Jumping Better

[dubdeuce]

I am trying to help my buggy clear the tripple at the local track and was wondering what I could do with the shocks to create a more spring action when jumpng. thnks

 

[Monkey Wrench]

I'm not sure springs are the answer. If you are looking to clear a triple, I'd say traction and power are the variables to consider. Springs only play a role on the landing.

Are you trying to clear a triple or prevent chassis slap upon landing after a triple?

 

[jetmechG550]

First off we need more info. What buggy? What mill? What pipe? What gearing? Track surface? Tires? How long is the run up? How long is the triple?

Springs help with traction, handling on rough tracks and for landing. Piston size may help with a kick on jump or giving a sligh kick off a jump depending on size. What your thinking is not going to work, spring action won't help you clear the triple.

 

[dubdeuce]

my car is a 8ight and my mil is a radical 621p with a jp3 pipe 13th clutch bell and m2 bowties. I had the stock pistons and 35 wt shock oil. i could clear the tripple but i had to take a wide turn to get a longer run up. maybe 6 ft. there was a guy at the track with a 8ight a draked motor and he could easily take the inside of the turn maybe a 3 ft run up and clear it easily. I think he said he had 56 pistons in the rear and 25 wt shock oil. the pistons being a smaller holed piston. he was a very good driver and was the only one that could clear it everytime with little effort. I thought because of his shock setup he was jumping better. I did read somewhere on the internet about shock set up helping you jump better because when you hit the face of the jump your shock compress and when you actually jump they unload helping you spring into the air and my friend rides dirt bikes and he says depending on his shock set up sometimes he can get more air. Maybe I am wrong maybe I just wasn't carrying the same speed into the turn?

 

[vbgagnon]

I don't think you will get the results your looking for with changing shock setup.

I think the guy at your track has a bit more motor and more speed. There is nothing wrong with taking the turn wider, you can carry more speed if you do it right and then clear your tripple. If you can't do it consistantly work on your timing speed and double single the section. This can be just as fast as your buddy's tripple. Its all repetition, and consistancy will with the race NOT the fastest lap.

 

[olds97_lss]

The different shock setup could be giving the guy better grip for his run up to the ramp. That would have more of an impact than springs for the take off I would think.

 

[Lessen]

If you increase you're preload you will get longer/higher flights. That is the upside. The downside is that it will create a higher ride height while on the ground which generally means it may not handle as well through turns.

 

[Plaidfish]

too many variables for anyone not in front of your rig to spit out an answer....I would check the tune on your mill for low end power.....you should have plenty of power on tap to clear jumps with that mill.....if you r mill has a strong clean sound (power band) from the bottom end up then you look at traction issues....are you using the optimum tire for the conditions? you should have at least 3 sets of good tires for varying track conditions....next check your clutch setup....are you revving too high causing the power to dump to the wheels and break traction? are you engaging too early causing the car to have a slow easy start after the corner before the triple? THEN look at shock tuning because you want the thing to drive right for you first, then tweak it for better air control......ironing out a new setup is a PITA....just make small adjustments to each item listed above ONE AT A TIME (changing multiple settings at once makes it harder to see what is affected by the changes).....