DeTomaso Mailing List: June 2001, Message #72

Awhile back there was a thread about adjustable ride height shocks and the
impact on the spring rates when the height adjustments were made.  I had an
opportunity to talk to the master of the shock world this morning, Dick
Anderson, the founder of Carrera shocks, when he stopped by the Atlanta
Donut Derelicts in his 50 Ford custom.   It is a little hard to explain
without the Donut napkin drawing that Dick made, but the bottom line is that
moving the ride height adjustment up or down has NO impact on the spring
rates or compression of the spring because the load of the car has all ready
compressed the spring to the static load state.   Moving the adjustment ring
only changes the bottom position of the spring to change the height of the
car.   The length and compression of the spring always remains the same when
the car is static.

It was a great opportunity to talk to Dick and find out how the company was
started.  He is a very bright guy and a very nice guy to boot.   You can see
his 50 Ford custom in the ADD section of http://www.PanteraPlace.com

Mike



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