Thank you for the info. None of the shops that I have been to around here have any that I could look at. Are all the after market shocks like this?(with the c-clip) Or is it just the TCS shocks?

Thanks

James

 

I am not sure about other shocks but I know on the TCS they can be adjusted easily. If you like I can take a pic tonight of the top of the shock to show you what it looks like. Its hard to see in the top pic http://www.kandkatv.com/tcs_page.htm
If that does not help let me know and I will get a better pic tonight.

walter
88Banshee370
95 Dodge Ram 4x4
99Quadbuddy

 

Works, PEP, Axis, and TCS all use the snap ring preload adjustments. It is much better than the threaded adjustment because the crossover spacing is maintained with the snap rings. The idea behind the ZPS shocks is that all the sag is into the shocks simply by the weight of the vehicle(basically). ZPS shocks actually have 4 springs while Works have 3 and TCS and AXIS have 2. By using the 4th spring on top as a very light "crush" spring, the shocks use up a lot of their travel. To compensate, the remaining 3 springs are EXTREMELY stiff and the valving is also extremely stiff. If it weren't set up that way then the shocks would bottom all the time. When landing from large jumps as expert riders have been known to do, the ZPS shocks almost "blow right through " the initial crush spring until the other 3 springs are met. This is not entirely true as the valving works in stages. When you are higher in the air, you are going to come down with a greater velocity. This is just because of gravity. Anyway, the progressive valving means that the faster the shock shaft travels the stiffer it gets. Actually, both Works and PEP are built this way. They are basically the same internally as far as the components but different spring rates and valving changes are used by both companies. The TCS shocks use shimstacks to get the progressive damping. TCS's theory is that because of this shimstack set up they only need one spring to control the suspension. The other spring on a TCS shock is primarily a crush spring like the ZPS. I am not positive on the Custom AXIS setup, I am guessing that it is similar to the TCS. I personnally prefer the 3 spring set up of the Works performance, here is why. First, although the PEP shocks also use the 3 springs, the shocks are way to stiff for anyone short of Pro or A class racing. You have to ride so fast to actually prevent the shocks from bucking you around that it usually isn't possible unless you are an upper level rider. Works shocks are set up to be a bit more user friendly in my opinion. The springs are not overly stiff that you get bucked off the bike when you ride casually, but they also have the ability to soak up the large jumps you may encounter. The TCS and AXIS shocks are probably a little nicer for intermediate riders as they are not as stiff as the ZPS but not as soft as the Works. They are however best used for MX racing. I would say that Works are probably the most versatile of the bunch. In response to the original post, all those things were true. However, don't get the wrong idea that as long as your shocks have compression, rebound and preload adjustments that they are going to work correctly. The most important part of getting shocks is to make sure that they are setup correctly internally when built. By this I mean that they are set up for your bike, weight, riding style etc. The fully adjustable shocks are nice, but those adjustments are really to fine tune the suspension. Most people overestimate the gains of compression adjustments on suspension. I disagree with the thoughts of TCS in that they sell their shocks with compression and preload adjustments only. If you really want to set them up correctly, you need to have the compression and rebound adjustment capabilities. One without the other is not going to help much. Hope, this helps, let me know if you have any other questions!!!

 

I am thinking about getting a pair of Works Performance shocks for the front of my 400EX. I have the fronts set on the stiffest position but bottom it out frequently. I only get about 6 to 8 feet of air (vertical), but weigh 200lbs and land on hard, flat ground. I was wondering if the adjustable compression and rebound settings are worth another 400 dollars (such as the pro-racers) or if the atv steelers with the triple rate would be good enough.
www.geocities.com/hulioni

 

The adjustability is not going to solve your problem. The compression and rebound adjusters on the high dollar shocks are for very fine tuning of the suspension. If you bought Works shocks brand new, I am sure that they would be excellent because they would be set up for you. The stock shocks on any quad are definitely not setup for someone your size, they are made for 160lb riders at the most. You are over that limit, which is fine. I don't know how much experience you have riding but even if you do get the adjustable shocks, you probably will do more harm than good to the dampening. You are better off getting the Works Triple Rate Steelers with the standard reservoirs. You will be amazed at the difference in the performance of them over the stockers. You will probably appreciate them more than most because you are heavier than most riders. By getting those new shocks you will not only be doing yourself a favor, but also your bike. Just remember that when you bottom out the shocks all that force has to go somewhere, and that is into the frame. If you keep riding with the stockers and they bottom all the time your frame is going to get wrecked in a hurry. If you do decide to go with the Works shocks, talk to Pierre in the engineering department. That is who I bought my shocks from and they are awesome. They are setup just like the TCS SCS shocks with adjustable ride height, and they were about $150 cheaper! I don't know about the rest of you but I like saving money. I am not trying to say the you shouldn't buy the TCS shocks, but you can save money and get the same performance from Works. The key to the correct setup is that you have to talk to the engineers at Works (not SANDY though!). You have to tell them exactly what you want and then you will be happier with what you get. If you are looking for the TCS type shocks with the adjustable ride height, then tell Pierre that Adam Raychel referred you. He might remember me, but he can always check to see what he did on my shocks and probably give you a similar build. I like to run a lot of sag without sacrificing bottoming resistance, and that is what I got. If you have any specific questions feel free to email me directly at Raychalp@aol.com

 

Well first off...your not going to get the same Performance from a Works shock that your going to get from a TCS. A TCS may be a works body, but thats where the simularitys end. Thats also why Works and PEP both have triple rate springs instead of dual. A TCS is as close as your going to get to a custom axis shock unless you buy a custom axis. The only thing the TCS lacks is rebound adjustment on the front. For motorcross it isn't important, and unless your Bill Balance you won't miss it riding cross-country either. In the back it is important and the back shock has rebound adjustablity. Don't get me wrong Works shocks are great and unless your just riding the **** out of your quad or getting huge Air there is no need to spend the extra $150, but Works shocks DO NOT PERFORM on the same level as Axis or TCS. As for PEP, well the only difference is the top pivot bearing and stiffer springs.

just though i'd throw my 2-cents in

Mr_400eX

 

Great info Raychalp and all of you could you give me info on the OHLINS shoc's. Are they the best?

 

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on the TCS shocks. I actually was at the track today and I had a chance to see some TCS shocks and I was not all that impressed with them. By the way, the compression adjustablility is basically useless unless you have the rebound adjustment to balance it out. You probably are bad mouthing Works because you didn't get them setup correctly. My Works shocks are like no other, I guarantee it! Most people don't like them at first because they aren't setup the way they want. My shocks sag more than the SCS shocks as well, and they have the adjustable ride height. Works shocks also have progressive valving, it is not in the form of a shim stack like the TCS or AXIS. I also saw some AXIS shocks at the track today. Neither of these bikes did very well in the races by the way. I suppose that has a lot to do with the rider as well, but you would think that if you are going to spend the money, you would use the shocks to their potential. And it just so happens that the best riders today had Works shocks. And the #1 rider in Michigan for MX also uses Works shocks.

 

I had a set of Ohlins shocks before I had my Works shocks, and I didn't really like them. They were good for trail riding, but once I started jumping they bottomed out a lot. I think that they use the same type of valving that TCS and AXIS uses. It is also very hard to get them serviced because the parts are hard to find. I wouldn't spend all that money for Ohlins when you can get something much better for less money.

 

The TCS shocks are a lot more adjustable for ride height than you guys think because you can remove the spacers to make it sag even more without sacrificing any travel or bottoming resistance on the jumps. The clips are only for fine tuning the ride height and do not change the pre-load on the shock's compression spring, Their is absolutely no preload on this spring except for the weight of rider and quad, The clips do change the pre-load on the cushion spring however but it has no effect on shock performance whatsoever.