The head engineer at Fox racing shocks spent a considerable amount of time with us at TeraFlex. It was enlightening to see and learn about the current shock technology available today.
Virtually any shock can be improved by taking the time to valve it to a specific application, not just that the shock has the correct length and mounts but that the vehicle weight, suspension configuration and type of use are factored in as well. With that in mind Teraflex worked with Elka, and Fox shocks and “dialed in” two types of shocks specifically for the JK Wrangler with TeraFlex suspensions.
The Elka Shock has been valved with trail and street use in mind. They provide great highway control with specialized slow speed valving, and eliminate the washboard teeth rattling that is found on many trail and dirt road conditions. I really like the all-around ride they provide.
The Fox shocks that are standard in our PreRunner kit and available for use on all of our other kits brought our suspensions to the next level. After being involved in the testing and making of comparison videos, I BELIEVE. If you like hauling down a dirt road or plowing through deep ruts at high speeds, these are the shocks for you. They are just a little firmer on the road due to their performance nature, but still a vast improvement over other shocks with non-vehicle specific tuning.
Shock Design Types
1. Emulsion
• Single wall
• Must be mounted with the shock body on top,(shaft out the bottom)
• Bad for off-road due to fading, caused by gas and oil mixing during fast movement.
• The gas” floats” on the oil nothing separates them.
• The gas is required due to shaft displacement of the oil in the shock.
2. De Carbon Shock
• Reservoir shock design
• Piston between the oil and gas
• Can be with or without an external reservoir
• If the shock has a remote reservoir, the oil is in the shock, gas in the reservoir
• The remote reservoir does not aid in cooling
• Limited compression dampening. (Limited by the amount of gas charge)
• Prone to cavitation, which eats holes in the shocks internal surfaces
• The oil will actually diesel or burn, which breaks down the oil
• Adds a base valve,( a small hole) in the piston between the oil and gas
• The oil is returned to the cylinder with gas pressure. ”Pressure balancing”
• This design has the least amount of torque on the shock components
• Larger shaft size increases displacement of oil, and increases pressure in shock cylinder = moves more fluid 4. Twin Tube (OEM shocks)
• Create heat due to the gas acting as an insulator, by the surrounding oil
• Small shaft size results in small displacement of oil = limited pressure
• Uses a base valve to balance oil to gas pressure
• Inexpensive alternative with a soft street ride
Terms
Compression: The action the shock takes when it initially hits a bump and compresses.Rebound: After the shock has been compressed or collapsed, it rebounds by the shaft extending back out, as the springs push the vehicle back to ride height.
High speed dampening: The effect the shock valving has on quick shock movement; for example a washboard road.
Low speed valving: Valving that controls the movement of the shock related to deeper longer travel bumps, deep moguls, or even body roll.
Dennis Wood
