Setup; Adjusting The Shock Absorbers - df models ROCKET XXL Notice D'utilisation

6. S
ETUP
The terms front/rear/right/left in the following always refer to the vehicle's longitudinal axis in the direction of
travel looking "forwards".

6.1 Adjusting the shock absorbers

With the factory-adjustment of the model, you can get initial experience with no problem. With increasing driving practice,
however, depending on the course and condition of the ground, you will want to make customised adaptations step by step.
Ways of doing so include changing the spring preload and changing the angle of attack of the shock absorbers. There is no
universal specification for the spring preload or the angle of attack of the shock absorbers.
The adjustment of the shock absorbers has a crucial influence on the handling of the model. This not only affects the actual
absorption of the unevenness of the ground, but also of the steering via the grip of the individual axles.
Thus one speaks of, for example, "oversteering" and "understeering" handling.
Understeering handling:
The model has too much traction by the rear axle or too little traction by the front axle steered and can only be turned on
curves with difficulty. It "pushes" outward over the front wheels.
As a countermeasure, the shock absorption in the front should be adjusted with less resistance (or more resistance in the
rear).
Oversteering handling:
The model has too little traction by the rear axle or too much traction by the front axle steered and "pulls" in curves, the rear
tending to swerve out.
As a countermeasure, the shock absorption in the rear should be adjusted with less resistance (or more resistance in the
front).
Structure of the shock absorbers
The spring elements for the suspension each consist of one linear flat coil spring, in the centre of which there is an oil-pressure
shock absorber. The flat coil springs bear upwards against a knurled nut on the outer tube of the shock absorber and a plate on
the lower end of the piston rod. The four shock absorbers are fastened on the bottom wishbones and on the shock absorber
bridge on the differential housings.
Checking the shock absorbers:
> Put the model on a level surface and press it all the way down.
When released, the model should not rebound all the way, and due to its own weight. The remaining suspension travel
provides for suspension travel reserve on uneven ground and for better ground contact of the individual wheels.
> Lift the model by one axle and drop it.
The model should not deflect the spring all the way and should only rebound once, without bouncing afterwards.
> Check the shock absorbers of the other axle in the same manner.
Spring preload
The knurled nuts can be used to fine set the spring preload according to the ground
surface and the manner of driving. The ground clearance of the model and the
rebound speed of the shock absorber are changed along with spring preload after
the spring deflection. The spring preload has no influence on the spring stiffness.
Turning the knurled nut downward increases the spring preload, and turning it
upward relieves the spring.
> Less spring preloading allows the chassis to sink lower under its own weight, and
the ground clearance decreases.
> Greater preloading raises the chassis.
> The less even the ground, the higher the ground clearance should be selected on
both axles so as to prevent the chassis from making contact.
> High ground clearance on both axles makes the model tilt to the side to a great
degree, bringing about sharper weight-transfer reactions.
> Low ground clearance on the front axle produces more agile turning of the ve-
hicle.
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