P1000m5 Shock tutorial?

[sugarray]

So, went out to see how the new tires feel and was pleased. But, I scrubbed the passenger rear tire with full compression. That made me realize I’m not sure what the adjustments on the Fox QS3 shocks really do.

So, can someone please give a tutorial on what 1-2-3 settings really mean as well as what compressing the spring does?

 

[Remington]

1 is soft, 2 is medium, 3 is firm. They act exactly as it sounds. The softer the setting the slower “softer” the rebound of the shock. U usually use the soft setting for more articulate riding. Compressing or Loading the shock firms the ride a bit and can also give you a slight lift to help with clearance issues but it’s not your end all to those problems.

 

[ToddACimer]

Adding preload will increase your ride height or return the machine to stock ride height if it's heavily loaded. What do usually ride with for payload and passengers? How much preload do you have on the spring?

Compression damping is going to set your shock response to bumps. I like soft for rock crawling and rough trails. Medium is great for high speed sand and gravel. I dont really like Firm for anything but it's ok on road. On a typical day of riding I switch from med-soft and back a couple times depending on trail sections that I know.

 

[ohanacreek]

You might need preload (I set mine to roughly factory ride height with stock tires)

After that the shocks can be adjusted to the three settings depending on how spirited you drive.

I usually leave mine on medium/ soft for technical/ hard would be for following @Hondasxs through the woods MFer rides fast.

 

[sugarray]

So, I didn’t add any load when I installed them. I don’t have passengers, but only occasionally. I carry about 40lbs of gear on a big ride, but very little routinely.

 

[sugarray]

So, does the spring set how easily the tire comes up and the dial set how quickly it returns to the ground?

Simply?

 

[ToddACimer]

So, does the spring set how easily the tire comes up and the dial set how quickly it returns to the ground?

Simply?

Not really. The spring sets the load required to cycle the suspension through it's travel. The dial sets the rate of change in shock stroke. In our machines the knob controls compression damping. So the knob changes how quickly the shock can compress. Soft allows the highest shock shaft velocity and the least control. Firm slows the shock velocity but may make the ride feel too stiff. Since we don't rebound damping I prefer a bit extra spring preload to stiffen the ride but the soft damping setting to allow the shock to respond to bumps a bit quicker when the trail gets rough.

 

[ohanacreek]

Add about ¼-⅜” extra preload to the left side of you ride solo mainly.

I added about ⅜” more to rear than I needed because I am usually loaded up when on rough terrain and it’s loaded for work around the house.

 

[ohanacreek]

Not really. The spring sets the load required to cycle the suspension through it's travel. The dial sets the rate of change in shock stroke. In our machines the knob controls compression damping. So the knob changes how quickly the shock can compress. Soft allows the highest shock shaft velocity and the least control. Firm slows the shock velocity but may make the ride feel too stiff. Since we don't rebound damping I prefer a bit extra spring preload to stiffen the ride but the soft damping setting to allow the shock to respond to bumps a bit quicker when the trail gets rough.

REALLY WISH THERE WAS A DASH MOUNTED KNOB!!! Soft and medium would get swapped more often.