Car Analogy

Awesome. Thanks!

Maximum6

So is there any benefit in maxing out the ride height on the Ohlins within the parameters of ohlin's +/- 15mm?

beefystud

what exactly is "preload"

noodels

Instead of compressing the springs 2mm as Ohlins installation spec,you compress another 10mm -15mm before installation <rears>.that's preloading springs.
Same as any coilovers.
explains all you need to know here>
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-br...nside-1166830/

beefystud

is this all variable based on the weight of the car ? some s2000 are 2300lb some are 2900lb

noodels

Ohlins have adjustable lower perch so use that for desired ride height.

Car Analogy

'preload' is a somewhat misleading name. When the shock is removed from the car, tightening the collar up indeed compresses the spring more, adding 'preload' to the spring. But when you place the shock into car, and drop it off the jack, cars weight will spring will still compress to the same total as before you added preload.

So preload doesn't compress spring any more when in actual use. What it does do is raise the car (which if you have adjustable lower mount, you'd adjust away back to desired right height.)

The purpose of preload is to manipulate suspension travel vs droop. In the case of Ohlins, the rear shock body doesn't have an external resevoir, which means the gas bladder has to live in shock body, meaning shock is a bit longish.

That means there isn't a lot of room for suspension travel. Adding more preload gives more travel. But there are limits. The lower rear mount is also longish, so there are limits how much raising from preload you can take back out with the lower mount. There are optional extra cost lower mounts for Ohlins from value added resellers with a shorter design. This allows adding sufficient preload, yet still dropping to a lower ride height.

Another option is stiffer rear spring, so not as much preload is needed.

beefystud

not scraping your front bumper on colorado or utah gas station entrance/exit

beefystud

this will give the ca r"higher ride height" and have more "stroke" giving you less chance of riding the bump stops correct?