Springs / Shocks

Question 1

Increasing the rod diameter on a coil spring will

Answer 1

Increase rate

Question 2

Linear springs have equal spacing between the coils and the rate differs through each inch of travel.

Answer 2

False/ Linear springs maintain the same rate through each inch of travel.

Question 3

John has a 16” Chrome Silicon coil spring with a .500 rod diameter and 6 active coils. Billy has a 13” Chrome Silicon coil spring with a .500 rod diameter and 6 active coils. Which coil spring has the higher rate?

Answer 3

The coil spring rates are the same.

Question 4

Drag cars should use a short stiff spring in the front to promote pitch rotation upon launch.

Answer 4

False/ Drag cars should use a tall soft spring to promote pitch rotation.

Question 5

Andy says progressive springs maintain the same rate through each inch of travel. Dave says progressive springs increase in rate with each inch of travel. Who is correct?

Answer 5

Dave only/ progressive springs get stiffer in rate with each inch of travel.

Question 6

Mike is using a stacked spring setup on his USAC midget. He is trying to calculate the combined rate of the spring. The springs on the coil over assembly rate at 120# and 80#. What is the combined rate?

Answer 6

48#

Question 7

Wheel rate is defined as the spring rate felt at the spring mounting location.

Answer 7

False/ Wheel rate is the spring rate felt at the tire contact patch.

Question 8

Randy says changing shackle length on one side will only affect the rate of the leaf spring. Lonnie says that the angle of the shackle will affect the rate of the leaf spring. Who is correct?

Answer 8

Lonnie only

Question 9

What factor if changed would have the biggest affect on the rate of a sway bar?

Answer 9

Bar diameter

Question 10

All of these factors affect the rate of a coil spring except

Answer 10

Height / Length of spring// height / length of the spring is not a factor in the rate.

Question 11

In the formula for motion ratio, (B) represents the dimension between the inner pivot (control arm mount) and the outer pivot point (lower ball joint).

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Moving the leaf springs toward the center of the car will increase roll resistance.

Answer 12

False/ Moving the leaf springs toward the center of the car will decrease roll resistance.

Question 13

Which of the following could be used to eliminate binds when using leaf springs?

Answer 13

Leaf spring slider mounts
Axle cages
Mono-balls

Question 14

Tim says shocks have a motion ratio like a coil spring. Bob says shocks do not have a motion ratio. Who is correct?

Answer 14

Tim only

Question 15

Brandon says twin tube shocks do not have a gas bag and will not operate if dented. Paul says twin tube shocks do have a gas bag and will operate with a small dent in the body. Who is correct?

Answer 15

Paul only

Question 16

Jim says that mono tube shocks have a separator piston to divide the gas and the oil. Mark says that mono tube shocks will not work if they are dented. Who is correct?

Answer 16

Both Jim and Mark are correct

Question 17

This piston design will increase resistance quickly at low shaft speeds, then as shaft speeds increase, the increase in resistance will taper off until it reaches a maximum resistance.

Answer 17

Digressive

Question 18

Low shaft speeds on a shock are considered:

Answer 18

0-4 inches per second

Question 19

Racer A says that emulsion shocks combine the the gas and the oil into a single mixture. Racer B says emulsion shocks have a separator piston to divide the gas and oil mixture. Who is correct?

Answer 19

Racer A only

Question 20

Increasing the diameter of the bleed hole for the low speed circuit will

Answer 20

Decrease resistance

Question 21

Which type of shock has external valved passages for fluid flow causing multiple rates of resistance based on shock travel / direction?

Answer 21

Bypass shocks

Question 22

Chris says straight valve shocks have the same resistance for compression and rebound. Dale says split valve shocks have the same resistance for compression and rebound.

Answer 22

Chris only / straight valve shocks have the same compression and rebound resistance. Split valve shocks have a different resistance for compression and rebound. More rebound resistance is a tie down shock. More compression resistance is an easy up shock.

Question 23

When looking at a disassembled shock assembly, Mike states the nut side of the piston is the compression side.

Answer 23

False

Question 24

The two graphs that we use in class on the shock dyno include: Force vs. Displacement and Force vs. Velocity.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

Dave says that bump stops can be used to tune load numbers at a specific travel point in the suspension. Mike says that bump stops can be used to limit travel on a race car. Who is correct?

Answer 25

Both Dave and Mike are correct