I have the Elka SSD's on front. I have adj rebound and comp. By adjusting the top spring collar down, does this add more preload to stiffen them up, or is it a ride heigth adjustment or both??? I have the compression at full stiff and they could be a little stiffer for bigger jumps..

 

I could be wrong, but I have the Elkas also and the top spring is for setting ride height only. Also, you don't ever want to max out your compression adjustment. I an 240lbs and only have my compression adjusted to about click 6 of 25. The shocks should have come set softest from the factory and still been pretty much right on, mine were. I only adjust mine up for a track with jumps full of flatter landings and big air. JIM

 

Yes, the top spring sets ride height, however, you have to remember the all the effects of what you are doing.

I usually find it easiest to understand when you think of things in the extremes.

Lets say you had your shocks adjusted to a rediculous level, lets say 1" of travel before bottomming out at static ride height.

Of course, the shocks would stretch out when you take to the air - but there would be no spring rate until they reached the point at which the ride height was set at. You are then depending soley on the compression damping to keep you from bottomming out. Unless your shock has unreasonably firm high speed damping, you'll need to be preparing for a very harsh landing.

Now, lets say you take all the sag out. As you might imagine, the spring rate would get quite firm toward the bottom of the travel when landing a jump.

So, yes, the top spring merely adjusts ride height --- but raising your ride height by lowering the collar or adding a limiter ring will also increase bottomming resistance since you will be transferring to the main spring earlier in the travel.

 

I dont remember if elka has them but on PEP the cross over rings can be changed to effect the bottoming resistance less of a gap and the transfer to the main spring will be sooner.
One mistake I have seen people do is with the rebound this circuit bypasses all the valving so if you go to far with the adjuster to speed up the rebound then your valving will be to soft.Whatever the spec. setting is dont go too far from it.

 

I only moved the collar down about a 3/8's of an inch. Haven't rode it this way yet.