07-29-2014, 10:26 AM
Preload
Preload is a load placed on a spring before its used. On your suspension you may have means to apply pressure to compress the spring with out effecting suspension movement. It can be an adjuster in a front fork, or a collar on rear shocks. This loads the spring to alter the point at which the spring begins to compress. If you preload a 100 lb per inch spring one inch, it will take 200 lbs of force to make the shock spring compress it's first inch from full extension. Preload does not change the springs rate.
Bob,
I understand what your saying and have set up suspension on bikes with more advanced tuning.
Increase of preload alters sag therefore reduces brake dive until you compress the shock to equal value of what has been dialed in. So, when your braking in a corner there is less compression of the shock therefore less brake dive, hard on the brakes will have no effect on dive. Coming off in exit ramp doing 60 slowing to 0 you will feel less compression on the front end by increasing preload therefore less dive.
Preload is a load placed on a spring before its used. On your suspension you may have means to apply pressure to compress the spring with out effecting suspension movement. It can be an adjuster in a front fork, or a collar on rear shocks. This loads the spring to alter the point at which the spring begins to compress. If you preload a 100 lb per inch spring one inch, it will take 200 lbs of force to make the shock spring compress it's first inch from full extension. Preload does not change the springs rate.
Bob,
I understand what your saying and have set up suspension on bikes with more advanced tuning.
Increase of preload alters sag therefore reduces brake dive until you compress the shock to equal value of what has been dialed in. So, when your braking in a corner there is less compression of the shock therefore less brake dive, hard on the brakes will have no effect on dive. Coming off in exit ramp doing 60 slowing to 0 you will feel less compression on the front end by increasing preload therefore less dive.