload too quickly. Heavier oil will settle the reactions down some, making the car smoother throughout the corner.
Usually you'll run the front shocks firmer than the rears, as this really stabilizes the car.
davioh, I know this is way more than you asked for, but I'm bored tonight and felt like typing. lol
#8
WAYYY more! but thanks everyone!...acutally this thread can continue discussing other stuff
#9
Tech Addict
My best description of oil
Picture your self runing as fast as you can with:
No oil.....running on the grass
50 wt oil........Running throug a swimming pool
500 wt oil........Running through a pool of honey.
With heavier oil you car will act and re act slower.
Heavier oil adds stability at the cost of traction.
Its a trade off, you have to find the balance point between the two that works for you the best.
If you have too much steering, try thicker front shock oil.
Not enough rear traction, go lighter on the oil.
David Root
No oil.....running on the grass
50 wt oil........Running throug a swimming pool
500 wt oil........Running through a pool of honey.
With heavier oil you car will act and re act slower.
Heavier oil adds stability at the cost of traction.
Its a trade off, you have to find the balance point between the two that works for you the best.
If you have too much steering, try thicker front shock oil.
Not enough rear traction, go lighter on the oil.
David Root
#11
Tech Elite
Try before you buy.
Guys;
As an experiment:
Try running 30wt oil in you Car at both ends, then for the next run, switch to 60wt for a comparison.
The Car will definately be quicker reacting to direction changes with the heavier oil.
Try it and you'll see.
As an experiment:
Try running 30wt oil in you Car at both ends, then for the next run, switch to 60wt for a comparison.
The Car will definately be quicker reacting to direction changes with the heavier oil.
Try it and you'll see.
Last edited by popsracer; 07-26-2003 at 12:30 PM.
#12
I agree with Pops...
Heavier oil slows suspension movement, and therefore transmits steering inputs to the tire/track interface sooner for a quicker reaction.
What matters (not the theory) is what happens to the car on the track.
O'D
Heavier oil slows suspension movement, and therefore transmits steering inputs to the tire/track interface sooner for a quicker reaction.
What matters (not the theory) is what happens to the car on the track.
O'D