I have Elka quad rate SSD's on front. Is the top spring adjustable for stiffening up the preload or is it a ride height adjustment or both. They have adj rebound and comp. I need them a little stiffer even when on the harderst compression setting and turned the collar so 6 threads are showing. They were all the way to the top when I got them new..I won't ride for four more days.....Any help is appreciated.

 

Sounds to me you need to send them back on get them revalved. Either your weight was under estimated or your riding capabilities. I am not sure on the Elka's but generally a collar which screws up and down is just the pre-load adjustment. Pre-load, ride height, sag are essentially the same thing. Basically it controls the height of the bike when the rider is sitting on the machine. ZPS shocks essentially don't have this adjustment. It is built into the shock. This is why it is important to give the proper weight, riding ability, and type of riding you would be doing.

 

I had the shocks set up for 20lbs more then I weigh w/ full gear. I like to jump, but I am not Johnny Airtime. I would consider my self a mid/front pack amatuer rider. I am in awe when I see pro's ride....

 

I gues when you say they are too soft do you mean they are bottoming out easily? or are they just using on the suspension travel instead of being like a pogo stick.

My thought is if this is your first set of aftermarket shocks then you may not be used to the way they smooth out the bumps instead of bouncing off of them. I just remember I used to cringe when I would come up on a set of whoops. After I got my works shocks I was able to blow through the whoops at a higher speed. Basically what I came to realize is that for my works shocks to react the same as the stock shocks is had to be going a lot faster.

If it is because you are bottoming the shocks out then try and have them valved for a Class B rider (intermediate), or a class A (advanced intermediate). Did you have them set up for MX or off-road? Again an MX setup is stiffer because of the jumping.