kdale94

I have read some forums and tried to find information online about shock setups. I don't think I understand. I am running on a dirt track(un groomed) with three jumps. I am fish tailing a lot.

What what I read it seems like a good setup would be meduim springs in from with lighter weight oil and soft springs in back with heavier oil.

Wouldn't this lossen up the back? Wouldn't this cause more fish tailing? Can someone explain the pros/cons and effects of different shock setups.....stiffer in front then in back, or stiffer in back then in front.

any advise would be great.

Billyman

My Feedback: (1)

Let’s back up a little and you tell us what kind of car/truck you’re running. There are lot of variables contributing to “fish tailing” but all of which point to traction problems. Differential oil weights, clutch setups, types of tires, shocks, springs, etc, etc are all part of it.

A brief run-down of what you have is helpful.

kdale94

running an electric evader st. Speegems 15 turn motor. I don't know the type of tire, except that they are all terains in the back and stock ribbed in the front. Everything else(except esc and servo) is stock.

Billyman

My Feedback: (1)

Oh yes, the factory spikes on the rear. These are the first things to ditch. Pick you up some sightly more aggressive tires for loose track conditions. Even the tires for a Maximum BX has just enough aggression to help. If you’re in extreme loose track conditions, choose something even more aggressive.

As far as the shock oil and spring setups:

Yes, the combo you inquired about would loosen up the car/truck but not in the way you’re thinking. That setup will allow the front to stay planted while the rear has more a tendency to “dip” under load (like coming off turns). This increases traction.

kdale94

So medium springs with lighter weight oil in front and softer springs with heavy weight in the back wouldn't cause more fish tailing? It sounds like from what you are syaing that it will help with steering, true? Are there cons to this setup? What if I did the opposite and went softer in the front? What would the pros and cons be of this.

What would be a decent tire? What about bow tie design, do you think that would help with traction/fish tailing?

Billyman

My Feedback: (1)

Front:

The slightly heavier springs (mediums) help keep the tires planted or pushed down to the surface in which you are riding on. The lighter oil allows the suspension to work more rapid so the tires are in constant contact with the surface. Overall, this allows the chassis to move very little while the suspension does all the work........as it should. Mostly, this is for handling and steering performance.

Rear:

The softer springs will allow more squat in the rear under acceleration. The heavier weight oil will slow this down and make the rear squat a bit more gradual. If the rear is too hard or too tight and the vehicle needs to bite for traction, it will do this to a point and then break traction. If it’s too soft, it will bite during the squat but after it’s bottomed out, the traction is lost. By keeping this squat at a gradual process, the bite is increased and prevents unloading of the suspension. By the time the squat started and to its end, you’re already out of the turn and going fast and straight anyway.

It is in my experience, for loose track or surface conditions, that aggressive spikes work best.

Maximum BX tires:

kdale94

Cool, thanks for the information. I will look into some spikes.