Fox Shock pressure..... what p.s.i ???

[Chikin1974]

Ok first does anyone know what pressure honda pilot runs in the shocks....front and rear...

Here is why Im asking!

I am working on a some sand car suspension and need to know what pressure I should run in the shocks. So, my sand car is a little heavyer than a Pilot, My car is around 950pounds. But ..... I want to get a BALL PARK figure so I can call Doug hiem to get shocks...

rear weight is 300 pounds
front is 550 pounds
TOTAL CAR WEIGHT IS 850


Thanks

[nutz4sand]

Not enough info to know.

Just cause you machine is similair does not mean its even ball park unless it mimics the measurements of the pilot to VERY close tolerances.

If you have two identical buggies but change the shock mount on the arm even and inch the pressure will be totally different.

Being a Pilot weighs 650 pounds and is light in the front even if your setup was dentical it would be a grossly different number. Chances are (correct me if I am wrong) your arms are different lengths and the shocks mount in different area on the arm and on the frame.

Best thing to do is get a pressurizing system and learn how to tweak them to the load they will actually see on the machine they are on. Once a machine is "done" and driveable you will need to tweak them anyways. Noone gets them right on the first time and close is sually only those who have been building setups for a while so they know what works for thiers.

I know yah wrote BALL PARK but its not even on the same block really. Just trying to be honest. Not offend yah! ;]

[Glamisman]

Not busting your balls here... are we talking about spring pressure or Nitrogen pressure?

[Chikin1974]

I dont take offence to any thing. Nitrogen pressure.
I want to get emusion shocks but know very little about the pressures and it I need to get more shock than I need.... I have 10 inces of shock travel..... and basiclly Im asking if I mount these shocks would they need to be longer that I need to comapsate for weight.... like sag from weight just sitting.

Or can you run them fully extended yet make it a smooth ride. I figure if it was fully extended with higher pressure.. the stiffer the ride..... Does that make sence to any one?

I hope you get my point. Do i run what I need.... 10 inch of travel with a 10 inch shock OR 10 inches of travel with a 12 inch shock to comp for sage with vehicle weight



Look, I am asking because I dont know shocks for off road.

[nutz4sand]

You want droop. Droop is downward wheel travel at ride height. If the shocks are topped right off to the bottoms then you will have no droop and the car will ride stiff and going over bumps will cause a tire to actually be lifted and result in less control (which will already be bad from the over stiff shocks.) You want a vehicle to sit on the roughly 3/4 position of the shock. So the tires can drop roughly 1/4 down if need be and raise 3/4 if need be. THATS a ball park figure. It would tend to be less if you were racing on flat tracks or tracks with small jumps.

Even if the shocks are riding at 3/4 height or even 1/2 you will still get thier full effect on a jump as when you are in the air the tires will drop to the bottom and upon landing do thier best to absorb it.

A tall buggy looks cool to some but it makes it more tippy. Everything about suspension is a compromise.

[Chikin1974]

Cool. You have answered my question. I didnt want to get into buying shocks to turn around and buy longer ones. Thanks..... you saved me about 500$

[Bugpac]

Now you dont want them so long the chassis is hitting the ground when it bottoms out either, pressure has everything to do with Oil volume inside them, and motion ratio, Get the right length then worry about psi and oil volumes..

[Chikin1974]

Yeah I wanted to get the right shock the first time, I have read craigs list postings of people selling shocks because they bought the wrong size. Thats why I figured I would ask a few questions to provent me from doing the same thing.
Its not like their cheep in any way. And speaking of craigs list I would ONLY buy NEW shocks.
Not that used arent good, I dont want to have to rebuild or not know there history.
Only new for me. Thanks for the advise.