Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
#1802581
04/13/15 07:05 PM
04/13/15 07:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar
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Dan, or others... Do the Hotchkis shocks 'wear in' some over time and get slightly softer? I'm still not quite sure if it's just me, getting used to them, or that maybe the adjustable Hotchkis front shocks I'm running since November '14 have gotten slightly softer over time. I have a feeling the adjusters need to be stepped up again, but I'm already running them at setting 17 or 18 I recall, from the possible max 22? steps. Last year I started out with the shocks at 15-16 steps up from their shoftest setting. The Dart still has the 1" JustSuspension torsionbars, but I'm a bit worried I might be running out of adjustment when I install the 1.10" FirmFeel bars in the near future. (Since the installation I've also swapped the castiron 2bbl intake for a alum. 4bbl intake on the otherwise bone stock 318)
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: BigBlockMopar]
#1802627
04/13/15 08:29 PM
04/13/15 08:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 106 Central IL
Trojmn
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they certainly wear out. look for leakage. unless you SEE evidence or its plainly obvious the only real way is to know put it on a shock dyno. those are single adj rebound so your saying the car is wobbling after bumps?
how many miles since Nov?
Last edited by Trojmn; 04/13/15 09:08 PM.
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: BigBlockMopar]
#1802697
04/13/15 09:38 PM
04/13/15 09:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 106 Central IL
Trojmn
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i had this big explanation of slow speed/fast speed valving etc... hows the regular ride on the street? cracks, bumps at cruising speed? turn them FULL soft + 1 click. drive around. tight up evenly until all the wobble/pogo is gone after hitting bumps at say 30+MPH is gone. is that really 2/3 the adjustment?
if moving the slow speed rebound adjustment is making speed bumps more comfortable, i just resist judgement. I don't know anything about your setup but if your getting into the bump stops that would be jarring. if rebound adj is helping that on speedbumps, id wager it is also adding some compression resistance,(fairly common).
put some chalk/paint on your bump stop and then go over your speedbumps at your normal rate (slow right?) that will at least tell you where you are. and if you re hitting hard, more spring and/or more travel in this case might make it more comfortable.
Last edited by Trojmn; 04/13/15 09:40 PM.
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: BigBlockMopar]
#1802699
04/13/15 09:39 PM
04/13/15 09:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302 Nebraska
72Swinger
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Shock performance can vary with ambient temp. The oil can stiffen up when its cold out.
Mopar to the bone!!!
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: BigBlockMopar]
#1803687
04/14/15 10:45 PM
04/14/15 10:45 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,074 Manitoba Canada
67autocross
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Manitoba Canada
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Do the shocks not come with some type of instructions and the rebuild interval? Most Fox shocks need to be rebuilt every 200 hours or once a year to maintain the original performance. The first oil change is the most important to get the contaminants out of the shock, at that time if you could find out the stock oil weight and put something a bit heaver in it to get more rebound damping.
A new iron curtain drawn across the 49th parallel
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: BigBlockMopar]
#2803942
08/01/20 08:39 PM
08/01/20 08:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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Are they a pressurized shock? Unless they are visibly leaking fluid, I can't see them "wearing in" unless you have already wore out say a set of ball joints, etc first. You have same tires, pressures, car weight, roads, etc from back in '14?
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: TC@HP2]
#2804199
08/02/20 01:46 PM
08/02/20 01:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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BigBlockMopar
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Correct, but all that weight is in the rear where the QA1 shocks are. 2 steel propane tanks with metal frames. The QA1 should have worn faster.
But all in all, this is where 'adjustable' shocks also shine. Their working-life can be extended by adjusting them.
Last edited by BigBlockMopar; 08/02/20 01:46 PM.
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Re: Do adjustable shocks 'wear in'?
[Re: BigBlockMopar]
#2804656
08/03/20 12:34 PM
08/03/20 12:34 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 270 Mountain View, CA
68rrunner
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----- 2020 Topic update -----
Stumbled onto this topic again and decided to update it with info.
Over the 5 years I've been daily driving with the adjustable Hotchkis shocks, I've recently ended up at their max and 'adjusted' them to their tightest setting (24 clicks). I guess it will be time to rebuild them in the near future. Thats about right. Marketing would like to tell you that they're good for 100k miles, however with actual daily driving and the monthly autocross/track time 2 years/25k miles has been my observed service interval. I've seen seals get killed in less miles leading to failed shocks in a shorter time span.
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