Gentlemen, lets comport ourselves as such. KSS (Robert) does know his stuff. I can say that because I know a little too. His comments about rear dampers, their design, construction and tuning is dead on. He also understood my comments about viscosity and bleed orifice dynamics so I know he isn't blowing smoke or just read it about in a book. And I can second his opinion concerning some damper tuning methods employed by manufacturers and rebuilders. I once opened a pair of new midget sprint car dual tube shocks with identical external compression and dampening codes only to find two different spring sets inside. How did I know: they are color coded from the spring manufacturers. Both shocks had been on a dyno when built and came with print outs of their performance. One must have been taken back part because the method used to fine tune low speed dampening was a hammer. It had been used to bend the low speed spring and needle seat by bending the piston disc. Not a little bit, a lot. I can guarantee that although the pair may have had similar low speed feel by hand, they would function very differently. The dyno sheets inside the boxes where pure bull shyte! Needless to say, I was not impressed.
It is way too easy to hide poor design, construction and performance in a product that is generally not well understood or ever taken apart by the end user. Buying from a source that you have access to for follow up adjustment or spring changes is simple prudence. Most consumers who want the best value for the money they are willing to spend would be will served doing thusly. Any manufacturer or dealer who says one spring rate or one dampening profile works for everybody is blowing smoke.
For those willing to experiment on their own I tip my hat. Curiosity and discovery are to be applauded. But be aware that it can be expensive and dangerous so proceed slowly. After you have about three sets of shocks, valuable only for some salvage parts, laying under the bench will you begin to appreciate the nuances involved in making a hydraulic damper perform as anticipated.
As to Robert's tone; Who amongst hasn't expressed an opinion? This is a forum after all, for all voices. Some more educated, or experienced, or passionate, or irreverent, or direct, or whatever someone else may think is too much. So Robert, teach us more. Join the fray, not as an owner of a business, but as a technician or engineer who knows his craft and can put more than two sentences together in a coherent manner. You will be welcomed.
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