Racing Shocks, Struts & Components

The suspension systems of stock vehicles are built with ride comfort in mind. The suspension setups of race cars are tuned to improve handling and control. Shock absorbers and struts are the centerpieces of your racing suspension build as a few other components of this system have as much impact on braking, cornering, and acceleration all together. They control the rate of weight transfer from the rear to front wheels and vice versa, thus keeping the tires in contact with the ground during braking and launch. The correct damping rate reduces body roll in corners preventing the outer tires from losing grip.

Racing shocks and struts are more commonly known as dampers as what they actually do is control (dampen) the spring energy instead of absorbing shocks. In reaction to road irregularities, the spring compresses in “bump” and expands in “rebound.” Factory non-adjustable shocks are a compromise because their bump and rebound rates are pre-set by the manufacturer to ensure a comfortable ride in a wide range of conditions. Adjustable dampers offer much greater control over bump and rebound allowing the pilot to change handling behavior. There are several ways of adjustment. 1-way adjustable dampers allow for fine-tuning the rebound only, while double-adjustable ones change both characteristics. There are also 4-way adjustable suspensions that control the high and low speed settings of both bump and rebound for the ultimate in braking and turning.

Swapping twin-tube designs for monotube dampers is a popular upgrade. Monotubes have a higher quality construction with a bigger piston surface area, which translates into increased damping force. Most vehicles on the road use twin-tube low-pressure hydraulic shocks. Upgrading to the dampers filled with high-pressure nitrogen gas minimizes foaming (mixing of oil and air), thus improving damping efficiency and roadholding. Reservoir shocks are a mainstay in racing. In grueling conditions on the track, the external reservoir provides additional fluid capacity and superior heat dissipation. Reduced pressure buildup within the body of the shock means reduced wear on internal components and longer lifespan of the device.