FAQ
What's the advantage of this shock.
There are 3 main advantages: Performance, Adjustability, and Maintenance.
Performance: These shocks offer multi-position and velocity sensitive bypass technology. Furthermore, the final compression zone is a VERY effective Bump Stop. Depending on configuration, they can be built with anywhere from 3-8 valves. It doesn't get any better than that as far as performance!
Adjustability: You can adjust every single aspect of the shock yourself, from the outside, with a 1/4" ratchet wrench. You do not need to take the shock apart to make adjustments. If you know what you want to adjust, simply turn the proper screw. Don't like it, turn it back.
Maintenance: Test and tune's require nothing more than the proper springs and a willingness to turn a wrench. Absolutely no need for expensive re-tunes, re-valves, and lengthy test days. Furthermore, there are no valve shims to bend, break, fade, and fatigue.
How is this shock an External Bypass Coilover?
External Bypass Shocks have tubes with adjustable valves on the OUTSIDE of the shock body/piston cylinder. Those tubes control the amount of oil that bypasses (goes around) the piston, and most bypass shocks use a valve-shimmed piston inside the shock to meter oil THROUGH the piston as well. These are widely known as the best shocks for off-road vehicles since you can adjust multiple compression and rebound zones without removing them from your car (unless making a piston valving change). The main downside of this shock is that it does not fit a coil spring, so another Coil Over Shock (or leaf spring) needs to be mounted next to it.
Our shock has bypass tubes on the OUTSIDE of the inner shock body as well, but our proprietary design packages them to fit inside a Coilover Shock. You will not SEE tubes on the outside like a typical External Bypass Shock, but we’ve got anywhere from 4-8 zones with Adjusters located on the TOP CAP. Furthermore, our shock is ONLY bypass, meaning the only path for oil to move from one side of the piston to the other is via those Adjustable Bypass Zones. There is no need to take the shock apart for any reason other than periodic maintenance/service. This makes tuning/adjusting VERY easy.
What about low speed valving?
Our shocks have several adjustable bypass zones that open during high shaft speeds and stay closed at low shaft speeds. This mimics the performance of a traditional "shimmed" piston but it's EXTERNALLY adjustable and you do not need to take the shock apart to make any changes.
How are these any different? My shocks have adjusters too.
A lot of shocks have Reservoir Adjusters which simply allows the user to meter/adjust oil flow in and out of the reservoir. This is simply controlling the entire stroke of the shock via shaft volume displacement to the reservoir. The best way to control a shock absorber is through the piston or in our case AROUND the piston. Moreover, our adjusters are located in specific positions in shock travel so you can alter performance as the shock moves through its travel in specific zones.
Why don't you use valve shims on the piston?
We designed every aspect of our shock absorber to be adjustable without costly and time consuming disassembly/reassembly of the shock. Valve shims can be problematic and break, crack, and fatigue during use. In order to adjust them, you have to open up the shock absorber, change shims, and rebuild the shock. With a solid piston and Spring Loaded Check Valves that are EXTERNALLY adjustable, we don't worry about any of that.
A built in bump stop?
Our shocks utilize a solid piston and a bottom-fed reservoir. If the bump zone were to be closed, the shock can be brought to a hydraulic stop. You don't necessarily want the shock to stop at this zone, so simply adjust the screw and allow oil to bypass and perform as needed. The idea is to use this travel to slow and stop your car just before bottoming out. With this said, the final compression zone can and will perform as a bump stop, although significantly more effective as it's hydraulic, not pneumatic.
What springs work with your shocks?
Our 2.5" shock uses any traditional 3" ID spring which is pretty standard on most SxS's. This means you can keep your stock springs...although you may want to upgrade to something of better quality than OEM.
Our 3.25" shock utilizes a standard 3.75" ID spring which is industry standard for 3" Coil-Over shocks. All springs are readily available from Eibach, Hyperco, etc.
Will these fit my car?
Our shocks are designed to fit specific vehicles as OEM replacements as well as full custom builds. To find out if our shocks will fit your car, you'll need to measure the overall length of your shock (from upper mount to lower mount) as well as the shaft travel. If you don't know that, you'll need to look up OEM dimensions. We've got a bunch of combinations of shocks and Shaft Rod ends to get the dimensions to fit most UTV's and custom vehicles.
Why a 3.25 over a 2.5?
Simply put, size matters. A 3.25" shock has much more oil volume and damping capability than a 2.5". Another advantage for a 3.25" shock would be bypass zones. Our 3.25" can have up to 8 individual bypass adjustments.