DeTomaso Mailing List: February 1997, Message #172
     



From: Andy Poling <andy@realbig.com>

Subject: Pantera dampers valving calulations?

Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 02:12:43 -0500 (EST)



I read with interest Jack Butler's article in the 2/97 POCA newsletter on

shocks and springs.



He gave formulae for calculating spring rates based upon the suspension

geometry and your desired characteristics.  He also mentioned that Bilstein

will build custom shocks to order.  I'm now wondering how one calculates the

shock valving you would like.



I've ordered the book mentioned in the article (along with the classic,

_How_to_Make_Your_Car_Handle), but I'm wondering if anyone here has done

this before and can offer pointers.  My first guess would be that knowing

your spring rate and the resonant frequency of the resultant system, you can

probably guesstimate the shock valving based upon that and the desired

characteristics since the shock valving just specifies the damping force,

and I vaguely remember fizziks 101 and how to calculate damping on a system

given the weight and spring.



I wonder how Jack knew I would be buying springs and shocks now...



-Andy



PS - These cars really are contagious.  I was telling a guy at work about my

car the other day and showed him a couple of pictures.  Today he stopped in

my office to proudly report that he'd seen a yellow pre-L (he remembered and

recognized the upswept pipes and bumperettes) that morning.  I was floored...

this is not a "car" kind of guy.



72 Pantera: power             91 Miata: quickness              96 A4Q: traction

84 RZ350: all the above