Chassis & Suspension

Chassis & Suspension

Drag Shock Basics

A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp a sudden shock impulse and dissipate kinetic energy.

In a vehicle, it reduces the effect of traveling over rough ground. Without shock absorbers, the vehicle would have a bouncing ride, as energy is stored in the spring and then released to the vehicle, possibly exceeding the allowed range of suspension movement. Control of excessive suspension movement without shock absorption requires stiffer (higher rate) springs, which would in turn give a harsh ride. Shock absorbers allow the use of soft (lower rate) springs while controlling the rate of suspension movement in response to bumps.

Drag racing shocks are referred to in a somewhat different way than most other shocks. Often you will hear references to rear shocks that are 50/50 or front shocks that are 90/10. Basically, these are references to the amount of force applied by the shock to resist movement. In the case of a 50/50 shock, the resistance is the same in both compression and rebound, while a 90/10 shock has nine times the resistance to compression than it does to rebound. The 90/10 is exclusively a front shock designed to extend very easily and offer significant resistance to compression. This allows the front end of the vehicle to rise very quickly and easily and then maintain that front-end rise throughout the entire pass.

Always purchase the correct drag shocks for your application, then tuning your suspension will be a breeze. A few companies offer double adjustable drag shocks, these are the ticket for maximum traction, but only when they’re adjusted correctly.