What You Need to Know About TWIN TUBE SHOCKS
A shock absorber is a vital component of any vehicle’s suspension system. Not only does it dampen your ride, but it also helps control handling and braking.
Shocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so choosing the right one for your ride can be a confusing decision. In this article, we’ll look at two basic types of shocks – mono- and twin tube – to help you choose the best fit for your ride.
Responsiveness
The shocks in your car work to absorb up and down movement of the wheels as you drive, making them an essential part of a well-functioning vehicle. They also improve handling, control and braking performance. Shocks and struts are a major investment for most drivers, so it’s important to make the right choice.
A quality shock absorber will help protect your vehicle and the passengers in it by controlling body roll, improving steering precision, reducing braking distance and eliminating noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). New shocks and struts will also enhance driver comfort by absorbing road surface changes.
Shocks are available in monotube or twin tube designs, with the latter gaining popularity as a replacement for original equipment on many luxury cars and SUVs. Monotubes offer what most drivers consider to be superior handling and a’sporty’ ride, which is why they often are found on factory-built vehicles.
Monotube shocks are designed to distribute pressure evenly across a single piston rod. They have a larger active piston surface area, which leads to better damping force and overall efficiency.
They also have a higher oil capacity and can withstand more wear and tear than twin-tube shocks. Because of these factors, they are preferred by many manufacturers.
Some of the best-performing monotube shocks feature gas pressurization, which reduces aeration, eliminates foaming and increases performance and durability. The gas is inserted at low pressure in a chamber above the hydraulic oil, which prevents it from escaping into the inner tube and causing aeration.
Nitrogen-pressured monotube shocks are a popular option for racing and performance applications, as the gas helps compress over small bumps, providing quicker response and more control. They also reduce vibrations and fade, extending the life of the hydraulic fluid.
When buying new shocks and struts, look for a high-quality product that has a manufacturer’s warranty. Getting a warranty means that you can get a refund or replacement if the shocks do not perform as expected.
Monroe OESpectrum and Reflex shocks are premium-level replacement units that improve safety, handling and control of most passenger vehicles. They feature advanced valving technology that is preferred by the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers.
Aeration
The shock absorber is an important component of the suspension, providing damping for a smooth ride. There are several shock types to choose from, each offering its own benefits.
Twin-tube designs are a popular choice on many vehicles. They feature a single cylinder in the shell case, and another in the piston valve. The inner tube is filled with oil and a low pressure gas charge, while the outer tube acts as a reservoir for that oil. Valves in the piston and base control the fluid flow in both directions, determining the damping characteristics of the shock.
These shocks are easy to install, offer great responses and don’t foam. However, they are also susceptible to aeration and heat, which can lead to performance degradation.
Aeration is a common problem that shocks face. It occurs when the hydraulic fluid in the shock absorber mixes with air (oxygen or nitrogen), causing foaming that can reduce the shock’s effectiveness.
This aeration can lead to poor damping and fade, especially after high speed driving or going over bumpy roads. It is a problem that can affect almost any vehicle.
In the twin-tube design, both oil and gas can mix with air, which can cause aeration. This aeration can also make the fluid more likely to overheat, which can also lead to fading.
To combat this, the shock absorber is usually gas charged. A gas charge minimizes aeration, which prevents the oil and air from mixing to create foam.
A gas-charged shock has an internal circuit that pumps a small amount of nitrogen gas to the shock absorber. This helps to compress the air bubbles in the hydraulic fluid, which prevents it from mixing with the oil, thus reducing aeration.
These shocks are also less prone to fading than other types of shocks. Their greater hydraulic fluid capacity and higher surface area can help to TWIN TUBE SHOCKS dissipate heat faster, avoiding the fading issue that may occur when the shock absorber overheats.
Both monotube and twin-tube shocks are available in multiple styles and sizes, each offering varying features to cater to specific applications. The type of valving that you select will also have an impact on the damping characteristics of your new shocks.
Foaming
If your car or truck is prone to bumpy roads, you’ll likely need shock absorbers. They dampen your ride, prevent your tires from bouncing, and help your vehicle find its grip when you’re cornering or turning. However, the type of shock you choose can have a major impact on your ride quality.
Shocks work by forcing fluid (like oil) through tiny air-filled cells. When the piston moves in, those cells compress and expand to account for the piston rod taking up space.
When it comes time to push the piston back, those same cells compress and expand again as the rod goes into and out of the shock body. This causes the piston to mix up fluid and air, which creates foam.
Foaming is a serious issue because it can seriously degrade shock performance and decrease your vehicle’s ride quality. In addition, it can also cause fading, which reduces the shock’s ability to dampen jolts and prevent your tires from bouncing.
The problem with foaming is that it can lead to a condition known as “fading”. When a shock absorber becomes overheated, it starts TWIN TUBE SHOCKS to displace the fluid with air, and the shock loses its ability to provide resistance and control.
This can be frustrating for drivers, especially those who have worked hard to get the shock absorber they want. Fading often affects accessory shocks as well, so it’s important to make sure you choose the right shock for your needs.
Monotube shocks are a better choice for many drivers because they keep the hydraulic fluid and gas separate, preventing foaming. They also do a much better job of keeping their chambers cool, which makes them less susceptible to heat-related fading.
Another benefit of monotube shocks is that they’re often cheaper to manufacture than twin tube shocks. This is because they don’t require a high polished piston chamber or a floating piston to separate the gas from the fluid.
The bottom line is that both monotube and twin-tube shocks have their pros and cons, depending on your driving habits. The decision you make will depend on the conditions you drive in, how much you use your vehicle, and what kind of handling you’re looking for.
Cost
TWIN TUBE SHOCKS tend to be cheaper than monotube shocks because they’re mass-produced. But they also offer better performance than monotubes for racing applications, where stiffer shocks are necessary to reduce vibration and improve grip on fast-moving tires.
A twin-tube design works by using an inner piston chamber that’s pressurized with oil and surrounded by an outer tube (reservoir) filled with gas. As the piston moves, the oil inside flows back and forth through valving to the outer reservoir.
The inner and outer tubes can be positioned in any orientation, including right side up or upside down and still function. On race applications, such as Formula 1 and Indy Cars, they’re often mounted sideways to minimize drag and reduce aerodynamic weight.
Shocks use fluid to convert energy into resistance, which can create a lot of heat when they are pumped up and down repeatedly. Depending on how fast the shock is pumped up, the fluid can become hot enough to burn or evaporate.
If the temperature is high enough, the oil can start to thin out and cause fading. It’s also possible for the fluid to develop air bubbles, known as foaming, which can lower the shock’s ability to perform.
Both shock types can be affected by fading, but it’s more common for twin-tubes to fade than monotubes because they have a smaller piston surface area and less oil capacity.
In addition, twin-tube shocks can be more prone to aeration, or the mixing of air and fluid, than monotube shocks because they don’t have a floating valve that separates the two. Newer twin-tube shocks use nitrogen or other gases to minimize aeration, but this isn’t always the best option for performance.
On the other hand, monotube shocks have a single valve that distributes pressure more evenly and usually have a wider piston. They also store more hydraulic fluid, which allows them to dampen more pressure and get rid of more heat than twin-tube shocks.
Both shocks have their merits and demerits, but the right choice depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for a shock that can handle rough roads, a shock that offers a good ride and is easy to maintain and install, a monotube shock is the choice.