Suspension Adjustment

[jlester]

First off, my apologies if this has been well covered. I may not have already found the answer due to my lack of experience with adjusting shocks.

My Atom was previously tracked, while I have been using it 100% for street use. Can someone tell me or point me in the right direction to adjust my shocks for a little less firm ride?


Should is use spanner wrenches to adjust the spring, or the knob on the end numbered 1-5, or some combination of the two?

I appreciate the input.
--Jeff

[bolus]

Dont adjust the spring perches. That just changes the ride height and suspension geometry and has nothing to do with comfort.



Those are different dampers from what Im use to seeing. do you know which model you have? we can look up the user manual online.

The knob is probably the "bump" setting (as opposed to the "rebound" setting which you might have but probably requires removing the damper from the car).

Record where your knobs are current set to in case you have problems. set them all to 1 and drive it around (carefully) and see what it feels like. Adjusting my bump down quit a bit lower helped mine (even thought he experts will say rebound is better for ride comfort)

[jlester]

Dont adjust the spring perches. That just changes the ride height and suspension geometry and has nothing to do with comfort.



Those are different dampers from what Im use to seeing. do you know which model you have?

I don't know which model I have, and was hoping someone might recognize them and clue me in. I will give adjusting the knobs a go and see how it correlates to the feel of the car. Even with the firmness of the suspension, it isn't horrible. Unfortunately some of the roads around here are terrible.

Thanks

[bolus]

what does the blue label say? Also, can you get a pic of the top of the damper where the piston goes in? in the direction the arrow shows?

[FourFather]

Jeff, Try bouncing the the car up and down by hand with the shocks on #1 position, then on #5 position, and you should be able to tell right away which is firmest/softest. On the street only, you will probably like full soft the best. And I have had pretty good luck on track with the softest setting, also. I can take the shortest/straightest path around the track by running over the curbs, and with shocks set soft, the car just goes right over them without bouncing the car (and me) around, or upsetting the driving line.

Call me if you want to discuss further-

Eddie

[MadMaxAtom]

On all the shocks I have ever owned or adjusted,the lower number is less and higher is more. Not sure if that adjuster is for dampening (jounce) or rebound (return)..but it should be easy to determine with Eddies method. Hmm..wonder why there is no #3 position.. The knob itself may be for one adjustment and the flat head screw in the center may be for the other. Never seen one quite like that unit.

[jlester]

Everyone, thanks for the input.

I was finally able to make some time to adjust them and take the car out for a spin. The suspension is definitely softer now, which is better for some of the roads we have. If I ever track the vehicle, I will likely adjust them back.