Will blown shocks cause my car to be slightly lower?
11-19-2002, 04:05 PM
#11
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For a Coil-over-Damper setup, the ride height change due to gas pressurization of the shock is given by the equation:
x=(0.7854)*(Pg)*(D^2)/k
where x is in inches,
Pg is the gage pressure of the nitrogen charge in psi,
D is the shock rod diameter in inches,
k is the spring rate of the coil in lb/in.
For our S2000, the stock spring rate (k) is 220 lb/in front, 290 lb/in rear.
I would expect the nitrogen charge (Pg) to be around 360 psi.
Now if someone wants to go out and measure the diameter of the S2000 shock rod (shiny shaft), you can come up with a rather precise answer to how much ride height drops due to a blown shock.
Let me know what you come up with.
Example: If the shock rod is 5/8" (just a guess), the ride height change in the front would be about 0.55"
S2kRob, I believe you were right all along!
x=(0.7854)*(Pg)*(D^2)/k
where x is in inches,
Pg is the gage pressure of the nitrogen charge in psi,
D is the shock rod diameter in inches,
k is the spring rate of the coil in lb/in.
For our S2000, the stock spring rate (k) is 220 lb/in front, 290 lb/in rear.
I would expect the nitrogen charge (Pg) to be around 360 psi.
Now if someone wants to go out and measure the diameter of the S2000 shock rod (shiny shaft), you can come up with a rather precise answer to how much ride height drops due to a blown shock.
Let me know what you come up with.
Example: If the shock rod is 5/8" (just a guess), the ride height change in the front would be about 0.55"
S2kRob, I believe you were right all along!
11-19-2002, 06:12 PM
#13
Destiny2002 - are those spring rates correct for a stock S2000? I have a 2000 Civic Si with Integra Type R Springs (250 linear in front and 250 progressive in rear) with Bilstein HD shocks (132 rebound/124 compression) and my ride is real softish. And I hear of how a stock S2000's ride is pretty nice and firm. Am I missing something here? Could it be my shocks are too soft? What are the shock rebound/compression figures for stock S2000 shocks?
To recap:
My setup with - 250 lb/in/in front and 250 lb/in/in rear with 132 rebound/124 compression
S2000 setup with - 220 lb/in/in front and 290 lb/in/in rear with ??
My setup is soft yet the S2000 is firm, and I'm thinking it is the shocks? If so, I'll probably be upgrading my shocks. Thanks.
To recap:
My setup with - 250 lb/in/in front and 250 lb/in/in rear with 132 rebound/124 compression
S2000 setup with - 220 lb/in/in front and 290 lb/in/in rear with ??
My setup is soft yet the S2000 is firm, and I'm thinking it is the shocks? If so, I'll probably be upgrading my shocks. Thanks.
11-19-2002, 07:05 PM
#14
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I don't believe that a blown shock will make any difference in ride height.
For a shock to do anything it has to have a sudden jolt on it. If not you can press them right down. Sounds like something is wrong with your spring or something else.
For a shock to do anything it has to have a sudden jolt on it. If not you can press them right down. Sounds like something is wrong with your spring or something else.
11-20-2002, 07:09 AM
#15
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My car was in an accident and when it came out of the body shop the right rear was about 1-2 inches lower than the left. They initially thought it was the shocks and replaced them, didn't make a difference. Then they found the lower control arm was bent. I'll be geeting it replaced some time this week, it should fix my problem (hopefully). Maybe you should get yours checked, specially if you ever hit a curb or something or ever had the car towed.
11-20-2002, 08:19 AM
#16
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SiDriver,
I got my information from no less than four different sources, all said the same thing. 3.9 kg/mm front, 5.2 kg/mm rear. The conversion factor from kg/mm to lb/in is 56.0, that's a fact.
Take a look a this link:
http://www.spoon-sports.com/Suspension.htm
...go down the page about halfway until the heading "Progressive Spring Set". You'll notice they show the stock specification, and they estimate the gas shocks contribute to 25 mm worth of ride height (that's an inch!)
"By assembling a normal damper [instead of a gas-pressurized damper], the height of the vehicle can be lowered, roll on winding roads can be suppressed, and both steering and safety can be improved."
Hope that helps. Look at the chart, it covers other honda's stock setup-- look for the (parenthesis).
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SiDriver
[B]Destiny2002 - are those spring rates correct for a stock S2000?
I got my information from no less than four different sources, all said the same thing. 3.9 kg/mm front, 5.2 kg/mm rear. The conversion factor from kg/mm to lb/in is 56.0, that's a fact.
Take a look a this link:
http://www.spoon-sports.com/Suspension.htm
...go down the page about halfway until the heading "Progressive Spring Set". You'll notice they show the stock specification, and they estimate the gas shocks contribute to 25 mm worth of ride height (that's an inch!)
"By assembling a normal damper [instead of a gas-pressurized damper], the height of the vehicle can be lowered, roll on winding roads can be suppressed, and both steering and safety can be improved."
Hope that helps. Look at the chart, it covers other honda's stock setup-- look for the (parenthesis).
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SiDriver
[B]Destiny2002 - are those spring rates correct for a stock S2000?
11-20-2002, 05:40 PM
#17
Destiny2002 - it didn't give the stats for the stock S2000 shocks (rebound/compression) but I wasn't really interested in exact figures. I was just comparing stats from my setup with a stock S2000 and I was puzzled at why an S2000 rides firm and hard and my Si runs softish. Are the shocks the culprit since both sets of springs exhibit similar spring rates? Also, the Bilstein HD shocks I'm running now are 132 rebound/124 compression. Do you think if I switch to Bilstein Sports, it would make a good amount of difference? The Bilstein Sports are 228 rebound/115 compression. Thanks.
12-11-2002, 05:57 AM
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Update: My car is now perfect after the control arm was replaced :-)
Originally posted by mas
My car was in an accident and when it came out of the body shop the right rear was about 1-2 inches lower than the left. They initially thought it was the shocks and replaced them, didn't make a difference. Then they found the lower control arm was bent. I'll be geeting it replaced some time this week, it should fix my problem (hopefully). Maybe you should get yours checked, specially if you ever hit a curb or something or ever had the car towed.
My car was in an accident and when it came out of the body shop the right rear was about 1-2 inches lower than the left. They initially thought it was the shocks and replaced them, didn't make a difference. Then they found the lower control arm was bent. I'll be geeting it replaced some time this week, it should fix my problem (hopefully). Maybe you should get yours checked, specially if you ever hit a curb or something or ever had the car towed.
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