Technical Shock Absorber Stroke

I know it sounds simple, but if one overthinks it enough, it can be confusing to a simple mind like mine. I have not found a technical definition so far. Having said that, if a shock absorber has a 4" stroke, does that mean 2" travel up and 2" down or, 4" travel up and 4" down ?

 

Total movement from all the way compressed to all the way extended.

 

Shocks do not work that way. The stroke has to match or exceed the suspension travel during the extent of operation, at its expected extremes.

Valving is directional in most modern shocks. Up us dampened as compression, down is dampened as droop/rebound. That is not based on a fixed position in the shocks (unless using high-tech off-road shocks). The only time that position comes into play is when you are about to top-out, or bottom out the shock, and run out of fluid reserve to work with, and you don't want to do that, anyway.

 

Ditto. The stroke is the whole deal. I've heard they should be mounted with 2/3 of the total travel remaining at static ride height (more for compression than in droop). But you need to know what the total travel of your suspension is before you can buy the right length shocks / fab mounts. The total travel of the shocks has to be more than the total travel of your suspension - or the shocks will just get destroyed - smashing closed on bumps or being over-drawn when the suspension droops. Personally, I like at least 6 in of total travel, and bump stops on the frame, too. Gary

 

I've heard just the opposite, a little more drop than compression is best.

 

Well I'm "shocked".

 

I'm sure you will rebound from your shock and bounce right back to spring into action. Don't let this dampen your interest.

 

All this slap stick humor is gonna give me a stroke. The thread is good to know info

 

People can only absorb a certain amount of this kind of stuff.