shock angle / position

[Gbodyolds]

how important is shock angle ? Im looking at rear disc swaps for a G body and all of the ones I found require the shocks to be relocated in further maybe 2-3 inches, Is this bad for handling ? is there an optimal angle for them?

[novanutcase]

From what I have read more angle decreases the effectiveness of the shock. Here is the the degradation:

0 deg(Straight up and down) - 100% effective
10 deg - 98% effective
30 deg - 86% effective
45 deg - 70% effective

As you can see a little angle is OK but you shouldn't go over 30%!

Hope it helps!

[silver69camaro]

I try to go no more than 25* at ride height. Remember the angle will increase with bump.

[Norm Peterson]

Pure ride motion would be damped most efficiently with the shocks vertical, while pure roll wants some angle, so there probably is some optimum angle where the compromise between damping the two motions is best. I also think that what that value is would depend on the relative importance of the two phenomena and the actual amount of driving that generates much in the way of roll. The first few degrees away from whatever that is won't make much difference, with "straighter up" being preferable to more angle (assuming no interference issues exist to dictate the angle).


Norm