Monotube Shocks Fresno CA
(559) 243-9192
Fresno, CA
Monotube Shocks
From the outside, most shock absorbers and struts look pretty much alike: a round steel tube that telescopes up and down with bushings or fittings on both ends. But inside there can be significant design differences that affect not only the ride control characteristics and performance of the damper, but also its cost. Last month, we covered a brief history of shock absorbers and the advantages of the more common "twin-tube" design. This month, we're taking a closer look at the other style of shock, the "monotube" design. As the piston moves down, the fluid pushes against the floating piston and compresses the gas charge underneath it. The gas is actually nitrogen (air with oxygen and moisture removed). This creates a sort of "air spring" effect that keeps the fluid under constant pressure to reduce foaming as it flows back and forth through the orifices and valves in the piston. For the monotube design to work, the gas pressure under the floating piston in the bottom of the sho... |
