in-car adjustable shocks ??
in-car adjustable shocks ?? does anyone manufacture an in-car adjustable shock set up like rancho has for 4x4's. i have even seen a kit for subaru's that allow the shocks to be adjusted from the passenger compartment, and i would like to see if anyone has any experience with this sort of set up on an f-body.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Midland, TX
Good luck finding someone with that much $$ who drives an f-body. They're gonna be driving a vette if anything. Even if this was possible, it would be way too overpriced. It would be nice to have though.
The electronically controlled shocks you are refering to use stepper motors on the adjusters to turn them. I forget the company that makes them, but they specialize in import cars, so I don't think they make shocks that fit the f-body.
I'm not so sure it would be needed anyway. I have the Koni SA on all 4 corners have done a lot of trial and error. Basically, I've found that I go stiffer until the ride starts to feel too rough and then back it down. It still feels good in everyday driving and the performance just isn't any better if I increase the rebound any more. It just rides rougher. So it's kind of like finding the sweet spot.
You could probably rig some gear reduction motors to the rear shocks as they are just behind the seat and control them while driving, but what's the point? I can pull over and adjust both of them by hand in like 2 minutes total. The front Koni require lifting the car up to adjust, so that sucks. I was thinking of a way to extend the adjustment rod through the top of the shock using a new tophat and then drill a hole in the fender right above the shock to make the adjustments easier, but again, what's the point?
I think if you ask around most of the people will tell you that you can find a sweet spot with the shock adjustment and that there is no great need to have them remotely adjustable.
I'm not so sure it would be needed anyway. I have the Koni SA on all 4 corners have done a lot of trial and error. Basically, I've found that I go stiffer until the ride starts to feel too rough and then back it down. It still feels good in everyday driving and the performance just isn't any better if I increase the rebound any more. It just rides rougher. So it's kind of like finding the sweet spot.
You could probably rig some gear reduction motors to the rear shocks as they are just behind the seat and control them while driving, but what's the point? I can pull over and adjust both of them by hand in like 2 minutes total. The front Koni require lifting the car up to adjust, so that sucks. I was thinking of a way to extend the adjustment rod through the top of the shock using a new tophat and then drill a hole in the fender right above the shock to make the adjustments easier, but again, what's the point?
I think if you ask around most of the people will tell you that you can find a sweet spot with the shock adjustment and that there is no great need to have them remotely adjustable.
RK Sport used to make what was called a fx-5 kit with in car adjustability. It wasn't too expensive, something like $500 or $600 dollars with everything included. Most of the reviews that I read on it talked about how crappy it was though.
There is a guy working (or he was) working on a set of adjustable shocks that use a magnetic fluid and are adjustable. It will be expensive and I'm not sure there was enough interest for him to continue, but I know it was being looked at as a possibility.
Trackbird, I don't think that was what he was refering to. I remember that guy as well. He was working on a dynamically controlled shock using ferrofluid. It would change viscosity in fractions of a second to repond to sensors that monitored the road and the ride. It was like the optional Vette handling package of which I can't remember the name. That stuff was several thousands of dollars if it was going to be sold seperately.
Like I said before, I just don't see a need for the ability to adjust the shocks while driving. If anything, you might forget what they were set at and take a corner at speed and have the car sway or lean more than you expected and end up sliding or some other thing due to the inconsistant shock feel.
That's one of the good things about an adjustable shock like the Koni SA. You play around to get it set up like you like it and then leave it alone. The performance will always be consistant and that gives you confidence.
Like I said before, I just don't see a need for the ability to adjust the shocks while driving. If anything, you might forget what they were set at and take a corner at speed and have the car sway or lean more than you expected and end up sliding or some other thing due to the inconsistant shock feel.
That's one of the good things about an adjustable shock like the Koni SA. You play around to get it set up like you like it and then leave it alone. The performance will always be consistant and that gives you confidence.
I have Koni SA's on all four. Ditto on the comments about adjustability. Rears are very easy, fronts a PITA even after jacking up the car. Ironically, it's the fronts that I always want to change. The rear setting is best left towards the low end for all types of driving.
If your car is used on the street, AutoX, and drag raced, it's nice to be able to change them as all three have different requirements. I've been thinking about coming up with a way to make the fronts easier to change also. I AutoX with a guy that drives a 1LE 3rd gen; on his car the front Koni's are adjusted the way our rear's are, out the top shaft. He drives the car to the AutoX site with them loose, goes to full stiff for the race, then backs them off before he drives home. And his AutoX times in Fstock are outstanding.
If your car is used on the street, AutoX, and drag raced, it's nice to be able to change them as all three have different requirements. I've been thinking about coming up with a way to make the fronts easier to change also. I AutoX with a guy that drives a 1LE 3rd gen; on his car the front Koni's are adjusted the way our rear's are, out the top shaft. He drives the car to the AutoX site with them loose, goes to full stiff for the race, then backs them off before he drives home. And his AutoX times in Fstock are outstanding.
