GT3

Suspension
Dampers Explained

By combining innovation and attention to detail, Nitron Suspension have consistently produced kits of uncompromising quality. With over two decades of experience our designers, engineers and production team have a successful reputation of serving a wide range of clients and specialist industries, from individual end users to OEM supply.

Designed using a modular system, Nitron shocks have maximum flexibility throughout the development of each application and allows our products to be 100% serviceable. Providing a service, unlike any other, inclusive of replacing all critical components, fluids, gas, seals, and bushes will extend the life cycle by returning the product post service in an ‘as new’ technical condition.

Nitron Shocks

Suspension Damper Basics

Dampers work in two directions, bump and rebound. Bump damping helps the suspension absorb bumps or road irregularity as the wheel moves upward in the stroke. Rebound damping helps the suspension return to the proper position, after a bump or other irregularity causes the damper to compress, in a smooth and controlled motion.

Within the car’s suspension, dampers and springs must be tuned to work together in order to ensure that the tyres keep maximum contact with the track under all conditions. This tuning is vital if maximum grip and performance are to be achieved. Dampers do this via hydraulic fluids being pushed through small valves inside the damper while the damper is in motion. A higher damper setting equates to greater resistance.

High performance and racing dampers keep the hydraulic fluid under pressure to ensure that the viscosity of the oil is not unduly effected by the thousands of sudden cycles that a damper typically endures. Nitron dampers use Nitrogen gas separated from the fluid by an internal floating piston for ultimate and consistent performance.

Nitron R3

3-Way Adjustable Damper

Nitron R3 Shock
1
End Eye
2
Shaft Rod
3
Damper Piston & Shim Stack
4
Floating Separator Piston
5
Suspension Oil
6
Compressed Nitrogen Gas

Nitron R1

1-Way Adjustable Damper

Nitron R1 Shock
1
Clevis
2
Shaft Rod
3
Damper Piston & Shim Stack
4
Separator Piston
5
Suspension Oil
6
Compressed Nitrogen Gas

Adjustable Damper Explained

The Nitron R3 damper allows you to alter the following settings.

1. Low Speed Bump

This is the damper setting that controls the way the car reacts to driver input such as steering into a turn or braking and acceleration.

If this is set too high, too much load will be transferred, the level of grip on the loaded tyres will be overcome and the car will lose grip. Too low and the car will lack sharpness and precision turning into corners and dive under hard braking.

2. High Speed Bump

This is the damper setting that controls the way the car reacts to the surface of the track and sudden shocks like hitting a bump or kerb.

If this is set too high, the car will be too easily upset as the spring won’t be able to do its job and the tyre will lose contact with the track. Too low and the spring will be allowed to bounce and again, tyre contact will be lost.

Nitron R3 Shock

3. Preload

Using a threaded adjustable spring seat, the amount of preload on the spring can easily be adjusted.

Adding more preload will raise the ride height of the car and reducing it will lower the car.

4. Rebound

This is the damper setting which controls the extension of the damper and, in turn, that of the spring.

After compression, the spring must be allowed to return quickly to its original length to support the car and allow the tyre to grip the track. If this is not correctly controlled, the car may bounce and tyre contact will be lost. The amount of damping required is mainly dependant on the stiffness of the spring and the weight of the vehicle. Generally, once this is set, only minor adjustments for rack and weather condition are required.

Nitron Shocks

Nitron R1 dampers combine compression and rebound through a single adjuster.

Full Nitron Range