Speedway Racing Shock Dyno Program
Why We Should Dyno Our Shocks
Shocks are a very important part of your suspension and you need to know exactly what you have. Most racers do not know what thier shock is exactly and rely on manufacturers numbering on valving, which can be big problem.
Shocks are a precision suspension component; they are a moving part and need to be maintained, no different to servicing your engine or checking tyre size from meeting to meeting. Shocks will lose there efficiency over time as every thing has a life. They do wear out and this is why it is good to have a maintenance program to get your shocks dynoed on regular basis to stay on top of shock fade and wear and tear.
Don't Always Believe Number Rating On Shocks
Don't be fooled into believing the number rating on the shock. Sometimes, even when the shock is new, the rating can be wrong. After dynoing numerous shocks it is amazing how often the valving numbers are not where they should be. Most manufacturers give a 10% tolerance on their valving. Imagine if you had a pair of fives and one was at one end of the 10% scale and the other was at the other end of the scale. You can get lost with your set up pretty quickly as you think your putting a shock on that is the same but your going harder. For example, you have two new shocks one was a five valving the other a six, and after dynoing the shocks the six valving was softer than the five. Imagine that you're at the track and it is starting to slicken off and you take off your six and replace it with your five. What should have had a better effect to the handling has made it worst. It really scrambles the brain.
All this can be controlled if you get to know what you have. And this is one of the reasons you should get your shocks dynoed regularly so you are making the right decision.
Shock Temperature
When shocks are moving in and out and depending on how smooth or rough the surface is, this changes the speed in which the shock travels, creating heat. A lot of the double tubed shocks tend to lose their efficiency when they heat up, as much as 40% on twenty degree increase. Not all shocks fade with heat, but it is good to know the ones that do.
Sometimes we blame the track or the tyres at the end of race as the car is not as good as what it should be, but maybe it is the shock as it warms up and fades away.
Shock Testing
The best thing to do would be to get all your shocks tested to start off with to know what you are working with. Some shocks you have maybe old and worn out, others maybe at different ends of the scale. Once you have them tested you should go forward with the right decisions you make instead of scrambling your brain and getting frustrated with setup and not racing to your potential.
Once you have had them all dynoed we can then retest them on a regular basis. You can also have some tested if you have been on rough tracks, have crashed or you feel something is not right. We can rerun the shock and compare with original data to see if it is ok or not.
Contact Peter at G and W Racing to get your race shock dyno and testing program under way.
Phone 0408 063 808