While trying to learn a bit more about damper tech for rc cars I came across this video showing a variable damper for a 1/10 scale rc touring car.
I love how in theory it could also be made to be a 2 stage (fast bound & slow rebound) with the addition of a one way valve as used in conventional 2 stage rc dampers or even reversed to be a digressive damper.... or even progressive AND.. digressive on the same stroke for use with progressive springs.
Tuning would probably be difficult but the damping performance would be incredible once tuned.
What other similar innovations are out there and are there any progressive/digressive damper options available for 1/8 scale?
Another great video explaining how digressive, linear and progressive dampers work and when they should be used..
...Edit- and another interesting piece of info..
http://autopitstop.net/car-improvements/progressive-dampers-vs-digressive-dampers/ said: "
One of the reason rally cars are able to do what they do, is a specially tuned suspension. The other reason is they use shock absorbers with digressive valving. Digressive valving is a revolutionary way of valving shocks that is entirely different than in usual shock absorber design. Traditionally shocks have more damping force at higher shaft velocities, and that’s why they are called progressive shock absorbers. These shock absorber design have multi-stage valving to cater to various types of road conditions. Despite of these multi-stage valving, they are quite different from digressive valving, which is opposite of how shocks have been traditionally valved. A digressive shock absorber has stiff, progressive damping at low shaft speeds (less than 3 inches per second). This helps to control car body motion like roll, dive and squat. At this point, it functions like a typical stiff racing shock absorber. At higher shaft speeds, between 3 to 10 inch per second the damping force is more or less constant despite the rapid change in shaft velocity! The result is the suspension is kept supple in response to bumps and irregularities in the road, therefore traction is maintained on bumpy roads by reducing suspension hop, yet provides a firm ride, even at the high damping rates needed for body motion control. First used with success in off-road racing, digressive shock absorbers have only recently made their way into the on-road racing area."
I have a Aero engineering background and a mini lathe on my workbench so I might start expermenting with some different damper designs with the above damping types for my Typhon v4 at some point, see what I can come up with. If I am succesful and anyone is interested in something like this feel free to add your name below.
I love how in theory it could also be made to be a 2 stage (fast bound & slow rebound) with the addition of a one way valve as used in conventional 2 stage rc dampers or even reversed to be a digressive damper.... or even progressive AND.. digressive on the same stroke for use with progressive springs.
Tuning would probably be difficult but the damping performance would be incredible once tuned.
What other similar innovations are out there and are there any progressive/digressive damper options available for 1/8 scale?
Another great video explaining how digressive, linear and progressive dampers work and when they should be used..
...Edit- and another interesting piece of info..
http://autopitstop.net/car-improvements/progressive-dampers-vs-digressive-dampers/ said: "
One of the reason rally cars are able to do what they do, is a specially tuned suspension. The other reason is they use shock absorbers with digressive valving. Digressive valving is a revolutionary way of valving shocks that is entirely different than in usual shock absorber design. Traditionally shocks have more damping force at higher shaft velocities, and that’s why they are called progressive shock absorbers. These shock absorber design have multi-stage valving to cater to various types of road conditions. Despite of these multi-stage valving, they are quite different from digressive valving, which is opposite of how shocks have been traditionally valved. A digressive shock absorber has stiff, progressive damping at low shaft speeds (less than 3 inches per second). This helps to control car body motion like roll, dive and squat. At this point, it functions like a typical stiff racing shock absorber. At higher shaft speeds, between 3 to 10 inch per second the damping force is more or less constant despite the rapid change in shaft velocity! The result is the suspension is kept supple in response to bumps and irregularities in the road, therefore traction is maintained on bumpy roads by reducing suspension hop, yet provides a firm ride, even at the high damping rates needed for body motion control. First used with success in off-road racing, digressive shock absorbers have only recently made their way into the on-road racing area."
I have a Aero engineering background and a mini lathe on my workbench so I might start expermenting with some different damper designs with the above damping types for my Typhon v4 at some point, see what I can come up with. If I am succesful and anyone is interested in something like this feel free to add your name below.
Last edited:
