How to Set Adjustable Shocks: Drag Racing Shocks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ม.ค. 2020
- Most people do not know this, and it can create frustration you don't even understand youre dealing with. Setting your shocks and keeping track of tuneups on them with different track conditions is as important as tuning your EFI or boost controller, or maybe more.
Mark Menscer from Menscer Motorsports instilled this tip on me years ago and I have since seen people doing this incorrectly.
When setting shocks on compression or extension one must understand how a shock works. Flow in the shock and valving is controlled by a needle and seat style valve. That means when you turn the knob all the way clockwise or to the right (tight), the needle is sitting in the seat and basically eliminating any possibility of flow. When you turn the shock to counter clockwise (left or loose) it opens the needle out of the seat. The problem lies there, because how loose is loose? After a certain point the flow is open as open gets. Additionally shocks have a different count of "full loose" on nearly every shock, even in the same set. There may be 1-4 extra clicks loose on one shock vs another of the same brand and manufacturer.
Because open is open, it is hard to verify how far you are closing the valve, vs the opposite of loosening from tight. We know that full tight is full closed off. Which becomes our only repetitive tuning baseline. For this reason all of your notes, all of your baselines, settings, etc. should be counted from full tight on extension of the shock as well as compression. Otherwise we cannot verify the shocks are the same from side to side.
We try to make it to as many races as possible during the year. When I go to a race I try to be as helpful as possible to our customers in helping them improve, go faster, be successful. MANY MANY times when I crawl under a car to check shock settings I find that settings are a few clicks different from side to side, and it is because they are adjusting from full loose. Often times you can just square things up (go full tight from side to side and back to the same setting one of the sides run) and the car will instantly perform better because the two sides of the rear aren't trying to do different things. Remember, 1 or 2 clicks can be the difference between a car working and not, no joke.
Another note, your shock settings will not typically work in every condition from one day to the next. For this reason its a great idea to keep a log of conditions, shock settings, 60' times at different tracks you go to. Even if you don't have a weather station or a track meter, jot notes down like 100 derees (off your cellphone weather app), greasy track, radial prep/no prep etc. That way the next time you roll into a track and atleast want a good place to start you have it. This is essentially what the pro tuners and good racers do. They have "tuneups" for everything which reduces the learning curve and allows them to start leaning on their power faster and sooner.
If you haven't checked out Menscer Motorsports yet, they are highly recommended by us. We do not sell their products but here is a link. They will valve your shocks perfectly for your application and send you a tuneup sheet that will shorten your learning curve immensely!
www.menscermotorsports.com/ - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Motion Raceworks always dropping knowledge. Keep them coming.
Great video. I can always count on you guys to keep it simple. Perfect blend on common sense, experience and science! Last time I watched, I stopped all that dual electric fan setting nonsense. Keep ‘em coming 👍🏽
I've been counting from full loose the whole time. Dang. That's some minty info, thanks!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Cool tip, got adj shocks on two cars and did notice one pair the total clicks weren't the same. Now I'll reset from tight!
Thanks! And Please keep them videos coming! 🤙🏽
Great tip thanks ! Keep the tips coming
Great info!!! Glad to have one more thing I can blame for not getting off the line!!!! My damn shocks were wrong! Thanks again!!!
Great info. Thanks for the basics.
I’m as new as can be at this. I bought a foxbody roller that has adjustable QA1’s in all 4 corners. I just finished my ls swap and I plan on taking it to the track for the first time this Saturday. I learned a few things from your video. Thank you for that.
Excellent info!
Great video Doug
Great starting point
Great video ! I have a 2014 Sierra single cab truck still leaf springs on double adjustable shocks and traction bars im having a hard time getting it to hook on a radial
Thanks for the info buddy keep them coming
Todd Clark we will for sure!
Good info, thanks.
Wow, just watched the whole video and you never got around to how to set shocks. The advice to keep notes of your adjustments was definitely good advice just not what the title says you were going to talk about.
Clear as mud
Thanks for that information
Hell ya buddy, thanks for the pro tip
Thanks man awesome
Good info
Great info
great info
Thx man 🙌🏽
Nice info
nice bro thank you
I just bought a set of qa1 single adjustable shocks for the rearend of my s10 and Iv been fighting the suspension on this thing and found out my old shocks were slap wire out so now im gonna put these qa1 shocks on and im basically starting from scratch now and I do alot of street stuff and some drag. But im wondering as a baseline setting should I start with the shocks more loose or more on the tighter side? Thanks for the video tho
Very good info. Thanks for sharing!
Nice video what shock would you recommend other than the menscer adjustable shocks? I have a 800 hp foxbody and like to get a shock that's easy to set if I had that type of cash I'd get them with no problem on a budget
Nice thanks for the tip. Motion FTW
Alex Rozier no problem!
@@MotionRaceworksOfficial oh and thanks for the parts. Going to install my mech pump bracket soon and some motion goodies.
Thank you brother for a wonderful vedio. I have 2012 Toyota Etios made in India.I have a major shock problem ever since it has gone for servicing.Every time it goes I shell out a lot of money and something else begins to give trouble so I started hiring people to do my car in my yard so that nobody removes the good parts. Can you please tell me if my shocks can be tuned and how many cranks counter clockwise should I crank from full tight or lock pin position for a really smooth floating ride.
Thank you, I'm clueless at this. So I will definitely be checking
Complete fuel system install video would be cool
Have a link to those shocks?
Hi there , how I know with side is the correct one ? Thank you
What shocks bought as a pair not have same adjustments, Qa1 says always start full loose,
I’m assuming you guys fabricated those tall spring perches? Looks like a taller design of the Smith Racecraft perches I’ve been eyeing up to get my Nova lower.
This your nova? Is it mini tubed? Springs in stock location?
All Viking shocks are set from full loose. That’s what their paperwork says that comes with their shocks. Just an FYI. Not all recommendations are from full tight.
Mapco double adjustable shocks on the rear
Do you turn them counterclockwise until they are full tight and then back off
My shocks have numbers on them, so what would be full tight? Zero?
I start at zero from left being zero and right being 22 clicks on my Viking.
Shouldnt the passenger rear shock be a click or two stiffer to account for engine torque?
Thanks! I noticed that the shocks you were adjusting were single adjustable., do you recommend single or double adjustable for the beginner, street race truck here
Aaron K they are actually double adjustable. On an Afco/menscer the other adjuster is on the top
If you haven't already bought them, single adjustable. From what I understand the rebound setting can be more sensitive and easier to get wrong.
👍🏻
Witch one is best for small tire and why. Menscer or afco.?
mustang tez menscer gets our vote! They have just about every record out there right now in small tire racing. They truly tailor a custom shock for your combo
@@MotionRaceworksOfficial thanks for the reply
Might be a stupid ? But wouldn't make sense to put the positive on the loose side since loosening the shock gives it more extension/rebound same with compression or am I wrong ?
My problem lol is my double adjustable strange rear shocks dont matter if start from full tight or full loose the clicks are soo faintly cant tell is that a clock or not a click one click is short one seems knob moves about two click befor ya feel or hear/sense a click.
Send them back
Ok, so write it down.
I learned nothing