Shock Valving for Tourer

[me3@neuralfibre.com]

Im looking at getting some 10" Fox / Bilstein / FOA shocks for the 105 cruiser.

Whilst there is plenty of discussion of spring rates, I can find very little talk of valving / damping rates for these.

Can anyone give me any tips on suggested rates? I'm reluctant to use US based stuff as they tend to like saggier cars than us.

Personally I like bugger all high rate bump, lots of low rate bump, moderate high rate rebound, lots of low rate rebound.

Comments and experience appreciated.

Think moderately to heavily loaded tourer - but not massively overloaded - I'm weight aware (prob over GVM, just).

The objective to minimal wallow and sway. Great turn in. Compliant on harsh roads. My cpring rates should be high enough to keep the bumpstops from getting hammered. The current OME's combo works well enough to keep it off the bump stops at most speeds.

Thanx
Paul

[chunderlicious]

you prolly better off talking to foa or the fox dealer you are looking at buying from. not many distributors or servicers will tell you their ways, foa will tell you what they recomend and sonny from down south will also tell you what you might need. i just got a set valved for an 80 series onroad for my 79 V8. i personally think the front is too soft and the rear is a bit stiff. they actually make the truck a bit boaty. ill have to give someone a call and get them to come and tune them with me how i like them.

[Slunnie]

That sounds like a fairly crappy shock that you would have setup there. It would ride harsh and have bugger all control.

Do you mind a harsh empty ride in return for laden control and handling?
Would you prefer a more comfortable ride and to sacrifice some laden control?

I'd be having a chat to Sydney shocks/Bilstein motorsports, Paul Joyner is very good. For the rears I would be guessing somewhere around 360/80 linear for something which is comfy when empty but still good laden control through to 400/100 linear rate for more laden control but it will be stiffer when empty. I wouldn't go over 400/100 on a single shock setup, and in those rates I would run poly bushes only, not rubber bushes or rose/heim joints as they will wear too quickly and I would be looking for a monotube shock design in whatever.

[GUtripper]

Whilst looking at Bilstiens why not also have a talk with Topperformance in Vic, Koni distributor.

I run a fairly heavy GU tourer, with no front sway bar (made a HUGE difference on corrugations as well as better off road flex), with progressive Kings.
I have Koni 88's, and due to the valving, It has bugger all body roll and excellent small bump compliance. Dont ask me what the valving specs are, dont know, dont really care. But after lengthy discussion about vehicle weight/specs/accessories, towing/not, driving style, etc etc topperformance set them up for me. Couldnt be happier with it.