How changing your shock angle is going to affect your handling and performance.

Let us see if we can get shock angle all figured out and explained!

First let us look at the lower control arm. On many rc cars and trucks there is two, three or four different shock mounting points on the lower control arm.

These mounting points will either move the shock closer to the center of the vehicle or closer to the wheel.

The most important thing about understanding shock angle is to first understand how your suspension works.

Sidebar
=========================================
This look at shock angle or position is going to be about the standard setup. With the upper end of the shock mounted to a shock tower and the lower end mounted to the lower suspension arm. This information may some what apply to the cantilever-style suspension, like on a Traxxas™ Revo® or an Ofna Racing™ DM-One®, that have their shocks mounted horizontally mounted, but not totally.
=========================================

The purpose of any adjustment, no matter what it is, is too maximize all four tires and their ability to maintain traction on any given surface.

Understanding shock angle and shock mounting location is helpful, because both have an influence on how much down pressure the spring and shock apply to the tire.

While the outside of suspension arm is where the tire is mounted and this is the location of the input force (ruts, bumps, jumps or any other obstacle).

While where the shock mounts to the lower suspension arm is the point of resistance.

With the pivot point and input force locations fixed the only variable point is the mounting locations. Either closer to the tire or closer to the chassis on either the shock tower or lower suspension arm or both.

On many rc vehicles you have the option of moving both the top and bottom closer to the tire or chassis or moving one end closer to the chassis and the end closer to the tire or vice versa.

To get started let us first look at moving shocks laterally, Moving both the top and bottom of the shock either closer to the tire or closer to the chassis.

When you move both the top and bottom of the shock closer to the tire this gains a more direct relationship between the tire movement and the amount of shock piston movement.

Example, if the tire moves a half inch the piston of the shock moves close to a half inch. This results in your spring feeling slightly stiffer and shock oil slightly thicker.



Now what happens when you move both the top and bottom of the shock closer to the chassis. Now the lower suspension arm moves considerably more than the shock piston.

When the tire moves a half inch the shock piston moves much less than a half inch. This results in your spring feeling softer and shock oil slightly thinner. Giving you a "plusher" ride, but more chassis roll.

Moving the shocks inward allows for more suspension travel without bottoming out the shocks or pulling out the piston shafts.

Now let us look at moving the ends of the shock in different directions to increase shock angle or what is called " laying the shock down" or "standing the shock up".

As you lay the shock down or increase the shock angle the more progressive your shock is going to feel. Meaning your suspension is going to feel softer on the small jumps, bumps and ruts, while feeling stiffer on bigger jumps, bumps and ruts.

This progressive feeling is accomplished by the arc of the suspension arm. As the lower suspension arm compresses shock compression increases and the lower mounting point moves inward.

With a shock in the laid down position, it is compressed much less in the early stages of suspension travel and is compressed much more in later stages of travel.

A laid down shock will result in a plusher feel, while maintaining good traction over small bumps and ruts and helps to reduce body roll.

The more inclined shock angle, moving the top closer to the chassis and/or moving the bottom closer to the tire:
1. Softer initial shock damping.
2. More progressive damping.
3. Improved lateral traction.
4. Handling will be more forgiving.
5. Good for high traction or bite tracks, will it making your rc car or truck more stable.

The less inclined shock angle, standing up the shock, moving the top closer to the tire and/or bottom closer to the chassis:
1. Stiffer initial shock damping.
2. Lowering lateral traction.
3. Makes your rc car or truck more responsive.
4. Can make your car or truck have a more direct feel.
5. Can be best suited for tight, technical tracks with many low speed corners.

The last thing you need to remember about changing shock angle is that it is a subtle change. It can be very affective when one spring feels too stiff and the other too soft. It is one of the last things you need to do when tuning in your suspension.

One parting thought, the upper and lower mounting holes that are found on many shock towers are for raising or lowering ride height.

Again, these are just subtle ride height changes and come in handy if a small ride height change is needed.

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Web www.Rc-TrucknCar-Tuning.com