running my dampers upsidedown?
Turbo Mini Forums

hello

im using lowered suspension top mounts on my car, however these fowl on my bracing bars, i found that by fitting them backwards and putting the dampers behind the top arms i had no problems

well so i thought, ive discovered that the damper bodies have been rubbing on the subframe, i think i would get sufficient clearance if i ran them upside down, but are the dampers suitable for this?

thanks

I had a similar problem, but solved it by moving my brace-bars up slightly on the inner wing.

Best to speak to the manufacturers about running the specific dampersupside down. I spoke to Spax and they said you couldn't with theirs, something to do with the valving and airpockets.

Wil

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

You would reverse bound and rebound damping...

so the settings would be round the wrong way and unlikly to be much good!

alex

AlexF

A common theory Alex.

But think about it a bit and then edit your post.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

hmmm good point... direction of travel of the shox doesnt change.

But the position of the fuild does... and that would effect the valving wouldn't it?

alex

AlexF

reverse bound and rebound ???????

You mean bump and rebound ?? Alex how would it change

The shocks need to be left the normal way up. They are run that was as it helps keep the fluid in them when they get a bit of milage in them.

Shocks have a pocket of air or gas over a fluid resovoir in them. When the shock is compressed fluid is displaced from the main cylinder as you now have a length of shock shaft in there as well. This displaced fluid ends up in the resovoir (connected to main cylinder by small pipe). When the shock then goes into rebound the fluid is drawn up the tube into the main shock cylinder. If you turn your shocks upside down this tranfer pipe will dangle in air, so you will end up with a load of gas in your damper. NOT what you want.

bump, rebound, valving are unaffected.

I did mean bump and rebound...

Gas and oil going through the valve will not effect the damping and responce of the shock?

alex

AlexF

Gas and oil mixed going through the shock will totally change its characteristics.

Sorry Alex, didn't mean it wouldn't change was wondering how you figered a reversal, one becoming the other ???

A nice set of Eibach units would do the trick here. They have some that are only about 1.25-1.5 inches diameter, nice little aliuminium 4 ways.

No I take back my comment about bump and rebound swapping hence "hmmm good point... direction of travel of the shox doesnt change. "

Monday morning hangover escuse I'm sticking to :)

Alex

AlexF

So which dampers can be run upside - a la Miglia to reduce unsprung weight?

On 5th Sep, 2011 Vegard said:
I stand corrected. You should know

Do Miglia cars use remote resevoir dampers? these run "upsidedown" I think.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Dampers are avaialble that can be run any way, up, down, flat. Its all down to the design of the volume compensation. I think most compotition gas shocks should be ok to run in different oriantation. Big advantage with remotes is you can make the body of the damper smaller, use smaller lighter spring and put the weight of the resovoir below the damper. The remote type have a pressurised resovoir. As the damper is compressed some fluid moves to the resovoir. They also have valving in. What are people running on miglia ? Think ive seen a few fitted with Ohlins, great quality stuff but damded expensive. You can get 3 and 4 way adjustable so you get high and low speed bump and high and low speed rebound !!!!!! So easy to loose your way with these things.

What would you recomend as a damper for trackday use only....

as an upgrade from say spax!

alex

AlexF

I've heard great things about ohlins, but as mirage says, not cheap, also heard that quantumn and avo are good

Team Racing

I use Leda's on the front, Hand made to my spec for ?100 each. They do a fine job.

Wil

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

I've used leda before and like the company... but never heard of anyone using them for mini stuff...

Ohlins... fine if you like sepnding all your money at once !!

Alex

AlexF

i think it depends on whats in the shock, where the gas resevior is and whether the valving is in the body or on the piston, (which is usually where the adjustment is )i have seen ohlins because the factory is a couple of miles away and knew someone who built the shocks there , leda have been doing custom build mini shocks for at least 10 years with good results , i think its a case of if you want something specific it can be made at a cost , maybe cheaper to move the brace bars !

and less confusing?!?!

i think ill get some lighter brace bars made up, then possibly get some different shocks when the rest of the car is running right