Upside Down Shocks

[vintage AE]

I was searching RC10s for my next build and noticed one with upside down shocks. This was a few weeks ago, and of course I cant find the pic now . I will keep looking til I find it again.

It would lower the center of gravity. Are there binding issues, how come everyone isn't doing this?

[vintage AE]

found the pic in the Very Early Prototype Associated Cars from Curtis thread in the RC10 Buggy Forum


since it's a prototype, mayby there was problems with the seals in the early shocks, but maybe not with today's shocks.

anyone want to chime in on this?

[badattitude]

My personal opinon is... that was an experiment based on a lower center of gravity. I also suspect adding weight onto the rear a-arm affects performance in a negitive way. Hence, this technique did not catch on. Just my .02. I have wanted to try mounting my shocks like that but never did it.

I think...mounting shocks upside down is like mounting heaver wheels.

[jwscab]

unsprung weight vs. sprung weight. better to put the weight where it can be controlled. just like going to lighter wheels and suspension parts.

they put the shocks on upside down due to poor seals initially, the 'ask gene husting thread' i believe has some info regarding that.

[THUNDERSTRIKE1]

I beleive they said they stopped it due to the huge air bubble making the dampining inconsistent while running on ruff track surfaces.But its been years so who knows with the shocks of today.Don

[Lowgear]

The RC10L's shock is mounted upside down. I suppose thats the best way to mount it but its always bothered me a little from an aesthetics standpoint.

[Erich Reichert]

They did that because the shockes leaked. Only the rears mostly because of the landing off jumps etc, they did more work. A shock is actually heavier on the end with the shaft, ball end and cup I think too. If it's not its a small enough difference that doing something like that wouldn't change much.

[Y'ernat Al]

X3. SRB/Scorpion racers were doing that prior to the RC10, with the Kyosho CB89 or CB89 that came off the Kyosho 1/8 gas buggies, 'cause those leaked too. Just keeps oil in them to extend time between rebuilds. I could see someone claiming that COG is affected, but there are reasons correctly pointed out above that that is probably not a benefit the racers were after. Battery location dominated the COG anyway, still does.

[tiger1]

Just a solution for leaky shocks in the old days