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Author: Subject: Suspension terminology?
nick205

posted on 11/8/17 at 10:57 AM Reply With Quote
Suspension terminology?

Thinking aloud here so feel free to ignore!

The term "shock absorber" to me suggests a damper and a spring working together.

What thoughts do others have on this?

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loggyboy

posted on 11/8/17 at 11:05 AM Reply With Quote
I've always referred to a damper as a shock absorber. Neverthe combination of spring and shock.





Mistral Motorsport

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owelly

posted on 11/8/17 at 11:16 AM Reply With Quote
Shocker=damper=shock absorber.
When fitted with a spring: Strut or coilover depending on application.





http://www.ppcmag.co.uk

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Mr Whippy

posted on 11/8/17 at 11:27 AM Reply With Quote
Tbh thought it was just a lazy incorrect American term, their dampers for damping out spring oscillations, not absorbing bumps that's what springs are for. I've found, many dampers work much better on the return stroke rather than compression so impacts are better absorbed initially by the springs, the returning bounce then turned into heat by the damper, which may be the reason for the miss naming.
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Nathsx

posted on 11/8/17 at 11:49 AM Reply With Quote
I see where you are coming with the term.

Ive always viewed the shock/damper as the shock absorber and the spring as a seperate entity regardless.

As mentioned earlier when combined strut or coilover assembly

[Edited on 11/8/17 by Nathsx]

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gremlin1234

posted on 11/8/17 at 11:53 AM Reply With Quote
they don't have to be the hydrolic dampers that we usually have

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction_disk_shock_absorber

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procomp

posted on 11/8/17 at 12:23 PM Reply With Quote
Hi.

I hate the word " shock absorber " I always refer to it as a damper, as all it's doing is damping the spring / car motion.

Cheers Matt

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chillis

posted on 11/8/17 at 01:05 PM Reply With Quote
Strictly speaking the spring is absorbing shock and the damper is damping the reaction of the spring to the loads applied to it.
I think shock absorber or the dreaded SHOX is something of a slang term, and I avoid using it where possible. If any component could be considered a shock absorber then I would nominate the bump stop - though technically this is still a spring.

HTH





Never under estimate the ingenuity of an idiot!

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coozer

posted on 11/8/17 at 01:29 PM Reply With Quote
Just a long winded word for all sorts of springs and dampers.

Plain shocker to me





1972 V8 Jago

1980 Z750

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Schrodinger

posted on 12/8/17 at 10:46 AM Reply With Quote
As has already been said the spring absorbes the shock and the damper damps the spring oscillations.





Keith
Aviemore

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coyoteboy

posted on 12/8/17 at 10:50 AM Reply With Quote
*Strictly* speaking both the spring and damper are absorbing the shock, but one is storing it and the other is dissipating it, as a union. But I think it's just a lazy term.

On compression, the reaction to the bump load is provided by both the spring and the damper. The damper doesn't control the spring, as such, as is aids the spring in controlling the unsprung mass.

[Edited on 12/8/17 by coyoteboy]






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nick205

posted on 29/8/17 at 09:55 AM Reply With Quote
Just back from holidays.

Thanks for the replies and views.

In principle I guess "shock absorber" may not be the correct terminology, but simply a name I've come to use. Ultimately I view the spring and damper as two seperate items, each with their own purpose. Many moons ago I drove a car with no rear dampers fitted. Admittedly it was in a field, but nonetheless it was unpleasant.

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