What is the effect of pre load on the suspension system?
Spring preload pushes the tire down and makes the suspension work. On big bumps at speed the spring preload pushes the tires down to better follow the terrain and make a smoother, more controlled ride. Under articulation the spring preload increases tire contract pressure improving traction.
What does preload on bike suspension mean?
The preload refers to the amount of sag the shock will allow when the bike is at rest with the rider’s weight bearing down on it. Determining the correct preload is important because if it’s too high, it takes more energy to move the shock and compress the springs, resulting in a harder and desensitized shock system.
What does a preload mean?
Preload, also known as the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), is the amount of ventricular stretch at the end of diastole. Think of it as the heart loading up for the next big squeeze of the ventricles during systole.
Is more preload stiffer?
Preloading is not the same as using a stiffer (higher spring rate) spring. Preloading does not change spring rate but preload does change the force to start moving the shock and high preload dramatically reduces shock performance over smaller bumps and makes for a more harsh ride and worse traction.
Does increasing preload increase sag?
When you tighten up/add more preload to the spring, it not only decreases rider sag, but it also decreases static sag as well. So think of it this way; the more you preload the spring, the more you’re pushing the seat upwards. The higher up the seat is, the smaller the sag numbers.
What does preload do to your suspension rate?
Preload is perhaps the most misunderstood facet of suspension tuning. Many people think that by adjusting preload that they are stiffening or softening their suspension. Nothing could be further from the truth. Adjusting preload does nothing to your spring rate. (technical explanation below). All it does is change your ride height and your sag.
Is there a way to adjust the rear spring preload?
If nothing else, most bikes have some provision to adjust the rear spring preload. Some riders intuitively feel that these adjusters can be used to stiffen or soften the spring, but sorry, that ain’t the way it works.
Can a 100 lb spring be used with 1 ″ of preload?
An 18″ long, 100 lb/in spring with 1″ of preload will give you the same ride height as a 10″ long, 100 lb/in spring with 1″ of preload. In both cases you’ve applied 100 lb of force before the vehicle weight collapses the spring. Because spring rates are the same each spring will collapse the same amount under the weight of the vehicle.
What should spring preload ratio be on accutune?
With a 0.5″ motion ratio that lifts the vehicle 2″. If you want more lift and have the correct amount of preload then you’ll need stiffer springs. If you want less lift then you need softer springs. Preload is independent of spring free length.
Preload is perhaps the most misunderstood facet of suspension tuning. Many people think that by adjusting preload that they are stiffening or softening their suspension. Nothing could be further from the truth. Adjusting preload does nothing to your spring rate. (technical explanation below). All it does is change your ride height and your sag.
What happens when you put spring preload on a car?
Everyone thinks about what happens when springs compress, but it’s also important to consider what happens when the springs extend. Spring preload pushes the wheel/tire downward and makes the suspension work. On big bumps, the suspension preload pushes the tires down to better follow the terrain and make a smoother, more controlled ride.
How much spring preload do I need for accutune?
Spring preload is very important on shorter travel vehicles. Make sure you buy springs from a company that offers free and unlimited spring swapping (like AccuTune Off-Road ). 1″ of preload in front and 2″ of preload in the rear is a good starting point, but some suspension systems require breaking the “rules”.
An 18″ long, 100 lb/in spring with 1″ of preload will give you the same ride height as a 10″ long, 100 lb/in spring with 1″ of preload. In both cases you’ve applied 100 lb of force before the vehicle weight collapses the spring. Because spring rates are the same each spring will collapse the same amount under the weight of the vehicle.